Balsam

(bawF-sam) [f3ala a/iov, the resin of the balsam tree]. The resinous, volatile, aromatic substance, liquid or solid, obtained from certain trees by natural exudation or by artificial extraction. Balsams are divided into two cla es, those with, and those without benzoic and cinnamic acids. In general they are mixtures of various e ential oils, resins, and acids. B. Apple, the plant Afomordica balsam in a, and its warty, gourdlike fruit. It is purgative, but its tincture is chiefly used in domestic medicine as a vulnerary. Unof. B. Bog, a singular stonelike, woody, umbelliferous plant, Bolax, or Azorella glebaria, of the Falkland Islands and Patagonia. Its aromatic gum is locally prized as a vulnerary, desiccative, and anti gonorrheal remedy. Unof. B., Canada, a turpentine gathered from the natural blisters of the bark of Abies balsamum. It is used as a mounting-medium by microscopists. B. of Copaiba. See Copaiba. B. of Fir. Same as Canada Balsa/n. B., Friar’s. See Benzoin. B. of Gilead, the balm of the Old Testament; an oleoresin obtained from the Balsa mode tid ron gileadense. B. of Peru, the balsam obtained from Myroxylon pereirce; antiseptic, stimulant to the circulation, and sedative to the nervous system, tonic, and expectorant. Applied locally, it is useful in chronic inflammatory skin-diseases. Dose of the emulsion Tr^xxxv (0.65-I.6). B. Root, a popular name for certain composite-flowered plants of the genus Balsamorrhiza. B. hooker i i, B. macrophylla, B. sagittata are common in the Pacific States and abound in a resinous balsam. Unof. B. of Tolutan, or of Tolu, obtained from Myroxylon tohiifera. Its properties are due to a volatile oil, toluene. It po e es an agreeable odor, and is a basis for many cough-mixtures. It is expectorant. Tinct. tolutana contains IO per cent, of the balsam in 90 per cent, of alcohol. Dose TT^x-xxx (o 65-2.0). Syr. tolutanus. Dose f^j-ij (4.0-8.0). 136