On storax / by Daniel Hanbury.

  • Hanbury, Daniel, 1825-1875.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On storax / by Daniel Hanbury. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    9/18 (page 7)
    Dr. X. Landerer of Athens, as contained in a communication published in Buchner's Repertorium for 1839.* This communication, I translate thus: The Storax plant, Styrax officinalis is found in various parts of continental Greece, as well as in some of the islands of the Arcliipelago. There however, it forms but a small shrub and does not possess the agreeable odour ascribed to it by botanists. The bark of the plant occurring in Greece, has not the slightest odour, which probably is due to neglect in cultivation. On the contrary, such is not the case with the plant as found in the Turkish islands of Rhodes and Cos, and especially with it as cultivated by the people of Cos. (a) As I obtained some time since in Syra from a merchant coming from Rhodes some information on the subject, I will make it public, not doubting that, though but little, it will be acceptable. The Storax plant is called in Cos and Rhodes Qav^fovfi {buclturi). At its flowering season, it fills the air with the most agreeable vanilla-like perfume. At the period for the collection of the bark and yoimger twigs, which are em- ployed for the preparation of Buckuri-jag, i. e. Styrax-oil (oil being called in Turkish, 7a</), permission is obtained from the Pasha residing at Rhodes, a small sum being paid for it. Those who are provided with the permission to collect, now make with small knives longitudinal incisions and peel off from the stem the fresh pieces of bark in the form of little narrow ribbons. Owing to their adhesive juice they easily stick together [backen sie leicht zusammen}; from them are formed masses of one oke weight (~ 2lb3.), which are reserved for the pre- paration of jag, or are immediately purchased by Rhodian merchants and sent to Rhodes. The preparation of Buchuri-jag is effected by merely pressing the before- mentioned masses in presses somewhat warmed, called Styrakia, and not by boiling. The jag obtained by gentle pressure is of an unctu lus consistence, a light grey colour, and diffuses a very agreeable vanilla-like odour. This is the only sort that is exported; but in Cos and Rhodes, it is also used in the pre- paration of a very odoriferous mass made by the addition of finely-powdered Olibanum and formed into cakes of the size of a fist, which are called Styrakia. The preparation of these masses belongs exclusively to the conventual clergy, who distinguish their manufacture with the convent seal. By repeated warming nnd stronger pressure, an almost black Buchuri-jag is obtained, which is used by the inhabitants themselves for the most healing ointments and medicines. The bark remaining after the expression of the jag is bound together and conveyed partly to Constantinople and partly to Syra and there used for fumigation. With regard to the decoction of the bark and the adulteration of Styrax- balsam with turpentine, the Rhodian merchant assured me that they would not know how to go about it; and that the adulteration with turpentine, might, in case of detection, involve even the punishment of death. [Note a.] The Storax trees appear at that place to be of important value, and are given to the young women as dowry, in the same manner as in Greece, the bride is presented with so many Olive-trees. That Dr. Landerer has been greatly deceived by his informant will, I think, be very evident from the subjoined testimonies: 1. Niven Ker Esq., who was for several years British Consul at Rhodes, mformed me that he was quite ignorant of the carrying on in that island of the manufacture described by Dr. Landerer. 2 Sidney H. Maltass Esq. of Smyrna in a letter to me under date 7 October, 1853, speaking Liquid Storax, says Cos and Rhodes produce none. 3. Lieutenant Robert Campbell R.N., H.B.M. Consul at Rhodes, writes from Rhodes under date 16 December, 1855, that Mr. Landerer in attributing to the * Einige Wnrtc uher die Gewinnung des Storax liqiiidus vom Prof, und Leibapotheker X Landerer in Athen, huchncr's Rep Jur d. Pharm. Bd. 18. s. 369-362.