OCR Text |
Show MASTICH TREE. 839 It is a commonpractice with the Turkish women to chewthis resin, especially in the morning, not only to render their breath more agreeable, but to whiten the teeth, and strengthen the gums; they also mix it with their fragrant waters, and burn it with other odoriferous substances in the way of fumigation. As a medicine, mastich is considered to be a mild corroborant and astringent ; and as possessing a balsamic power, it has been recommendedin hemoptysis, proceeding from ulceration, fluor albus, debility of the stomach, and in diarrhceas and internal ulcers*. Chewing this drug has likewise been said to have been of use in pains of the teeth and gums, and in some catarrhal complaints ; it is now, however, seldom used, either externally or internally. The lentisci lignum, or woodof this tree, is received into the materia medica of some of the foreign pharmacopeeias, andis highly extolled in dyspeptic, gouty, hemorrhagic, and dysenteric affections +. MASTICH-TREE. PISTACIA LENTISCUS. * Degner (De Dysenteria, p. 201,) gave it successfully in these complaints, in doses of ten grains to a scruple, both in substance and in the wayof emulsion. Class XXII. Dicecia. + See Ephem. Nat. Cur. Dec. 3. A. 9,10. Obs. 135. where it is dig- Order V. Pentandria. Essent. GEN. Cuan. Sameas the last. Srec. Cuar, Leaves abruptly pinnated: Pinnelanceolate, a DESCRIPTION, Tus tree rises only ten or twelve feet. Leaves alternate, composed of several pairs of pinnw, ending abrupt. winged. Flowers inconspicuous. Footstalk HISTORY, This species is a native of the same countries with the former. Theresinis obtained principally in the island of Chios, by making transverse incisions into the tree, and allowing the juice to harden. It is brought to us in small, yellowish, semi-transparent, brittle grains; of a smooth and shining fracture, softening when chewed, fusible, burning with a pleasant smell, insoluble in wa- ter, and partially soluble in alcohol and fixed oils. Neumann foundthat, during digestion with alcohol, a portion separates, insoluble in alcoho}, though in appearance resinous, amounting to about one-tenth of the mastich, and analogous to caoutchouc. nified with the title of vegetable aurumpotabile. |