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BALSAMUM PERUVIANUM. Pharm. Lond. t? Edinb. 
_ THE tree which produces this balfam was not botanically afcer- 
tained till the year 1781, when a fpecimen of it was fent by Mutis, 
from Terra Firma, to the younger Linnzus, who has defcribed it in the 
Supplementum plantarum under the name of Myroxylon peruiferum, 
Its fynonyma are Hoitziloxitl. Hernand. Thef rer. Med. Nov. Hifp. 
p. 51. cum fig. and Cabureiba Pif. Ind. Hift. Nat. et Med. p. 19. 
It grows in Peru, Brafil, Mexico, and Terra Firma. 
Two kinds of this balfam are imported here; the common or 
black, and the white. The firft, which is chiefly ufed, is about the 
confiftence of a fyrup, of a dark opake reddifh brown colour, in- 
clining to black, and of an agreeable aromatic {mell, and a very hot 
pungent tafte. 
Balfam of Peru is a very warm aromatic medicine, hotter than any 
of the other natural balfams; hence, in cold phlegmatic habits, it 
has been given to warm the conftitution, ftrengthen the nervous 
_fyftem, and attenuate vifcid humours. It has been alfo ufed by 
furgeons in certain wounds and ulcers. 
The White Balfam of Peru, or white ftorax, is brought here in 
gourd fhells, and is of a pale yellow colour, thick, and tenacious, be- 
coming by age folid and brittle. 
This balfam is lefs hot than the former, but of a more agreeable 
fragrant {mell, approaching fomewhat to that of ftorax. 
BALSAMUM CANADENSE. — Pharm. Lond. & Edinb. 
THIS balfam is the refinous juice of the Pinus Balfamea, or Balm 
of Gilead Fir ; a tree now well known in this country: which fhould 
have been figured with the other pines, but the drawing of it was 
at that time unfortunately miflaid. Hees 
This balfam, which is tranfparent, of a light amber colour, an 
~ tolerably firm confiftence, is brought to this country from Canada ; 
and hence receives the name of Canada balfam, It may be con- 
; 7 fidered 
