Uses—The inspissated juice has been recommended as an astringent in diarrhœa and chronic dysentery.
STYRACEÆ.
RESINA BENZOË.
Benzoïnum; Benzoin, Gum Benjamin; F. Benjoin; G. Benzoëharz.[1474]
Botanical Origin—Styrax Benzoin Dryander, a tree of moderate height, with stem as thick as a man’s body and beautiful crown of foliage, indigenous to Sumatra and Java, in the first of which islands benzoin is produced.
The tree yielding the superior benzoin of Siam, though commonly referred to this species, has never been examined botanically, and is actually unknown. The French expedition for the exploration of the Mekong and Cochin China (1866-68), reported the drug to be produced in the cassia-yielding forests on the eastern bank of the river in question in about N. lat. 19°. Whether any benzoin is obtained from S. Finlaysoniana Wall, as conjectured by Royle, we know not.
History—There is no evidence that the Greeks and Romans,[1475] or even the earlier Arabian physicians, had any acquaintance with benzoin; nor is the drug to be recognized among the commodities which were conveyed to China by the Arab and Persian traders between the 10th and 13th centuries, though the camphor of Sumatra is expressly named.
The first mention of benzoin known to us (disregarding the word kalanusari, which in the St. Petersburg Dictionary is given as the old Sanskrit name of benzoin) occurs in the travels of Ibn Batuta,[1476] who having visited Sumatra during his journey through the East, a.d. 1325-49, notes that the island produces Java Frankincense and camphor. The word Java was at that period a designation of Sumatra, or was even used by the Arabs to signify the islands and productions of the Archipelago generally.[1477] Hence came the Arabic name Lubán Jáwí, i.e. Java Frankincense, corrupted into Banjawi, Benjui, Benzui, Benzoë and Benzoïn, and into the still more vulgar English Benjamin.
We have no further information about the drug until the latter half of the following century, when we find a record that in 1461 the sultan of Egypt, Melech Elmaydi, sent to Pasquale Malipiero, doge of Venice, a present of 30 rotoli of Benzoi, 20 rotoli of Aloes Wood, two pairs of Carpets, a small flask of balsam (of Mecca), 15 little boxes of Theriaka, 42 loaves of Sugar, 5 boxes of Sugar Candy, a horn of Civet, and 20 pieces of Porcelain.[1478] Agostino Barbarigo, another doge of Venice, was presented in a similar manner in 1490 by the sultan of Egypt with 35 rotoli of Aloes Wood, the same quantity of Benzui and 100 loaves of Sugar.[1479]
Among the precious spices sent from Egypt in 1476 to Caterina Cornaro, queen of Cyprus, were 10 lb. of Aloes Wood and 15 lb. of Benzui.[1480] These notices indicate the high value set upon the drug when first brought to Europe.