BALSAMUM PERUVIANUM. 205 



Sxarae substances as those obtainable from balsam of Peru, among which 

 Phenol and Stt/rol have been observed. 



Commerce— The balsam is exported from New Granada, packed in 

 cylindrical tins holding about 10 lb. each. The quantity shipped from 

 Santa Marta in 1870 was 2,002 1b.; in 1871, 2,183 1b.; in 18/2, 

 1,20G lb. In 1876 from the port of Savanilla 27,180 kilogrammes are 

 stated to have been exported. 



Uses— Balsam of Tolu has no important medicinal properties. R 

 is chiefly used as an ingredient in a pleasant-tasting syrup and m 

 lozenges. 



Adulteration— We have twice met with spurious Balsam of Tolu, 

 but in neither instance did the fraudulent drug bear any great resem- 

 blance to the genuine. ' 1.11.1.1 



Colophony, which might be mixed with the balsam, can be detected 

 by warm bisulphide of carbon which dissolves it, but removes from the 

 pure drug almost exclusively cinnamic and benzoic acid. 



BALSAMUM PERUVIANUM. 



Balsam mnindi cum nigrum ; Balsam of Peru ; ¥. Baume de Perou, 



Baume de San Salvador ; G. Peruhalsnm. 



Botanical Origin— Myroxylon Pereirai Klotzsch {Myrospeymi 

 Pereiroi Royle), a tree attaining a height of about 50 feet, and throw- 

 ing out spreading, ascending branches at 6 to 10 feet from the ground. 



It is found fn a .small district of the State of Salvador m Central 



or Balsam Coast. The trees grow naturally in the dense forests ; those 

 from which the balsam is obtained are, if in groups, sometimes enclosed, 

 in other cases only marked, but all have their distmct owners, iney 

 are occasionally rented for a term of years, or a contract is made lor 



the produce of a certain number. , , . i 4 



The principal towns and villages around which balsam is produced, 

 are the following :— Juisnagua, Tepecoyo or Coyo, Tamanique, Chi tiua- 

 Pan, Talnique, Jicalapa, Teotepeque, Comasagua and Jayaque. All tlie 

 Jaud.s on the Balsam Coast are Indian Reservation Lands^ 

 . The Balsam of Peru tree was introduced in 1861 into Ceylon, wheie 

 it flourishes with extraordinary vigour. 



1 



Per€ir<v is 



flnJ-^ 1.'® ^^^^ yet prepared to accept the opinion "^^ y^"'""' "^.^ ^i^^gclv related 

 specifically identical ^?ith M. Tolulferl though we admit they ^^%^^%l^^^ 

 According to our observations, the two trees exhibit the followuig differences . 



m M. Toluifera, 



tnft^f tall and bare, branching at 40 

 ^ ou teet from the ground, and formincr a 



>-„ 1- , **^"i i-ne groumi 

 W>"n'Jish crown of foliage. 



^^yx rather tubularf 



g«eme3 dense, .S to A\ inches long. 



stait^'",® scarcely narrowed towards th _ _ , 



s^aa^nrl. stalk-end. 



S«« also Bentley and Trimen, Medicinal Plants, part 10 (187G), Toluifera Perelrce. 



M. 



Trunk throwing off ascenduig brancliea 

 at C to 10 feet from the ground. 



Calyx widely cup-sha]3ed, shallow. 

 Racemes loose, 6 to 7 mches long 

 Legume much narrowed towards the 



stalk-end. 



