This section is from the "A Handbook of Useful Drugs" book, by State Medical Examining and Licensing Boards.
A gummy exudation from Astragalus gummifer.
Action and Uses: Tragacanth swells on addition of water and gradually forms a cloudy gelatinous mass. On further addition of water it forms a mucilage which is occasionally used in pharmacy in the making of emulsions and is widely used as a basis for a greaseless catheter lubricant and an application for chapped skin.
 
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