Balsa, or Balza

[Sp. and Pg.] ( Mar. ) A kind of fishing-craft employed on the W. coast of S. America. Bal's am, n. [Gr. balsam on; Heb. baal, lord, and shemen, oil.] (Chem. and Med.) The name given to almost every oily or resinous substance exuding from trees; but now used scientifically to denote a vegetable product containing either benzoic or cinnamic acid. The true balsams are much used in medicine on account of their stimulating, expectorant, and tonic properties. The most important are the balsams of Peru and Tolu, benzoin, solid styrax, or storax, and liquid styrax. (See these different words.) All these substances are very fragrant. They vary much in their consistence. Thus benzoin is solid, hard, and brittle; Peruvian balsam is fluid; and Tolu is intermediate, being a very soft and readily fusible solid. Copaiba, commonly called balsam copaiba, is not a true balsam, but belongs to the cla of oleo-resins. The same may be said of Canada balsam. Several medicinal mixtures, in which oils enter, are commonly included under the head of balsams. Thus the preparation known as balsam of sulphur, used as an application to foul ulcers, consists simply of flowers of sulphur and olive-oil. (Bot.) See BALSAM IN A CEE, and FIR.