232 . LEGUMINOS^. 



the balsam with a dilute solution of carbonate of ammoniuin, and pre- 

 cipitating by h3'drochloric acid. ■ The precipitate dissolved in dilute 

 alcohol yields the acid in small crystals, but to the amoimt of only 

 about one per cent. 



These resin-acids have a bitterish taste and an acid reaction ; their 

 salts of lead and silver are crystalline but insoluble ; metacopaivate of 

 sodium may be crystallized from its w^atery solution. 



Commerce — The balsam is imported in barrels direct from Para and 

 Maranham, sometimes from Eio de Janeiro, and less often from Demerara, 

 Angostura, Trinidad, Maracaibo, Savanilla, and Cartagena. It often 

 reaches England by way of Havre and New York. In 1875 there were 

 exported 10,150 kilogrammes from Savanilla, 99,800 lb. from Ciudad 

 Bolivar (Angostura), and 65,243 kilos, from Para. 



Uses — Copaiba is employed in medicine on account of its stimulant 

 action on the mucous membranes, more especially those of tlie urino- 

 genital organs. 



Adulteration— Copaiba is not unfi 



^^equently fraudulently tampered 



with before it reaches" the pharmaceutist; and owing to its naturally 

 variable composition, arising in part from its diverse botanical origin, its 

 purity is not always easily ascertained. 



The oleo-resin usually dissolves in a small proportion of absolute 

 alcohol : should it refuse to do so, the presence of some fatty oil other 

 than castor oil may be surmised. To detect an admixture of this latter, 

 one part of the balsam should be heated vrith four of spirit of wine 

 (sp. gr. 0-838). On cooling, the mixture separates into two portions, the 

 upper of which will contain any castor oil present, dissolved in alcohol 

 and the essential oil. On evaporation of this upper layer, castor oi 

 may be recognized by its odour; but still more positively byheatmgit 

 with caustic soda and lime, when cenanthol will be formed, the presence 

 of which may be ascertained by its peculiar smell. By the latter tc^t 

 an admixture of even one per cent, of castor oil can be proved. . 



The presence of fatty oil in any considerable quantity is hke«i^e 

 made evident by the greasiness of the residue, ^vhen the balsam ^ 



deprived of its essential oil by prolonged boiling with water. 



The admixture of some volatile oil with copaiba, can mostly 

 detected by the odour, especially when the balsam is dropped on a pie 

 ot warmed metal Spirit of wine may also be advantageously tn 

 tor the same purpose. It dissolves but very sparingly the volatile 

 pt copaiba : the resins of the latter are also not abundantly soi^u 



in it. Hence, 



the larger portion of any essen'tiaroir'tliat^might have been a 



note 1. 



Wood 



dded. 

 233, 



Substitutes— Under this head two druo-s deserve mention, name) 



Wood 



Oleo-resin of Hi 



a large size, belons-s 

 Copaifi 



3 a, <nivA , e 



._The tree, which is o 

 and is nearly relate^^^^^^ 



^'opaijeva. According to Beddome/ it is very common in ^'.^ "ijji 

 moist forests of the South Travancore Ghats, and has also been louna 



' -f/oi-a Sylvatka for Southern India, AraJras, part 2i (1872), 255. 



