mont de Bomare says, in his Dictionary of Natural History, that if an extract be made from the bark, by boiling it in water, it remains liquid, and of a blackish color, and is known under the appel lation of black Peruvian balsam.

Sensible and Chemical Properties. Genuine Peruvian balsam is of a deep reddish brown color, very viscid, and of the consistency of honey, when first taken from the comb: it has a warm, aromatic, and slightly bitter taste, and, when swallowed, leaves a somewhat acrid sensation in the throat: its odor is very fragrant. Distilled with water, it yields a small quantity of reddish limped oil; and benzoic acid sublimes in the neck of the retort: the remainder is resin. When boiled with water, the liquid becomes acidulated, reddens vegetable blues, and deposites on cooling crystals of benzoic acid. It dissolves completely in ether, and also in alcohol; but the latter requires to be in considerable quantities. The alkalies and their carbonates, form with it thick masses, which, on the addition of sulphuric acid, lets fall a resinous matter, and benzoic acid crystallizes. Treated with the nitric and muriatic acids, the presence of prussic acid is detected, benzoic acid sublimes, and the residual matter is artificial tannin. Mr. Hatchett found that when this is heated with sulphuric acid, artificial tannin is also formed; and the charcoal remaining amounts to no less than 0.64 of the original weight of the balsam. At 555° the balsam begins to boil when exposed to some heat in a water-bath, and some gas is discharged. At 594° the oil, mixed with a little water, comes over quite fast. Lichtenberg kept four ounces of balsam at the temperature of 617° for two hours, and obtained two ounces of a yellowish oil, and a crystallized mass of benzoic acid; which, together with the water, weighed six drachms and a half. The gas obtained amounted to fifty-eight ounce measares, thirty-eight being carbonic acid: the rest burnt like oleifiant gas. From the analysis of Stoltze, 1000 parts of balsam consist of 24 of brown, nearly insoluble resin, 207 of soluble resin, 690

of a peculiar kind of volatile oil, 64 of benzoic acid, and 6 of extractive matter.

Tolu Balsam. This balsam is, as we noticed, the white balsam of Peru, hardened by exposure to the atmosphere. It comes to the States in gourd-shells or calabashes; its odor is extremely fragrant, somewhat resembling that of lemons; its taste is aromatic, and somewhat sweetish; it is of a reddish brown color, and of a thick, tenacious consistence, becoming brittle by age. In distillation with water, it yields a small portion of volatile oil, and impregnates the water with its odor: if the process be continued, a quantity of benzoic acid sublimes. It is soluble in alcohol and ether, and also in the alkalies. From experiment we have ascertained, that when dissolved in a very small quantity of the solution of potass, its odor is lost, and it acquires the smell of the clove pink. When digested in the sulphuric and nitric acids, a considerable quantity of pure benzoic acid sublimes, and with the latter some trace of prussic acid is also evolved.

Medical Properties and Uses. Peruvian balsam is stimulating and tonic, and has also been regarded as expectorant: hence, it has been recommended as an efficacious remedy in obstinate coughs, chronic asthma, and other pulmonary diseases, when attended with an increased secretion of the mucus; but, from its heating and stimulating qualities, it is improper in those cases which are attended with inflammation. In chronic rheumatism, gleets, seminal weaknesses, and leucorrhoea, as well as in some cases of debility, its tonic powers appear to have proved efficacious. It has been recommended to be dropped into the ear, combined with ox-gall, in the proportion of one part of the former to three of the latter, in foetid discharges of that organ. Formerly, it was much used as a local application to foul ulcers, especially those of an indolent kind; and, in the hands of the celebrated Mr. Whately, appears to have been a very successful application.

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Peruvian balsam may be taken in doses of from thirty to sixty

drops, in any proper vehicle, and repeated at intervals, according to circumstances. Tolu balsam possesses similar qualities to the former, and is applicable to the same diseases. In paralytic affections, particularly those following the use of lead, the balsam of Peru may be given with the best effects, in doses, as much as the stomach will retain. This medicine seems in this disease to act upon the system generally, improving the health and appearance of the patient; and, as his strength returns, the disease subsides.

It was once employed as an external application in paralytic and rheumatic affections, but there are other applications much more valuable and efficacious. It was considered by former practitioners a great medicine to check the morbid effects which commonly succeed punctures of nerves, tendons, &c. For this purpose it was dropped into the wounded part.

Myroxylon Healing Salve. Under this title there was formerly a very celebrated salve vended, which was said to cure all kinds of sores, bruises, swellings, sprains, &c. How much credit can be given to those reports, we leave for others to decide, but we will proceed to give the formula for preparing the salve, according to the manuscript recipe of a very celebrated ancient physician. Take of the fresh green leaves of this tree, as many as can be pressed into a large copper kettle; add as much common lard as will mix in with the leaves; place the vessel so filled over a slow fire, and let it stew or steep for several hours; then strain off, and press the leaves, that they may be thoroughly cleaned. Sometimes a little beeswax was added, in order to harden it. This was used for all kinds of purposes. It was also said to be an infallible

remedy for the piles. Placed upon a lint, or soft piece of leather, and applied over sores of a gangrenous nature, it is said to be both healing and cleansing.