Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/361

Chem. com — The fresh bark was beaten into a paste in a mortar, and the mass divided and placed in two bottles, one containing ether and the other spirit of wine ; they were both shaken occasionally and the mixture allowed to macerate for 24 hours. The ether extract was filtered off and evaporated at a very low temperature until a thick, green, greasy substance was left. This was washed with warm water and a small piece placed upon the skin of the arm and spread, so as to cover a space the size of a rupee. In about two hours irritation of the skin was produced, and, on removing the covering of the arm, it was found that several small blisters had formed under the extract and extending beyond it. The alcoholic tincture was then removed by filtration and carefully evaporated under a gentle heat. The residue contained very little of the green-coloured resinous matter, but a large quantity of saccharine substance, which was non-crystalline. This extract was applied to the skin as in the previous experiment, but the application was followed by only a slight reddening due to the small amount of resin in the dried extract. The resin appears to be the source of the vesicating principle of the bark. It has an acid reaction in neutral solvents, is soluble in ammonia with a yellowish-brown colour, and is associated in the 'ethereal extract with a fatty base which facilitates its use as a blistering agent. (Pharmacog. Ind. III. 226.)

Sans. : — Agaru.

The Sanskrit agaru (a privative, and garu heavy— a name given to it from the circumstance that it does not fioat on water) is the root from which most of its vernacular names have been derived Laghu of lauha, another Sanskrit and Pali synonym, is supposed by some to be the origin of the expression Aloes-wood— and might therefore be accepted as denoting a light form that would float on water. (Watt's Comml. Prod.)

Vern. : — Agar (Hind.); Agaru, ugar (Beng.) ; Agare-hindi, ûd, aud, aude-hindi, ûde-hindi, agalugen (Arab.); Agre-hindí, agar (Pers.) ; Ũd, ûd farsi (Pb.); Agara hindiagara (Bomb.); Agar (Guj.); Agar, aggalichanda (Tam.) ; Krishna agaru, agui, Kashtamu (Tel.); Sasi, sachi, bislatn (Ass.).

Habitat :— Eastern Himalaya ; Bhotan ; Assam ; Khasia Mts.; Silhet and Tippera hills.

A tall, evergreen tree; young shoots, silky. Bark thin, tough and very even in surface and texture. " The bast," says Brandis, " when prepared, resembles parchment, and was used by the old King of Assam to write upon." Wood white, soft, even-grained, scented when fresh cut. In the interior of old trees