STY′RAX. Syn. Storax, Storax balsam; Styrax (Ph. L., & E.), L. “The liquid balsam of an uncertain plant.” (Ph. L.) The “balsamic exudation of Styrax officinale, Linn.” (Ph. E.), or cane storax tree. Two or three varieties are known in commerce:—Liquid storax (styrax liquida), lump of red storax (s. in massis), which is generally very impure; storax in tears (s. in lachrymis), and storax in reeds (s. calamita). The last are now seldom met with in trade.
Prepared Storax (styrax colata; s. præparata, B. P., Ph. L.) is obtained by dissolving storax, 1 lb., in rectified spirit, 4 pints, by a gentle heat, straining the solution through linen, distilling off greater part of the spirit, and evaporating what is left to a proper consistence by the heat of a water bath. It is less fragrant than the raw drug.
Storax is stimulant, expectorant, and nervine. It was formerly much used in menstrual obstructions, phthisis, coughs, asthmas, and other breath diseases. It is now chiefly used as a perfume.—Dose, 6 to 20 or 30 gr. (10 to 20 gr. twice a day, B. P.).
A factitious strained Storax is made as follows:—1. Balsam of Peru, 1 lb.; balsam of tolu, 4 lbs.; mix.
2. Gum benzoin, 8 lbs.; liquid storax, 6 lbs.; balsam of tolu and Socotrine aloes, of each 3 lbs.; balsam of Peru, 2 lbs.; N.S.W. yellow gum, 7 lbs.; rectified spirit, 7 gall.; digest, with frequent agitation, for a fortnight, strain and distil off the spirit (about 51⁄2 galls.) until the residuum has a proper consistence. Prod. 28 lbs.
3. Liquid storax, 1 oz.; Socotrine aloes, 1⁄4 lb.; balsam of tolu, 2 lbs.; rectified spirit, q. s.
SUB-. See Nomenclature and Salts.
SU′BERIC ACID. Obtained by boiling rasped cork for some time in nitric acid.
SUBLIMA′TION. The process by which volatile substances are reduced to the state of vapour by heat, and again condensed in the solid form. It differs from ordinary distillation in being confined to dry solid substances, and in the heat employed being, in general, much greater.
SUB′STANTIVE COLOURS, in the art of dyeing, are such as impart their tints to cloth and yarns without the intervention of a mordant; in contradistinction to adjective colours, which require to be fixed by certain ‘intermedes,’ or substances which have a joint affinity for the colouring matter and the material to be dyed.