SANDARAC is a secretion from the Callitris quadriralris, a tree of enormous size, native of Marocco, and there called Aran It exudes spontaneously front the bark, and concretes on the surface. It occurs in small, irregular, but rather elongated, seldom perfectly round tears, or in ntasses run together, of a light yellow colour, sometimes verging to browniall. of a dull line externally, generally covered with powder, but when this is removed, aemitransparent. It breaks easily with a conchoidal fracture and vitreous lustre. The powder is white, and forme the substance called pounce. By chewing, it forms a fine powder, which does not agglutinate, and hese faint balaantie taste. At ordinary temperatures it is without odour, but by the application of heat it easily melts and diffuses a strong thought not unpleasant odour, resem bling that of juniper or mastic. It is easily ignited. It is soluble to the extent of four-fifths in cold alcohol ; and the insoluble residuum is easily soluble in ether, or, slowly and with difficulty, in boiling turpen tine. Tho portion insoluble in alcohol is termed Sanderecia.
Sandarac is used for the preparation of varnishes, also occasionally for incense or pantiles, plasters, and ointments. The powder is rubbed on parchment to render it fit to be written on. Sandarac is sometimes used to adulterate mastic; and on the other hand, a resin obtained from the Juniperus communis, and another from J. Oxyeedrus, are employed as a substitute for the genuine sandarac. In Sweden, lumps of resin which are found under ants' nests below the juniper bushes are called sandarac. The resin of the Pinto; dammara is called French sandarac in commerce. Sandarac is incorrectly called a gum ; it partakes more of the nature of a resin.