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DENTAL MATERIA MEDICA

AND

THERAPEUTICS.

ACACIA—GUM ARABIC.

Source.—A thorny tree or shrub, of Arabia and Africa.
Description.—The concrete juice which exudes spontaneously
from the stem of the Acacia vera, in the form of a gum, which
hardens, on exposure, in small, irregular or roundish or oval
pieces, of various sizes, more or less transparent, hard, brittle
and pulverizable. It is generally either white or yellowish-white,
but sometimes of a deep orange or brownish color; the powder,
however, being pure white. It is inodorous, with a feeble,
slightly sweetish taste, and when pure dissolves wholly away in
the mouth.
In water it forms a viscid solution, known as mucilage.
It is insoluble in alcohol, ether and the oils. When kept dry
it undergoes no change.
Chemical Constituents.—It consists of a peculiar proximate
principle known as Gum or Jrabin^ composed chiefly of a soluble
acid substance, Gummic Acid (H2Ci2Hi^OioH20), combined with
per cent, of lime, forming a soluble salt, gummate of calcium.
3
Medicinal Properties and Action.— Demulcent and emollient.
It forms an excellent adjunct to other medicinal substances of
the same class, and an ingredient in all the officinal lozenges.
Dose.—Of the gum, ,^j ad libitum. Of the mucilage (siv,
water .5vj) ,5ij to .^vj daily, or ad libitum.
Therapeutic Uses.—Coughs and hoarseness, gastro-intestinal
irritation, infantile diarrhoea, epistaxis and superficial hemor-
rhages : applied in the form of fine powder.
Dental Uses.—As an emollient in the form of mucilage, to
cover and protect inflamed surfaces of mucous membrane.
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