BALSAM OF PERU 497 



BALSAM OF PERU 



(Balsamum Peruvianum) 



Source, &C. Balsam of Peru is a balsam exuded from the trunk of 

 Myroxylon Pereirce, Klotsch (N.O. Leguminosce) , after the bark has 

 been beaten and scorched. 



The tree grows in the forests of that part of San Salvador (Central 

 America), near the Pacific Ocean, and known as the Balsam Coast, 

 and probably also in other parts of Central America, as, for instance, in 

 Honduras (Dieterich) , the drug having received the name ' Peruvian ' 

 from the fact that it was originally sent from San Salvador to Callao, 

 the port of Lima, and thence to Spain. 



As in the case of Myroxylon Toluifera, the bark of young twigs 

 contains secretion- ducts which, however, are soon thrown off, after 

 which no fresh ones are formed. The formation of the balsam is 

 induced by certain treatment to which the bark is subjected, and it 

 is, therefore, not a normal secretion of the tree, but a pathological 

 product. Of the exact nature of the changes induced we have no 

 knowledge, but probably, as has been proved for colophony and for 

 storax, schizogenous secretion- ducts are formed in the new wood 

 after the infliction of injury. 



The following is a brief account of the production of balsam of 

 Peru. The bark of the tree is first beaten with the handle of an axe 

 or with a stone over a space about 25 X 15 cm. and the cork removed. 

 After five days a little balsam exudes, which is soaked off by rags. 

 Now the wounded place is heated by torches and after about a week 

 a more abundant flow takes place which is again absorbed by rags. 

 The place is subsequently again cut and scorched and finally the 

 scorched bark is itself detached. The wood thus laid bare is subjected 

 to similar treatment lasting in all about six weeks. When the secretion 

 of balsam ceases the bark immediately above the exhausted spot is 

 treated. 



The rags are collected and when sufficient have accumulated the 

 balsam is pressed out and boiled with water which is poured off carrying 

 impurities with it. The bark removed from the trees is also boiled 

 with water and the balsam thus extracted mixed with the rag-balsam. 

 The balsam is then filled into tin canisters with screw openings holding 

 about 27 kilos each ; these are conveyed on mules to Acajutla and 

 Belize, whence the balsam is shipped to Hamburg, &c. 



Description. Balsam of Peru, as seen in commerce, is a rather 

 yiscid, oily liquid, resembling common black treacle, but rather 

 thinner, and not of an adhesive or glutinous nature ; it appears 

 black in bulk, but in thin layers it is dark reddish brown and trans- 

 parent. It has a fragrant, balsamic odour, and although it has no 



32 



