252  Notes  on  Some  Saps  and  Secretions.  {Am^SSS^m' 
attended  with  torpidity  of  the  bowels,  and  has  frequently  been 
found  effectual  in  the  expulsion  of  the  tape-worm.  It  is  a  valuable 
drastic  and  hydragogue  cathartic,  and  also  possesses  anthelmintic 
and  diuretic  properties.  It  consists  of  75  per  cent,  of  resin  and  15 
of  gum. 
On  the  Continent  of  Europe  it  is  known  as  "  gum  gutte,"  from 
the  mode  of  its  preparation.  When  the  sap  of  the  tree  is  in  active 
circulation,  the  leaves  and  young  branches  are  broken  off.  and  the 
yellow  juice  that  flows  from  the  wounds  is  collected  in  cocoanut 
shells,  or  twisted  leaves,  of  the  plant  itself.  This  is  afterwards 
poured  into  larger  vessels,  made  of  clay,  and  dried  in  the  sun  until 
it  is  of  a  proper  consistence. 
G.  bowat  Roxb.,  yields  a  kind  of  gamboge  of  a  somewhat  paler 
color  than  that  produced  by  G.  Morella. 
Gardenia  Incida,  Roxb.  A  fragrant  exudation,  known  in  India 
as  r<  Dikamale  resin."  is  procured  from  the  tops  of  the  branches. 
It  is  extensively  used  in  Indian  hospitals  as  a  slight  dressing  for 
open  wounds,  to  keep  away  flies  from  the  sores,  on  account  of  its 
strong  aroma, 
Guaiacum  officinale,  Lin.  A  medicinal  resin  is  obtained  frcm  the 
stem  of  this  tree,  called  lignum  vitae.  It  exudes  spontaneously, 
and  is  partly  obtained  by  extracting  with  alcohol.  The  resin  is 
obtained  most  copiously  by  wounding  the  tree,  which  is  usually 
done  in  May.  Another  method  is  by  heat.  The  trunk  and  larger 
limbs  being  sawn  into  billets  of  about  three  feet  in  length,  an 
angular  hole  is  bored  lengthwise  in  each,  and  one  end  of  the  billets 
so  placed  on  a  fire  that  a  calabash  may  receive  the  melted  resin, 
which  runs  through  the  hole  as  the  wood  burns.  It  is  also  obtained 
in  small  quantities  by  boiling  chips  or  shavings  of  wood  in  water, 
with  common  salt.  The  resin  swims  on  the  top  and  may  be 
skimmed  off. 
The  resin  is  inside  reddish  or  greenish-brown,  brittle,  gray-white 
when  pulverized,  turns  greenish  in  the  air,  has  a  balsamic  odor 
and  a  sweetish  bitter  taste,  which  is  at  the  same  time  acrid  and 
irritating  to  the  throat.  The  resin  is  chiefly  used  in  gout,  chronic 
rheumatism,  etc.  A  oecoction  of  the  capsules,  wood  or  bark  is  also 
used  in  medicine  as  a  sudorific.  A  tincture  made  of  the  resin 
diluted  with  water  is  used  to  cleanse  the  mouth,  strengthen  the 
gums  and  relieve  the  toothache. 
