ACACIA, in the Materia Medica, the inspissated juice
of the unripe fruit of the Mimosa Nilotica.
This juice is brought to us from Egypt, in roundish
masses, wrapt up in thin bladders. It is outwardly of
a deep brown colour, inclining to black; inwardly of
a reddish or yellowish brown; of a firm consistence, but
not very dry. It soon softens in the mouth, and dis-
covers a rough, not disagreeable taste, which is fol-
lowed by a sweetish relish. This inspissated juice en-
tirely dissolves in watery liquors; but is scarcely sensibly
acted on by rectified spirit.
Acacia is a mild astringent medicine. The Egyp-
tians give it in spitting of blood, in the quantity of a
dram, dissolved in any convenient liquor; and repeat
this dose occasionally: they likewise employ it in col-
lyria for strengthening the eyes, and in gargarisms for
quinsys. Among us, it is little otherwise used than
as an ingredient in mithridate and theriaca, and is rare-
ly met with in the shops. What is usually sold for the
Egyptian acacia, is the inspissated juice of unripe floss:
this is harder, heavier, of a darker colour, and some-
what sharper taste, than the true sort. See the next
article.
German Acacia, the juice of unripe floss inspissated
nearly
nearly to driness over a gentle fire, care being taken to prevent its burning. It is moderately astringent, similar to the Egyptian acacia, for which it has been commonly substituted in the shops. It is given in fluxes, and other disorders where styptic medicines are indicated, from a scruple to a dram.