BALSAM OF PEliU. 293 



NOTE ON THE USE OF BALSAM OF PERU IN THE 

 ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



(Gebrauch des Perubalsams in der romischen Kirche.) 



IN an interesting notice respecting the liquid commonly, isei. 

 though incorrectly, called Balsam of Peru, given some months 

 ago in the American Journal of Pharmacy, the writer, Dr. 

 Charles Dorat, pointed out that the balsam was at one time in Dr. C. Dorat. 

 such great esteem, that its employment was sanctioned by high 

 ecclesiastical authority in the preparation of the Chrism used in 

 the Roman Catholic Church. It appears, moreover, that there 

 still exists among the archives of Guatemala, copies of bulls of 

 Popes Pius IV. and Pius V., authorizing the clergy to make use 

 of this balsam in the Holy Chrism, and pronouncing it sacrilege 

 to destroy the trees producing it. 



Thinking it would be interesting to ascertain with precision 

 the terms of these ancient documents, I asked my friend, Signor 

 Vincenzo Bangui rietti, Professor of Mineralogy at Rome, to make 

 application in the proper quarter, and to obtain for me, if 

 possible, copies of the bulls in question. Professor Sanguinetti 

 was kind enough promptly to respond to my request, but he 

 found that the records of bulls issued during the pontificate of 

 Pius IV. have been lost, and that none can now be discovered 

 in the archives of the Vatican. His search for the bull of Bull of Pius V. 

 Pius V. was, however, successful, and he forwarded me a copy, 

 which, with a translation, I have given below. It will be 

 observed that the bull allows the substitution of Balsam of Peru 

 for Mecca Balsam, which latter, mixed with oil, constitutes the 

 ordinary Chrisma principale of the Roman Catholic Church. * 



1 Vide Dr. Hook's Church Dictionary, Ed. 6, Loud., 1852, where Chrism 

 is thus defined : 



u Chrism Oil consecrated in the Romish and Greek churches by the 

 bishop, and used in baptism, confirmation, orders, and extreme unction. 

 This chrism is consecrated with great ceremony upon Holy Thursday. There 

 are two sorts of it ; the one is a composition of oil and balsam, made use of 

 in baptism, confirmation, and orders ; the other is only plain oil consecrated 

 by the bishop, and used for catechumens and extreme unction. Chrism has 

 been discontinued in the Church of England since the Reformation." 



Consult also Hoffmann, Lexicon Universale, Lugd. Bat., 1698 (in verbum). 



