BALSAM PERU. 255 
remarks * tliat such physical observations as those above mentioned 
(sp. gr., consistency, stickiness, etc.) should first be made, and 
draws particular attention to the fact that adulterated samples 
exhibit a thread-like attenuated drop, which is presumed to mean 
a similarity to the manner in which treacle will drop. The 
chemical properties of the chief constituents should then be con- 
sidered, and remarks on the adaptation of cinnamein to this 
purpose, which may be obtained with the greatest facility, though 
not perfectly pure, when the balsam is shaken with three times 
its weight of carbon disulphide. The latter becomes only slightly 
coloured when a pure balsam is employed, while the adulterated 
often yields a very dark coloured solution, but he yet considers 
the amount of cinnamein present altogether too variable or its 
relation to carbon disulphide, and too much affected by the possible 
admixtures to admit of its quantitative estimation. The cinnamein 
may be obtained more pure by means of the lower-boiling fractions 
of petroleum. This solution is almost entirely colourless, and 
leaves, after the evaporation of the petroleum, as is known, a very 
fragrant cinnamein, amounting to about half the weight of the 
balsam, thus far less than by the application of carbon disulphide. 
A petroleum boiling at 50° to 70° C. may be very well adapted ; 
and the yield must be determined by testing numerous samples. 
Besides the amount of cinnamein, the amount of resin of Peru 
balsam may be also employed as atest. This can be separated, 
as above mentioned, by means of carbon disulphide or petroleum, 
and amounts in a pure balsam to more than one-third, or to about 
two-fifths ; most of the adulterants will have the effect of decreasing 
the weight of the resin separated by the solvent, and inversely to 
increase the amount of the portion taken up by that solvent ; 2. e., 
apparently to furnish more cinnamein. As the cinnamein and 
resin are determined in the same operation, the same objections 
apply to the latter as to the quantitative estimation of the cin- 
namein. In a like manner the property of this resin, on the other 
hand, of not being rapidly attacked by alkalies is of value. 
The important article by Professor Fliickiger above quoted from 
adds that the free acid which occurs in the balsam, chiefly cin- 
namic acid, offers a pomt of attack which the German Pharma- 
copeeia has already made use of, although in a manner which 
* Pharm. Zeitung, 1881, p. 222. 
