BALSAMUM TOLUTANUM 



251 



CONSTITUENTS. A volatile oil (chiefly toluene, CioHie), a resin, free acids 

 (cinnamic and benzoic), and benzylic ethers of these, principally of 

 the former. If a thin layer of the balsam be viewed under the micro- 

 scope, numerous crystals of the free cinnamic acid are seen. 



ACTION AND USES. Stimulant expectorant, similar in action but weaker 

 than balsam of Peru. The syrup is used as an agreeable basis for 

 cough mixtures. Dose of the balsam: 8 to 30 1U (0.5 to 2 mils). 



PIG. 135. Tolutfera balsamum Branch and fruit. 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Syrupus Tolutanus (5 per cent, of tr.),. .Dose: 2 to 6 fl. dr. (8 to 24 mils). 



Tinctura Tolutani (20 per cent.), J^ to 2 fl. dr. (2 to 8 mils). 



Tinctura Benzoin! Composita (4 per 



cent.), 15 to 60 ITU (i to 4 mils). 



LINAGE^. Flax Family 



Stems herbaceous; annual or perennial, rarely woody plants closely allied to 

 the mallows, remarkable, however, in having the inner fiber of the bark very tena- 

 cious, and for the mucilaginous covering of the seed, in which there is an abun- 

 dance of drying fixed oil. A few are bitter. 



