is a concreted vegetable juice *, *See Gamba partly of a gummy and partly of a resinous nature. It is chiefly brought to us in large cakes or rolls from Cambaja in the East Indies. The best sort is of a deep yellow or orange colour, breaks shining and free from dross: it has no smell, and very little taste, unless kept in the mouth for some time, when it impresses a slight sense of acrimony. It immediately communicates to spirit of wine a bright golden colour, and almost entirely dissolves in it; Geoffroy says, except the fifth part. Alkaline salts enable water to act upon this substance powerfully as a menstruum: the solution made by their means is somewhat transparent, of a deep blood-red colour, and passes the filter: the dulcified spirit of sal ammoniac readily and entirely dissolves it, and takes up a considerable quantity; and what is pretty remarkable, this solution mixes either with water or spirit, without growing turbid.

As a pigment, it makes a beautiful yellow, which is much used by the painters. Dr Lewis says, that it makes a beautiful and durable citron-yellow stain upon marble, whether rubbed in substance on the hot stone, or applied, as dragon's-blood sometimes is, in form of a spirituous tincture. When it is applied on cold marble, the stone is afterwards to be heated, to make the colour penetrate.

As a medicine, gamboge evacuates powerfully both upwards and downwards; some condemn it as acting with too great violence, and occasioning dangerous hypercataractes; whilst others are of a contrary opinion. Geoffroy seems particularly fond of this medicine. cine, and informs us, that he has frequently given from two to four grains, without its proving at all emetic; that from four to eight grains, it both vomits and purges, without violence; that its operation is soon over; and that if given in a liquid form, and sufficiently diluted, it stands not in need of any corrector; that in the form of a bolus or pill, it is most apt to prove emetic, but very rarely has this effect if joined along with mercurius dulcis. He nevertheless cautions against its use where the patient cannot easily bear vomiting.—It has been used in dropsy with cream of tartar or jalap, or both, to quicken their operation. It is also recommended by some to the extent of 15 grains with an equal quantity of vegetable alkali in cases of the tape-worm. This dose is ordered in the morning; and if the worm is not expelled in two or three hours, it is repeated even to the third time with safety and efficacy. It is asserted that it has been given to this extent even in delicate habits. This is said to be the remedy alluded to by Baron Van Swieten, which was employed by Dr Herenschwand, and with him proved so successful in the removal of the tama lata.