BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 323 
pointed in shape. Flowers in loose racemes 6 
to 7 inches long. Fruit, one-celled and one- 
seeded, winged and indehiscent, with unequal 
sides, about 34% inches long. Seed sub-reni- 
form in shape, with a thin testa. 
The tree is a lofty one, and the balsam is ob- 
tained by loosening the bark by means of heat 
and charring. The exudation is collected on 
tags, which are then placed in hot water, after 
which they are subjected to pressure, The bal- 
sam as it occurs in commerce is a thick, brown- 
ish, syrupy liquid, with an agreeable odor, hav- 
ing a warm, balsamic taste, afterward becoming 
acrid; fairly soluble in alcohol. It has an acid 
reaction to test paper. Balsam Peru contains 
about 50 or 60 per cent. of colorless, aromatic 
ow, 30 per cent. or more of resin, cinnamein or 
benzylic cinnamate, and by destructive distilla- 
tion yields styrol, benzotc acid, benzylic benzoate, 
stilbene, styractn, and toluol. By expression of 
the seed we obtain asemi-solid substance, termed 
Balsamo Blanco, or white Balsam, This sub- 
stance should not be confounded with Balsam 
Tolu, which it resembles to some extent, but it © 
has a distinctive odor of its own kind by which 
it may be readily distinguished. The Balsam is 
not infrequently adulterated with fixed oils and 
and resins; these may be detected by agitating 
the Balsam with petroleum benzine. The oils 
are soluble, whilst the resins form a sticky 
mass. 
Balsam Peru has stimulant, expectorant and 
vulnerary properties, and may be given in form 
of an emulsion, in doses of 30 drops (2 grams), 
