Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Feb.  1876.  i 
Factitious  Balsam  Tolu. 
The  aqueous  solution  of  the  alcoholic  extract  was  treated  with 
acetate  of  lead.  The  precipitate  contained  tannin,  but  no  oxalic  acid, 
while  in  the  filtrate  glucose  was  proven  by  Trommer's  test. 
Treatment  with  Water. — The  root  exhausted  with  ether  and  alcohol 
yielded  to  cold  water  some  albumen,  a  trace  of  tannin,  considerable 
gum,  but  no  glucose.  Boiling  water  subsequently  took  up  much 
starch. 
Treatment  with  Hydrochloric  Acid. — The  residuary  powder  from  the 
above  operations  was  treated  with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  in  which, 
by  appropriate  tests,  the  presence  of  oxalate  of  calcium  and  the  absence 
of  phosphoric  acid  was  proven. 
The  estimation  of  tannin  was  accomplished  with  a  standard  solution  of 
gelatin,  which  indicated  23*16  per  cent. 
The  leaves  of  the  plant  were  found  to  contain  malic  and  oxalic  acids 
in  combination  with  lime. 
FACTITIOUS  BALSAM  TOLU. 
BY   RICH.  V.   MATTISON,  PH.  G. 
[Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.) 
Having  recently  occasion  to  purchase  some  Balsam  Tolu,  a  small 
quantity  was  ordered  of  a  house  well  known  for  the  high  standard  of 
drugs  sent  out  by  them;  the  article  was  received  in  lib  jars,  bearing  the 
label  of  the  house  which  had  placed  it  in  the  same. 
The  sample,  upon  examination,  was  found  to  be  of  a  light  brown 
color,  with  a  pronounced  odor  of  the  drug,  but  in  consistence  rather 
softer  than  as  usually  met  with  in  the  market. 
Upon  the  addition  of  alcohol  to  a  portion  of  the  mass,  it  was  dis- 
covered to  be  but  partially  soluble  in  that  menstruum,  the  drug,  upon 
being  washed  several  times  successively  with  warm  alcohol  and  these 
washings  filtered  and  evaporated,  yielding  but  26  per  cent,  of  soluble 
matter. 
To  a  portion  of  this  residue  oil  of  turpentine  was  added  without 
any  observable  effect. 
To  another  portion  water  was  added,  and  the  mixture  boiled  ;  with  a 
like  result. 
To  another  portion  ether  was  added,  the  whole  slightly  warmed,  the 
solution  filtered  and  the  residue  washed  upon  the  filter  with  ether,  the 
filtrate,  upon  being  evaporated,  yielded  63  per  cent,  of  "  a  balsam  pre- 
