OCR Text |
Show OFFICINAL GUAIACUM. HISTORY. This tree is a native of the West Indies, and grows to a large size. The woodis heavier than water, very hard, resinous, and of a greenish black colour. Its tasteis bitterish, and when kindled it gives out a pleasant smell. It is brought either in pieces, which are sometimes covered with a pale yellow alburnum, or already rasped, when by division its colour appears greenish brown, or yellow. I'he bark is thin, of an ash gray, or blackish colour, and apparently composed of several Jaminw. It is less resinous than the wood. Neumann got from 7680 parts of the wood 1680 alcoholic, and 280 watery extract; and inversely, 740 watery, and 960 alcoholic. From 3840of the bark he got 560 alcoholic, and 320 watery, and inversely, 620 watery, and 240 alcoholic. The resin exudes spontaneously in tears, but is principally obtained by sawing the woodintobillets about three feet long, which are then bored with an auger longitudinally. One end of these is laid upon a fire, sa that a calabash mayre- ceive the melted resin, which runs through the hole as the wood burns. It may be also obtained by boiling the chips or sawings of the wood in water and muriate of soda. The resin swims at the top, and may be skimmedoff. Guaiacumhas a brownish yellowcolour externally ; when held against the light is transparent, breaks with an uniform smooth shining fracture, of a blueish green colour, is pulyerizable, and OFFICINAL GUAIACUM. GUAIACUM OFFICINALE. Class X. Deeandria. the powder has a white colour, gradually becoming blueish green, is fusible in a moderate heat, but not softened bythe heat.of the Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Car. Calyx five-cleft, unequa l: Petals five, inserted on the calyx: Capsule angular, three= or five-celled. Ciel CHar. Som Spec. . Lzaves in two sets from one peduncle: Pinne obtuse. DESCRIPTION. = Tue guaiacum tree grows to forty feet in height, andin cir;cumference is four or five, sending forth severzal branches. ‘Che park of the trunk is a dark gray, of the branches an uniform as > tr The leaves are pinnated, consisting of four to six T 2 a : ~ 1 " j j in the throat. ts specific gravity is 1-23. Neumann got from 480 parts, 400 alcoholic, and only 10 watery extract ; and in- ee as h colour, fingers, without propersmell or taste, but when thrown on hot coals diffusing an agreeable odour, and when swallowedin a state of minute division, causing an insufferable burning and prickling i pairs of oval pinne, with very short foots talks. The flowers rr, 7% 7 Are grow in clust ers, or umbelic s, upon Jong peduncles, whic i i h sprin g from thedivisions of the smaller branches. versely, 80 watery, and 280 alcoholic. Mr. Brande has more lately investigated this substance with much care. Digested with water, about one-tenth of it is dissolved, the water acquiring a sweetish taste and greenish brown colour. The liquid, when evaporated, leaves a brown substance, soluble in hot water and alcohol, but scarcely in sulphuric ether, and precipitating the muriates of alumina and tin. Alcoholreadily forms with guaiacum a deep brown-coloured solution, rendered milky by water, and precipitated pale green by the muriatic and sulphuric acids, brown |