BALSAMUM PERUVIANUM. 205 



same substances as those obtainable from balsam of Peru, among which 

 Phenol and Sfyrol have been observed. 



Commerce — The balsam is exported from New Granada, packed in 

 cylindrical tins holding about 10 lb. each. The quantity shipped from 

 Santa Marta in 1870 was 2,002 lb. ; in 1871, 2,183 lb. ; in 1872, 

 1,206 lb. In 1876 from the port of Savanilla 27,180 kilogrammes are 

 stated to have been exported. - 



Uses— Balsam of Tolu has no important medicinal properties. It 

 is chiefly used {iS an ingredient in a pleasant-tasting syrup and in 

 lozenges. 



Adulteration — We have twice met with spurious Balsam of Tolu, 

 but in neither instance did the fraudulent drug bear any great resem- 

 blance to the genuine. 



Colophon}', which might be mixed with the balsam, can be detected 

 by warm bisulphide of carbon which dissolves it, but removes from the 

 pure drug almost exclusively cinnamic and benzoic acid. 



BALSAMUM PERUVIANUM. 



BalsaTn umindi cum nigrum ; Balsam of Peru; F. Baum^^e de Perou, 

 Baume de San Salvador ; G. Peruhalsam. 



Botanical Origin — Myroxylon Pei'eircB Klotzsch {Myrospermuvi 

 ^ereiroi Royle), a tree attaining a height of about 50 feet, and throw- 

 pug out spreading, ascending branches at 6 to 10 feet from the ground.* 

 It is found in a small district of the State of Salvador in Central 

 Lmerica (formerly part of Guatemala), lying between 13°'35 and 14°*10 

 lat., and 89° and 89°'40 W. long., and known as the Costa del Balsamo 

 )r Balsam Coast. The trees grow naturally in the dense forests ; those 

 rom which the balsam is obtained are, if in groups, sometimes enclosed, 

 [in other cases only marked, but all have their distinct owners. They 

 [are occasionally rented for a term of years, or a contract is made for 

 [the produce of a certain number. 



The principal towns and villages around which balsam is produced, 

 re the following : — Juisnagua, Tepecoyo or Coyo, Tamanique, Chiltiua- 

 3an, Talnique, Jicalapa, Teotepeque, Comasagua and Jayaque. All the 

 luds on the Balsam Coast are Indian Reservation Lands. 



The Balsam of Peru tree was introduced in 1861 into Ceylon, where 

 it flourishes with extraordinary vigour. 



' We are not yet prepared to accept the opinion of Baillon, that M. PerelrcB is 

 JecificaUy identical T^ath JI. Tolui/era, though we admit they are very closely related, 

 [ccording to our observations, the two trees exhibit the following differences : — 

 M. Tohti/era. ] M. PereircF. 



Trunk tall and bare, branching at 40 Trunk throwing off ascending branches 



60 feet from the ground, and forming a 

 Bundish crown of foliage. 

 Calyx rather tubular. 

 Racemes dense, 3 to 4.^ inches long. 

 Legume scarcely narrowed towards the 

 Istalk-end. 



at 6 to 10 feet from the ground. 



Calyx widely cup-shaped, shallow. 

 Racemes loose, 6 to 7 inches long. 

 Legume much narrowed towards the 

 stalk-end. 



See also Bentley and Trimen, Medicinal Plants, part 10 (1876), Toltti/era Pereirw. 



