(Gum Arabic.)

Origin. - A gummy exudation from Acacia Senegal Willdenow, and other species of acacia, small trees, about 20 feet (6 M.) high, found in India and Africa, especially in the district of Khartoum, westward to Senegambia.

Description and Properties. - In roundish tears of various sizes, or broken into angular fragments, with a glass-like, sometimes iridescent fracture, opaque from numerous fissures, but transparent and nearly colorless in thin pieces; nearly inodorous, taste insipid, mucilaginous; insoluble in alcohol, but soluble in water, forming a thick mucilaginous liquid. Acacia should be slowly but completely soluble in 2 parts of water.

Official Preparations

Mucilago Acaciae - Mucilaginis Acacia - Mucilage of Acacia (34 per cent). - Dose, freely.

Syrupus Acaciae - Syrupi Acaciae - Syrup of Acacia. - Dose, freely.

Acacia is contained in Emulsum Amygdalae, Pulvis Cretae Compositus, and in some trochisci.

Physiological Action and Therapeutics. - Acacia is a valuable demulcent, and gum-water is in ordinary use to serve as a protective to inflamed and irritated mucous membranes of the respiratory, alimentary, and genito-urinary tracts, as in cases of pharyngitis, laryngitis, dysentery, gastritis, typhoid fever, and in febrile affections generally. The mucilage of acacia is sometimes used as a protective for superficial burns, excoriations, etc.