STORAX, or STYRAX, an odoriferous resinous substance, exuding, in the warmer climates, from a tree called by C. Bauhin styrax folio mali cotonei. It has
has been customary to distinguish three sorts of storax, though only one is usually met with in the shops.
1. Styrax calamita, or storax in the cane, so called from its having been formerly brought inclosed in reeds from Pamphylia: it is either in small distinct tears, of a whitish or reddish colour, or in larger masses composed of such.
2. Storax in the lump, or red storax. This is in masses of an uniform texture, and yellowish red or brownish colour, though sometimes likewise interspersed with a few whitish grains. Of this sort there has been some lately to be met with in the shops, under the name of storax in the tear.
3. The common storax of the shops is in large masses, considerably lighter and less compact than the foregoing: it appears upon examination to be composed of a fine resinous juice, mixed with a quantity of saw-dust. For what purpose this addition is made we shall not here inquire; observing only, that it can scarcely be supposed to be done with any fraudulent view, since the saw-dust appears at sight. This common storax is much less esteemed than the two first sorts; though, when freed from the woody matter, it proves superior in point of fragrantness to either of them. Rectified spirit, the common menstruum of resins, dissolves the storax, leaving the wood behind; nor does this tincture lose considerably of its valuable parts, in being inspissated to a solid consistence; whilst aqueous liquors elevate almost all the fragrantness of the storax.
Storax is one of the most agreeable of the odoriferous resins, and may be exhibited to great advantage in languors and debilities of the nervous system: it is not, however, much used in common practice, unless as an ingredient in the traumatic balsam, the compound powder and electuary of scordium, the storax pill, confetto Paulina, mithridate, and theriac.