Am May ^895 arm'}  Notes  on  Some  Saps  and  Secretions.  253 
The  British  imports  are  small,  seldom  exceeding  thirty  or  forty 
packages  in  a  year.  The  guaiacum  in  tears  is  supposed  to  be  the 
product  of  G.  sanctum,  Lin. 
Humirium  floribundum,  Mart.  This  plant,  in  Brazil,  yields  from 
its  trunk,  when  wounded,  a  fragrant,  limpid,  pale-yellow  balsam, 
called  Umiri,  possessing  the  same  medicinal  qualities  as  Balsam  of 
Copaiva.  It  is  used  by  the  natives  for  gonorrhoea,  chronic  cystitis, 
bronchitis,  and  all  diseases  attended  with  excessive  secretion.  A 
decoction  of  the  bark  is  used  as  a  remedy  for  coughs  and  derange- 
ment of  the  stomach.  Another  species,  H.  balsamtferum,  Aubl., 
yields  a  similar  balsam  in  Guiana. 
Hymencea  Courbasil,  Lin.  A  fine,  transparent,  fragant  gum- 
resin  exudes  from  this  tree.  In  solution  it  has  been  given  inter- 
nally in  doses  of  a  teaspoonful  for  rheumatic  and  pseudo-syphilitic 
complaints,  and  employed  externally  as  an  embrocation.  In  Brazil 
the  resin  is  mixed  with  sugar  and  rum,  so  as  to  make  an  agreeable 
emulsion  or  syrup,  which  is  administered  in  tedious  coughs,  weak- 
ness of  the  lungs,  spitting  of  blood  and  incipient  phthisis  pulmonalis. 
A  decoction  of  the  inner  bark  is  said  to  act  as  a  vermifuge. 
Icica  Tacamahaca,  Kth.  The  fragrant,  bitter  resin  of  the  above 
species  is  used  in  Brazil  for  making  ointments.  Another  Tacama- 
haca from  Elaphrium  tomentosa,  Jacqu.,  fetches  in  Mexico  $1  a 
pound.  The  resin  of  Icica  heptaphylla,  Aubl.,  in  Venezuela,  takes 
the  properties  of  Thus.  When  liquid  it  is  a  valuable  remedy  for 
coughs.  A  decoction  of  the  bark  is  an  emetic  in  fevers.  The  Cal- 
ophyllum  Calaba,  Lin.,  yields  East  Indian  Tacamahaca. 
Icica  icicariba,  DeC,  produces  a  great  deal  of  the  resin  passing 
under  the  name  of  "  Almaciga,"  which  is  much  used  in  medicine 
and  the  arts.  It  is  found  in  the  provinces  of  Maranham,  Para  and 
Amazon,  in  Brazil.  Another  Icica,  known  as  "  Pave  de  brea,"  also 
furnishes  it  in  the  same  provinces.  Some  of  the  resin  known  as 
Almaciga  is  said  to  be  furnished  by  Bur  sera  balsamifera,  Pers., 
Hedwigia  balsamifera,  Sw.,  and  is  aromatic  like  incense.  Elemi 
proper  is  from  /.  tcicariba,  DeC,  and  /.  araconcliini,  Aubl.,  but  is 
often  replaced  by  the  resin  of  other  species  of  the  same  genus.  The 
odorous  resin  which  exudes  from  the  trunk,  gives  off,  in  burning,  a 
lively,  agreeable  odor.  This  is  used  as  incense  in  the  churches  of 
French  Guiana.  It  is  sometimes  used  medicinally  as  balsam  of 
Araconchi,  but  there  is  little  demand  for  it  in  commerce.  On 
