83 TOLUIFERA PEREIR2E 



especially observable when it is thinly spread on paper and 

 warmed ; its taste is warm and bitterish, and after being swal- 

 lowed it leaves a disagreeable burning or pricking sensation in 

 the throat. It is inflammable, and as it burns it gives off a 

 whitish smoke and agreeable odour. Its specific gravity varies 

 from 1*15 to 1*16. It is soluble in chloroform, and in about five 

 parts of rectified spirit ; but when mixed with water it undergoes 

 no diminution of volume, although it yields to it traces of cinnamic 

 and benzoic acids. 



Balsam of Peru is composed of about 38 per cent, of a black, 

 brittle, amorphous resin, which is odourless and tasteless, and 

 which is soluble in caustic alkalies, and also in alcohol, and which 

 by destructive distillation furnishes benzoic acid, styrol, and toluol ; 

 and of about 60 per cent, of Ginnamein or Benzylic Ginnamate, 

 a brownish aromatic liquid,resolvable by the concentrated caustic 

 alkalies into cinnamic acid and benzylic alcohol. It is probably 

 owing to some alteration produced in the benzylic cinnamate by the 

 process followed in obtaining the balsam, that its dark colour and 

 the free acids which the balsam always contains are due. 



Some naturally exuded resin of the balsam tree examined by 

 Attfield, was found to contain 77'4 per cent, of resin which was 

 without any aromatic properties, and contained no cinnamic acid ; 

 hence he concluded that it was quite distinct from Balsam of Peru, 

 the one having no apparent relation to the other. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Balsam of Peru possesses stimu- 

 lant and expectorant properties, and has been administered 

 with success in chronic bronchitis, rheumatism, and asthma. It 

 acts more especially on the mucous membranes, and hence it may 

 be also employed to check excessive discharges, as in leucor- 

 rhcea, gleet, &c. It is also used as a stimulant application to 

 indolent ulcers, bedsores, sore nipples, &c., and also in offensive 

 discharges from the ear, &c. It is but little used, however, 

 as a medicine either in this country or in the United States of 

 America. 



Balsam of Peru is sometimes employed in the manufacture of 

 soap to which it imparts its fragrance, and also causes the soap to 



