Balsamum Peruvianum

{BaU'im of Peru.)

Botanical Descriptioit. — The proper botanical name is Myrotpermum peruifsrum. It is the inyroxylon peruif&mm of Ijinnjeua. It is known by the natives of Peru under the name of Qainguino, its bark and fruit as Qnioquina, by the Mexicans Hoitziloxitl, and by the Brazilians Oabwreiba.

It is a large tree, with a thick, straight, smooth trunk, and acoarsegray, compact, heavy, granulated bark, of a pa]e straw color, filled with resin which, according to its quantity, changes the color to citron, yellow, red, or dark chestnut.

Il is found in low, warm, sunny situations in Pern, especially near tlie river Maranon; also in other parts of Soutli America, and flowers ttom July to October.

The balsam met with in tlie markets is not constant either in quality or appearance, owing probably to its being procured from ditferent species. That used for Homceopathic preparations should be procareil from this species. It Is prepared by incising the bark and collecting the Juice upon rags, which, when saturated are placed in water. Upon boiling, the tial- Bam rises to the surface, and is removed and put into vessels for putilic^ tlon and exportation.

It has a dark reddish -brown color in thin layers, is black in bulk, is of

dbyGoogle

84 BAL9AMDM FEKimAKUM.

Hie consistence of ordinary loolasses, an agreeable balsamic odor, a hot, acrid, aomewiiat bitter taste, and a specific gravity of 1.15.

The purity of Balaam of Peru may be ascertained by mixing ten drops of it with twenty drops of concentrated sulphuric acid, in a watcli glass, and then diluting with water. If it is pure, a brittle resiu is obtained; if

OFTrciiiAL Preparations. — A tincture ma nine parts alcohol, and dilutions made as from the balsam with coarse sugar of milk.

AKALOGtJBS. — Aurma mur, Oopaiva, Gubeba, OMmaphila, Kali 'hypophot. Iodine, Myoiotis, Stannwm, Sulphur, Thuja, Viia urii.

Heat and fullneas in the liead.

* Profuse thick discharge from the nose. ° Chronic, mueo -purulent nasai catarrh. " Ozfena — mth nlceration.

* Vomiting of food and mucns. Kanaea, with colic and diarrhtea.

* Catarrhal state of the stomach, " Chronic mucons diarr]ioe.a.

" Chronic dysentery, with bloody mucns and tenesmns. " Irritable bowels after typhoid fever.

* Cough, with copious expectoration of thick yeUow, green,

expectoration — after pneumonia. (l-lOth dil.) " Suppression of the accustomed expectoration in bronchial

affections. (6th dil.) " Chronic bronchitis with purulent expectoration and hectic

(JTale.)

* I have seen persons laboring under perfectly formed phthisis.

dbyGooglc

BAWISIA TIHCTOEIA. 85

and seriously affected for several years, happily I'estored by the use of this balsam. {Hoffman.)

° Purulent,' ffEtid expectoratiou from vomicae in the lungs. (76.)

(In affections of the bronchia and lungs, -with scanty expec- toration and fever, use the 6th dilution. If profuse puru- lent expectoration, and absence of fever, use the 1-lOth dilution.) {Hah.)

Increased secretion of urine.

* Scanty urine with mucus sediment, .

" Chronic catarrh of the bladder.

° Chronic uterine and vaginal leucorrhcea. (?)

General heat, with excited circulation and quickened pulse, but moist skin.

° Hectic fever in suppurations, phthisis, and chronic bronchitis. Q-eneralitiea-

" Debility, with slow, feeble circulation.

" Indolent ulcers, {the cerate.)

"Cracks in the nipples, fingers and hands, {ihe cerate.)