250 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



of the bronchial mucous membrane, but from its stimulating character, is not 

 suited to those where there is inflammation. The dose is half a drachm, sus- 

 pended in water by means of mucilage, or white of egg. 



2. M. toluiferum, Richard. — Branches and leaves smooth. Leaflets oblong, acumi. 

 nate thin, equilateral, rounded at base. 



Common Name. — Balsam of Tolu tree. 

 Foreign Name. — Baumier de Tolu, Fr. 



Richard, Ann. Sci. Nat. ii. 168; De Candolle, Prod. ii. 95; Lambert, 

 Edin. Jour, xviii. 316 ; Lindley, Fl. Med. 279. 



Description. — There has been no detailed description given of this tree. Richard, who 

 saw specimens in Humboldt's herbarium, says that the leaflets are thin, membranous, and 

 obovate, which are lengthened and pointed at their upper extremity, and also, that the 

 terminal one is much larger than the lateral ones. 



Linnaeus first noticed it in his Materia Medica, and his son described it in 

 his Supplementum as a new genus Toluifera, on account of fruit attributed 

 to it by Miller, differing from that of Myroxylon [Myrospermum), but the 

 subsequent researches of Ruiz, Ventenat, Richard, and others, have shown 

 that it is a tree belonging to Myrospermum, and very closely allied to the M. 

 peruiferum, so closely, in fact, that Ruiz considered them to be identical, 

 but the distinctive characters have been ably pointed out by Richard, in a 

 memoir in the Annales de Sci. Nat. for 1824. N. von Esenbeck, has figured 

 the leaves (t. 322) ; these are so similar to those of the other species as to 

 lead to a belief that Richard may be mistaken in supposing that they differ 

 from each other. It is found in several parts of South America, but especially 

 in Colombia, in the mountains of Tolu. At the same time it is very probable 

 that what is termed Balsam of Tolu, is not only derived from this tree, but 

 also from its kindred species, and that the two balsams of Peru and Tolu rather 

 differ in mode of collection and preparation than in origin. 



Monardes, who gave the first account of this balsam, states that it is pro- 

 cured by making incisions in the tree, and receiving the liquid juice in vessels 

 of black wax, from which it is transferred to calabashes or earthen jars. 

 When first imported, it is usually soft and tenacious, but by age becomes 

 hard and brittle, resembling resin. It is transparent, shining, of a yellowish 

 or reddish-brown colour, a very fragrant odour, and a sweetish, warm taste. 

 It softens under the teeth, and when subjected to heat, readily melts ; when 

 inflamed, it evolves an agreeable smell. It is wholly soluble in alcohol, and 

 like the balsam of Peru, gives up its acid to water. Its chemical composition 

 is very similar to that balsam, and appears to differ only in its greater apti- 

 tude to become resinous. 



Medical Properties, $-c. — This, like the las,t, is stimulating and expecto- 

 rant, and is used in the same class of complaints ; from its agreeable flavour, 

 it is more frequently employed, especially in the treatment of bronchial affec- 

 tions. It is also used as a flavouring ingredient in several mixtures. It is 

 given in doses of ten to thirty grains in emulsion, or in the form of a syrup, 

 which is officinal. 



There are several other species which furnish a balsam ; the M.frutescens 

 of Jacquin affords a resinous juice, which, according to Kunth, is strong, and 

 disagreeably flavoured, whilst that of the M. pubescens, which some writers 

 deem identical with the M. peruiferum, is very analogous to the balsams 

 above described. Kunth states that its seeds are used in South America in 

 colic and other abdominal pains. 



