STVRAX BENZOIN. 
151 
wards sublimed, by a gentle heat, into flowers. In this process, the 
lime uniting with the benzoic acid forms a benzoate of lime ; this is 
decomposed by the muriatic acid uniting with the lime and setting 
the benzoic acid free ; which requiring two hundred times its weight 
of water to dissolve it, falls down as a precipitate. Benzoic acid* 
has a peculiar aromatic smell, and a sweet, hot, and bitter taste. 
This acid is not altered by exposure to the air. Two hundred 
parts of cold water dissolve one part of it ; but one part of it dis- 
solves in 24^ parts of boiling water." 
Medical Properties and> Uses. Benzoin was formerly 
regarded as an expectorant, and as such was esteemed as a medi- 
cine of much efficacy in asthma and other pulmonary affections. 
It is, however, almost discarded by modern practitioners, but we are 
told that the Hindoo physicians, and particularly the Tamool prac- 
titioners, prescribe it internally in doses of from four to fifteen grains, 
in consumption and asthma j and that the less valuable sort is 
burnt by the Malays and Arabs to perfume their temples and houses. f 
The following formula for preparing fumigating pastilles we presume 
jnay not be uninteresting to our readers: Take of gum benjamin, 
one drachm j cascarilla bark, half a drachm, (powdered) ; gum 
myrrh, in powder, twenty grains ; oil of nutmeg and oil of cloves, 
of each, ten drops; nitrate of potash, half a drachm; powdered 
charcoal, six drachms ; mucilage of gum tragacanth, as much as 
may be required to cause the mass to adhere ; when it may be divided 
into pieces of a convenient size for burning. Benzoin is chiefly used 
in this country for preparing the acid or flowers of benjamin. It 
also forms one of the ingredients in the following patent or quack 
medicines, viz. Pectoral Balsam of Honey ; Jesuits' Drops, or Friars' 
Balsam ; Essence of Coltsfoot ; Virgin's Milk, and Riga Balsam. 
Ofl^ The Balsam, or Gum Resin. 
Ofl". Pp. Acidum Benzoinum, L. E. D. 
Tinctura Benzoini Composita, L. E. D. 
* Benzoic acid has been found in urine, particularly when there is a deficiency ^ 
phosphoric acid in it. According to Vauquelin and Fourcroy it always exists in tl: 
urine of graminiverous animals : this, however, has been denied by M. Giese. When 
does exist in the animal kingdom it is usually in coiabination with lime or potash. 
+ Aiuslie's Mat. Med. voUi. p. 34. Vf^«eiS' 
