Gum Anima

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Short description: Pharmaceutical gum or resin

Gum anima, also called anima, anime, or animé, is a kind of gum or resin.[1][2]

Definition and description

According to an 1897 dictionary, the term could be used to refer to "several resins" known as elemi; copal produced by Hymenaea verrucosa;[nb 1] a product of Hymenaera courbaril; or "Indian copal" produced by Vateria indica.[2] The 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, in contrast, mentions only that it can be used to refer to products of H. courbaril and H. verrucosa.[3]

As of 1804 it was divided into two kinds, western and eastern.[1][4] According to an 1897 dictionary, the eastern gum came first, and the western gum was called by the same name because of its similarity to the western.[2] The western gum anima flows from an incision in a tree called courbaril;[1][4] it is transparent,[1][3] and of a pale brown color color[3] similar to frankincense.[1] It has a sweeter smell than the eastern gun anima.[4] As of 1804 it was notably sourced from Brazil.[4]

The eastern gum anima was distinguished in 1728 into three kinds: the first white; the second blackish, in some respects like myrrh; the third pale, resinous, and dry.[1] At some time before 1804 it was commonly brought to Europe from Ethiopia.[4]

Uses

All kinds of anima were used in perfumes around 1728, because of their agreeable smell; they were also been applied externally against colds.[1] The 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica notes that the product of H. courbaril was used in perfumes at that time.[3]

As of 2017, gum anima is often added to sandarac-based alcohol varnishes to prevent brittleness caused by the sandarac.[5] Shellac and elemi are also often used for this purpose.[5]

Notes

  1. Then known as Trachylobium hornemannianum

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChambers, Ephraim, ed (1728). "Gum anima". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (first ed.). James and John Knapton, et al. 





Categories: [Traditional medicine]


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