AND PHARMACOPCEIA. 435 



BALSAMS. — Bahama. Balsams are generally fluid, of 

 various degrees of thickness, odoi'ous and combustible : they re- 

 semble resins, being soluble in spirit of wine ; and when thus 

 dissolved, impart to water a sweetish taste, and a milky ap- 

 pearance. 



Balsam of Canada is a very pure kind of turpentine ; and 

 though preferred on this account to Venice and common tur- 

 pentine, is unnecessary in veterinary medicine, being very ex- 

 pensive ; whereas Venice turpentine is much cheaper, and I 

 believe equally efficacious. 



Canada Balsam is a strong diuretic in the dose of one ounce 

 or more ; in smaller doses it has been recommended in chronic 

 cough and diseases of the lungs. [It is recommended by Mr. 

 Morton for the preparation of tape or cotton for setons. See 

 Setons. — Ed.] 



Balsam of Copaiba, or Capivy, possesses nearly the same 

 properties as the preceding. 



The dose is about one or two ounces, or more. 



Balsam, Friar's, or Trumatic, now named Compound 

 Tincture of Benjamin, or Benzoin, is made in the following 

 manner : — 



Benzoin 3 ozs. 



Storax balsam, strained 2 ozs. 



Balsam of tolu 1 oz. 



Extract of spiked aloes \ oz. 



Rectified spirit 2 pints. 



Macerate for fourteen days (seven days ; Dub.), and filter or 

 strain through blotting paper. The properties of this tincture 

 are stimulating and expectorant, and it is therefore by some pre- 

 scribed, in combination with other remedies, in cases of old 

 chronic cough or broken wind. As it is decomposed by water, 

 it should first be amalgamated with mucilage or yolk of Qgg, in 

 order to suspend it in aqueous liquids, when given internally. 

 However, its principal use is that of a stimulant external ai^pli- 

 cation to indolent sores or wounds. 



Balsam op Gilead is nearly similar to the capivy, but more 

 pleasant. Many virtues have been attributed to these balsams 

 by medical writers : they were supposed to heal ulceration of the 

 lungs, kidneys, or other internal parts, and to be powerful cor- 

 roborants. They do not appear, however, to possess these qua- 

 lities, nor do they seem to diflTer much from turpentine in their 

 medical virtues. See Turpentine. 



Balsam of Peru. This is of a different kind fi'om the 

 former balsams, being more stimulating. 



The dose is from one to two drachms. (See Expectorants 



F F 2 



