MYRRH (Het). mur), a gum produced by balsamodendron (q.v.) myrrha, a tree of the natural order amyriducem, growing in Arabia, and probably also in Abyssinia.' The myrrh tree is small and scrubby. spiny, with whitish-gray bark, thinly-scattered small leaves, consisting of three obovate obtusely toothletted leaflets, and the fruit a smooth brown ovate drupe, somewhat larger than a pea. Myrrh exudes from the bark in oily yellowish drops, which gradually thicken and finally become hard, the color at the same time becoming darker. :,Nlyrrli has been known and valued from the most ancient times; it is mentioned as an article of commerce in Gen. xxxvii. 2:3, and Was amongst the presents which Jacob sent to the Egyptian ruler, and amongst those which the wise men from the east brought to the infant Jesus. It was an ingredient in the "holy anointing oil" of the Jews. Myrrh appears in commerce either in tears and grains, or in pieces of irregular form and various sizes, yellow, red. or reddish brown. It is brittle, and has a
waxy fracture, often exhibiting veins. Its. smell is .balsamic, its taste aromatic and bitter. It is used in medicine as a tonic and Stimulant, iu disOrders of the digestive organs. excessive secretions from the raneous membranes, etc., also to cleanse foul ulcers and proniete their healing, and as a dentifrice, particularl in a spongy or ulcerated con dition of the gums. it was inueli used by the ancient Egyptians in embalming. 'I he best myrrh is known in commerce as Turkey myrrh, being brought from Turkish ports; as the name East Indian myrrh is also given to myrrh brought to Europe from the East Indies, although it is not produced there, but conies from It is not yet cer tainly known whether the myrrh tree of Abyssinia is the same as that of Arabia, or an allied spevies.