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Scan 316
Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883
4 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 302. See the scan on archive.org.
1and when alcoholic varnishes are made, it is generally the last to be added, in order to completely dissolve it, as it is with the other resins used that this masticine unites.
3Dammar is in the form of globular or shapeless tears, mixed with various impurities such as leaves, bark, insects and earth, inside as well as outside. It is transparent, is easily crushed under the fingers and is always dusty. It is tasteless, has no smell in its natural state, but exhales, when heated, a sweet aromatic odour. When crushed in the hand, it emits a succession of crackling sounds caused by the rupture of the tears. Pressed lightly with the fingers, it becomes slightly sticky on the surface, and the fingers remain moist for a time, retaining an odour somewhat like frankincense. Held to the flame of a candle, it crackles and emits a series of small explosive particles, which take fire, and exposed to a heat of 212° Fahr. it will flow gently in a liquid as from a glass. It is insoluble in alcohol, but entirely soluble in essential oil of turpentine. Sometimes the resin animé yielded by Hymenaea Courbaril, the West Indian locust-tree, is sold as dammar. It is of irregular form, not transparent, completely soluble in alcohol, but not in essential oil. The interior is yellow and of different shades. Its smell is somewhat akin to that of arnica, and the taste, not very perceptible at first, becomes slightly bitter afterwards. Dammar should be chosen as free from impurities and as white as possible. Break it up with a knife, in order to separate the woody matter and earth, wash the pieces chosen in clear and limpid essence of turpentine, and if they do not appear
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