74  Growth  and  Uses  of  Benzoin.  {A%fcP7£arm* 
Dissolve,  cold,  twelve  grams  of  mercury  in  fifteen  grams  of  nitric 
acid  of  380.  Mix  this  with  ninety  grams  of  the  suspected  oil,  and 
agitate  often  during  two  hours.  If  the  olive  oil  is  pure,  the  mixture 
will  become  homogeneous  ;  if  not,  and  especially  if  the  mixture  be- 
comes filled  with  carboniferous  streaks,  the  presence  of  the  groundnut 
oil  may  be  reported. — Moniteur  des  Produits  Ghimiques,  from  four.  Ap. 
Science,  1875,  December. 
THE  GROWTH  AND  USES  OF  BENZOIN. 
The  benzoin,  or  frankincense,  in  commercial  parlance  called  "  Ben- 
jamin," is  a  more  common  article  of  commerce  than  camphor.  Al- 
though in  general  request  for  the  ceremonies  of  the  Romish,  Ma- 
homedan,  Hindu  and  Chinese  worship,  there  is  no  evidence  that  the 
Greeks  or  Romans,  or  even  the  early  Arabian  physicians,  had  any 
acquaintance  with  benzoin  ;  nor  is  the  drug  to  be  recognized  among 
the  commodities  which  were  conveyed  to  China  by  the  Arab  and 
Persian  traders  between  the  tenth  and  thirteenth  centuries,  although 
the  camphor  of  Sumatra  is  expressly  named.  The  first  mention  of 
benzoin  occurs  in  the  "  Travels  of  Ibn  Batuta,"  who,  having  visited 
Sumatra  during  his  journey  through  the  East,  A.D.  1325-49,  notes 
that  the  island  produces  Java  Frankincense  and  camphor.  There  is 
no  further  information  about  the  drug  until  the  latter  half  of  the  fol- 
lowing century,  when  it  is  recorded  that  in  146 1  the  Sultan  of  Egypt 
sent  to  Pasquale  Malipiero,  Doge  of  Venice,  amongst  other  articles,  a 
present  of  30  rotoli  of  Benzoi.  Agostino  Barberigo,  another  Doge  of 
Venice,  was  presented  in  similar  manner,  by  the  Sultan  of  Egypt,  with 
35  rotoli  of  aloes  wood,  the  same  quantity  of  benzin,  and  100  loaves  of 
sugar.  The  occurrence  of  benzoin  in  Siam  is  noted  in  the  journal  of 
the  voyage  of  Vasco  de  Gama,  and  the  Portuguese  traveler  Barbosa, 
who  visited  Calicut,  on  the  Malabar  coast,  in  151 1,  mentions  benzin 
among  the  more  valuable  items  of  export.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century  there  was  direct  commercial  intercourse  between 
England  and  both  Siam  and  Sumatra.  An  English  factory  existed  at 
Siam  until  1623,  and  benzoin  was  doubtless  one  of  the  commodities 
exported. 
The  tree  which  produces  this  so-called  gum  does  not  attain  to  any 
considerable  size.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  hot  plains,  and  nourishes 
best  in  the  rich,  moist  lands  fitted  for  the  cultivation  of  marsh  rice. 
