DRAGON'S BLOOD, a resinousjuice obtained by incision from the fruits of the Cala mu: draco, the rattan palm of the East Indies.
Dragon's blood is obtained, in commerce, in three principal forms — in that of oval masses of the size of a pigeon's egg, enveloped with leaves of the pendanus; in cylinders covered with palm leaves, in which form it goes by the name of °reed dragon's and in irregular masses, marked with impressions of leaves; that in oval masses is the most esteemed.
Dragon's blood is opaque, of a deep reddish brown color; brittle, and has a smooth and shin ing conchoidal fracture; when in thin lamina: it is sometimes transparent; melts at 248° F., and when burned it gives out an odor similar to benzoin; its taste is astringent; it is soluble in alcohol, and the solution will permanently stain heated marble, for which purpose it is often used, as well as for staining leather and wood. It is also soluble in benzene, chloroform, carbon disulphide, glacial acetic acid and caustic soda, and sparingly in oil of turpentine and ether. It enters into the composition of a very brilliant varnish, which is much esteemed by artists. The deep red varnish of the violin makers of Cre mona was made of pure dragon's blood. Its
quality may be tested by marking with it on paper; the best leaves a fine red trace, and com mands a very high price. It was formerly in high repute as a medicine, but at the present time is very little used. Other resins to which the same name has been given commercially are those of various trees of the genus Draca'na growing on the island of Socotra (whence the trade name, CSocotrine dragon's blood")) ; the Pterocarpus draco, of the West Indies; the Dal bergia, of Guiana; a Croton of South America and Sumatra and from the Dracerria draco (order which is most celebrated in connection with the Canary Islands. A historic tree of this last species, at Orotava, acquired enormous dimensions, and was visited and celebrated by almost every traveler, including Humboldt, but was destroyed by a storm in 1867. It was supposed to have been about 5,000 or 6,000 years old. An astrin gent resin, obtained from the Eucalyptus resini ter° of Australia, sometimes gets the name of 'dragon's blood" in that country. Consult The Geographic Magazine (April 1918).