83 TOLUIFERA PEREIR^E 



Official Part and Name. BALSAMUM PEKUVIANUM ; a balsam 

 obtained from Myroxylon Pereirae, Klotzsch (B. P.). An oleo- 

 resin (Balsamum Peruvianum), which exudes from the trunk of 

 the tree after the removal of the bark, which has been previously 

 scorched by fire (I. P.). BALSAMUM PEEUVIANUM; an empyreu- 

 matic liquid balsam obtained from Myrospermum Peruiferum, 

 De Candolle (U. S. P.). 



Extraction and Commerce. From information communicated by 

 the late Dr. Charles Dorat, of Sonsonate, Salvador, to Professor 

 Carson of the United States, and the late Daniel Hanbury, and 

 published in the American Journal of Pharmacy and the Pharma- 

 ceutical Journal, it appears that Balsam of Peru is now obtained 

 as follows : Early in November or December, or after the last 

 rains, the stems of the balsam trees are beaten on four sides with 

 the back of an axe, a hammer, or other blunt instrument, until the 

 bark is loosened ; the four intermediate strips being left untouched 

 in order not to destroy the life of the tree. The bruised bark soon 

 cracks in long strips, and may be easily pulled off, when it is 

 found to be sticky as well as the surface of the wood below it 

 from a slight exudation of fragrant resin, but the quantity which 

 thus flows is not worth collecting. In order, therefore, to promote 

 an abundant flow, it is customary, five or six days after the bark 

 has been beaten, to apply lighted torches or bundles of burning 

 wood to the injured bark, which thus becomes charred ; and after 

 about eight days, the pieces of charred bark either fall off or are 

 removed, and the stem commences to exude the balsam. This is 

 collected by placing rags so as entirely to cover the bare wood, 

 and as these become saturated with the balsam, which is of a light 

 yellowish colour, they are collected and thrown into an earthen- 

 ware boiler, three-quarters filled with water, and stirred and 

 boiled gently until they appear nearly clean, and the now dark 

 and heavy balsam sinks to the bottom. This process goes on for 

 some hours, the exhausted rags being from time to time taken 

 out and fresh ones thrown in; and after they are removed 

 they are submitted to pressure by which much balsam is still 

 obtained. The press consists of a small open bag about fourteen 



