564 



HISTORY OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



Liiinfflus. This is an elegant tree, attaining a 

 considerable height, and dividing into numerous 



Balsam of Copaiva. 



branches. The bark is rough, and of a dark 

 brown colour; the leaves are pinnated, consisting 

 of four pair of pinnae, large, ovate, pointed, 

 somewhat narrowed on one side, and placed upon 

 short footstalks. The flowers are small, of a 

 whitish hue, and produced in terminal, branched 

 spikes. The fruit is an oval pod, of two valves, 

 pointed with part of the remaining style. It 

 contains one egg-shaped seed, involved in a ber- 

 ried ariUas. 



This tree is a native of Brazil, and some of 

 the neighbouring islands of South America; and 

 it is said* to have been discovered in Terra Firma, 

 in large woods, with those trees which afford 

 several other balsams, as those of Tolu and Peru. 

 The balsam of copaiba, or copaiva, is the resinous 

 juice of this tree, obtained by making incisions 

 near the base of its trunk, extending not only 

 through the bark, but into the substance of the 

 wood, whence the balsam immediately issues, and 

 at the proper season flows in such abundance, 

 that sometimes in three hours twelve pounds 

 have been procured. The older trees afford the 

 best balsam, and yield it two or three times in 

 the same year. The balsam supplied by the 

 young and vigorous trees, which abound with 

 the most juice, is crude and watery, and is there- 

 fore accounted less valuable. While flowing 

 from the tree, this balsam is a colourless fluid; 

 in time, however, it acquires a yellowish tinge, 

 and the consistence of oil; but though by age 

 it has been found thick, like honey, yet it never 

 becomes solid, like other resinous fluids. Some- 

 times an inferior sort is met with, thick, and not 

 at all transparent, and generally having a quan- 

 tity of turbid, watery liquor, at the bottom. 

 This is probably either adulterated by the mix- 

 ture of other substances, or has been extracted 

 by decoction from the bark and branches of the 

 tree, its smell and taste being much less pleasant 

 than the genuine resin. The pure balsam has a 

 moderately agreeable smell, and a bitterish, bit- 



* Woodville's Medical Botany. 



ing taste, of considerable duration in the mouth. 

 It dissolves entirely in rectified spirit, especially 

 with the addition of a little alkali, which solu- 

 tion has a very fragrant smell. Distilled with 

 water it yields nearly half its weight of a lim- 

 pid, essential oil; and in a strong heat, without 

 addition, a blue oil. 



This, like the other balsams, is nearly allied 

 to the turpentines. It is reckoned a useful and 

 powerful medicine in affections of the mucous 

 and serous membranes in pulmonary complaints, 

 where there is a cough and copious discharge 

 from a relaxed state of the membranes, and in 

 weakness and ulcerations of the urinary organs. 

 It is also a powerful diuretic, and has been 

 employed in dropsies. Its effects, however, are 

 rather irritating and heating, and on tliis account 

 its use is less advisable in diseases of an inflam- 

 matory tendency. It is of a laxative nature, 

 and has been found useful in certain cases of 

 piles, and weaknesses of the intestines. The 

 dose is from one to two, or three tea-spoonfuls. 

 As it proves nauseous to most palates, it is often 

 formed into an emulsion with pounded almonds, 

 or a thick solution of gum Arabic. 



Peru Balsam (myronylonPeruiferum). Decan- 

 dria, mmiogynia, oi Linnaus. This tree is a 

 native of the warmest parts of South America, 

 and is remarkable for its elegant appearance. 

 Every part of it abounds with resinous juice; 

 even the leaves are full of transparent resinous 

 points, like those of the orange tree. The bal- 

 sam, as brought to this country, is commonly 

 of the consistence of thin honey, of a reddish 

 brown colour, inclining to black; an agreeable 

 aromatic smell, and a very hot, biting taste. It 

 is said to be obtained by boiling the cuttings of 

 the twigs in water, and skimming off with a 

 spoon the balsam which swims on the top. By 

 incision the tree yields a much more fragrant 

 white, or colourless balsam, which, when thick- 

 ened by the heat of the sun, forms the red or dry 

 balsam of Peru; but it is very rai'ely used in 

 Britain, and almost never is to be met with in the 

 shops. Peruvian balsam consists of a volatile 

 oil, resin, and benzoic acid; it is entirely soluble 

 in alcohol, and in essential oils : water dissolves 

 part of the benzoic acid, and fixed oil combines 

 with the resin. It may be suspended in water by 

 trituration with mucilage, or yolk of egg. It 

 is a warm, aromatic medicine, considerably hotter, 

 and more stimulating than copaiva, and is used 

 in similar complaints. It is also used sometimes 

 as an external application to foul and indolent 

 ulcers, and in rheumatic pains. 



Opoponax, or Rough Parsnip. Natural family 

 umbelUfercB ; pentandria, digynia, of Linnaeus. 

 This plant belongs to the parsnip genus. The 

 root is perennial, thick, fleshy, and tapering like 

 the garden parsnip. The stalk is strong, branched, 

 rough towards the bottom, and rises to the height 



