- GUMS. See CHEMISTRY, VOI. vi. p. 748, 763, 769.
Gum Amber. Sec AMBER, and CHEMISTRY, p.766.
Gum Ammoniac. See CHEMISTRY, page 769. This gum should be chosen full of drops or tears, dry, brittle, easily softened by the fire, reducible to a white powder, and of a sharp taste and smell. When thrown on live coals, the drops should burn away in a flame. In 1804, the quantity imported by the East India Company was 81 cwt. and the price per cwt. 31. 11s. Id. In 1805, the quantity was 333 cwt. and the price I/. 128. 2d. In 1806, 81 cwt. were imported at the price of H. 8s. 2d. And in 1807, 59 cwt. were imported at the price of 1/. 158.
Gum Anime. See CHEMISTRY, p. 764. This gum should be chosen in large pieces, clear and transparent. Xlihen laid on a red hot iron it melts, flames, and burns quickly away, with a fragrant smell, leaving a few light coloured ashes. Small dark coloured and opaque pieces should be rejected. The quantity imported by the East India Company from 1804 to 1808, was This gum is cften sold f)r gum copal.
Gum Arabic. See CHEMISTRY, Sect. v. p. 749. In choosing this gnm, great care should be taken that it is not mixed with another kind of gum, generally in larger pieces, which, instgad of dissolving completely in water, only swells in it. The following "qmmtities were imported by the East India Company from 1804 to 1803: Gum Assafirtida. See CHEMISTRY, p. 770. The use of this gum was introduced by the Arabians about 1000 years ago. It should be chosen clear, fresh, strong-scented, and of a pale reddish colour. When broken, it should have a resemblance to marble ; and by exposure to thw air, it should turn of a violet red colour. That which is soft, black, and foul, is adulterated. The following quan tities were imported by, the East India Company from 1804 to 1808 : Gum Bdellium, is a gum which is brought from Persia and the East Indies. It has a reddish brown colour exter nally, but is like glue internally. The loose drops in which it is brought home are sometimes as large as hazel nuts, but often less than a pea. They are commonly of an irregular shape. It is moderately heavy and hard, and grows tough in the mouth. It readily takes fire, burns with a bright white flame, and crackles, throwing out small fragments. It dissolves completely in vinegar.
Gum from Botany Bay. See CHEMISTRY, p. 765.
Gum Caozachouc. See CAOUTCHOUC, and CHEMISTRY, Sect. xxvi. p. 768.
Gum Cherry tree. See Gum Prunus Avium.
Gum Copal. See CHEMISTRY, p. 765.
Gum Dragon's Blood. See Gum Sanguis Draconis. Gun Dragon. See Gum Tragacanth.
Gum Elena. See CHEMISTRY, p. 764. This gum is obtained from the East Indies, as well as from Canada and Spanish America. The East India elemi is semi-transpa rent, of a pale yellow colour inclining to green, and is brought in cakes of 2 or 3 lbs. each, wrapped up in flag
leaves. That which is soft, with a strong smell and a bit terish taste, is the best. The hard and dark coloured is never good.
Gum Eziphorbium, is the concrete resinous juice of a prickly shrub, which grows in Malabar and various parts of India. The irregularly shaped tears of which it con sists, sometimes enclose thorns, twigs, Etc. The best kind is dry, clear, and of a bright light yellow colour; and is So sharp to the taste, that a small piece held a short time in the mouth will inflame it.
Gum called _Frankincense. See Gum Olibanum.
Gum Galbanum. See CHEMISTRY; p.769, and GALBA. NUM.
GUM Gamboge, or Gumgutt. Sce CHEMISTRY, page 770, and GAMBOGE.
Gum Guiacum. See CHEMISTRY, Sect. xxiv. p. 766. Gun Juniper, the same as Gum Olibanum, which see. Gum Labdanunz. See CuvisTuv, p. 765, and LABDA^ RUM.
GUM Lac. See CHEMISTRY, p. 765, and LAC.
GUM Manna. See CHEMISTRY, p. 748.
Gum 11/astich. See CHEMISTRY, page 764, and NIAs ia en.
Guar Myrrh. See CHEMISTRY, p. 770, and ;MYRRH. Guar Olibanunz, or Frankincense. See CHEMISTRY, p. 770, and OLIRANUM.
Guar Opium, Sec CIIEMISTItY, Sect. xviii. p. 758, and GUM Opponax. See CHEMISTRY, p. 770, and Ororo x.
Gum Prunus Aviunz. See CHEMISTRY, p. 750. Gum Sagapenum. See SAGAPENUM.
Gust Scndarach. See CHEMISTRY, p. 764.
Gum Sang-uis Draconis. See CuEmisTity, page 768.
blood in drops is preferable to that which is ob tained in cakes, being more pure and compact. Genuine dtagon's blood readily melts and flames, but is not soluble in water. The following quantities were imported by the East India Company : Average Price GUM Scammony. See CHEMISTRY, •page 770, and SCAMMONY.
Guar Senegal. See CHEMISTRY, p. 748. This gum exudes from a prickly shrub, of the same genus with that from which gum arable is obtained. It is chiefly used by calico printers, and in other trades where gums are em ployed. It dries more slowly than gum arabic.
Gum Tacamahac. See CHEMISTRY, p. 764.
Gum Thus, or Frankincense. See Gum Olibanum, and OuBANUM.
Guar Tragacanth, or Gum Dragon. See CHEMISTRY, p. 749.
There are many other gums than those which have been mentioned, but they are not of much importance as arti cles of commerce. Dr Francis Buchanan informs us, that gums are collected between Seringapatam and Bangalore from the following trees: Andersonia panshmcum. (Dr Roxburgh's MSS.) Melia azadirachta.
Chirongia glabra. (Dr Buchanan's MSS.) Mangifera Indica.
Cassia auriculata.
Łgle marmelos.
Shorea jala. (Dr Buchanan's IVISS.) Chloroxylon dupada.
Bomboe gossypinum.
Sec Buchanan's Journey from Madras, &c. vol. i. p. 169. Sec also :Milburn'. Oriental Commerce, passim.