J 
4 
obtained from this tree by making incifions near the bale of its trunk 
extending not only through the bark but into the fubftance of the 
when the balfam immediately iflues, and at the proner feafon 
wood 
flows in fuch abundance, that fometimes in three hours twelve pounds 
have been procured. The older trees afford the bed balfam, and yield 
it two or three times in the fame year. The Balfam fuoplied bv 
young and vigorous trees, which abound with the mod j 
de and watery, and is therefore accounted lefs valuable. \ 
e 
■ *^^ «■» ^Mfc 
flowing from the tree this balfam is a colourlefs fluid ; in time how 
ever it acquires a yellowifh tinge, and the confidence of oil 
though by age it has been found thick like honey, yet it never be 
folid like other refmous fluids. 
Genuine* Balfam of Copaiba has a moderately agreeable fmell, and 
a bitterifh biting tafte, of confiderable duration in the mouth : it 
diffolves entirely in redified fpirit, efpecially if the menftruum b 
previoufly alkalized ; when the folution has a very fragrant fmell, 
Diftilled with water it yields nearly half its weight of a limpid effen- 
tial oil ; and in a flrong heat, without addition, a blue oil. 
This, like moil other balfams, is nearly allied to the turpen- 
tines. It was formerly thought to be an efficacious remedy in various 
diforders, as pulmonary confumptions, coughs, fcorbutic difeafes, 
dropfies, dyfentenes, nephritic complaints, internal ulcers, fluor albus, 
gleets, &c. but though fome proofs of its good effeds in certain 
ftates of many of thefe. difeafes may be adduced, 3 yet as it irritates 
and heats the fyftem to a confiderable degree, few cafes occur in 
which this medicine can fafely be given, efpecially in large dofes. b 
It determines powerfully to the kidneys, and impregnates the urine 
find in fh 
Copaiba, a thick, whitifh 
Th 
almoft onatp-Roiro m -a. ".^> ""«^ "ic name or v^opaiDa, a tni 
CSV n tter fro"" H d ^ ? e 'T xture of oth « fubftances, or has been extract 
./ Domn ,n water, from the bark or branches of the tree." Lewh. M. M. *. ,«. 
M. M. p 
"!!": S tl^l-PKX; H °?™> Ohf. Pbyf. cbym. p. 24. Lentin 
p- 5»- M 
y 
had been many years affecYed with , , 1V1U / Ib . re f tes > /hat a woman in Santa *e, who 
of copaiba, the dofe of which J ffi " forty days was cured by taking balfam 
* la Repute ^S^T^ C ° * lp °° nful ^ ™ d ™S« M ^ Iks 
b 
786. n . 33. p. 374 
V^ES^; 1 ^^ «&*»• See D. Fred Wilh. Hoppe, apud 
with 
