The following list includes most of the substances, natural and artificial, which pass, or have passed, under the name of balsams:[105]—
[105] For articles and preparations often called ‘balsams’, and not found under this head, see Elixirs, Oils, Patent Medicines, Perfumery, Tinctures, &c. &c.
Balsam, Acous′tic. See Drops.
Balsam, Amer′ican†. Balsam of Peru.
Balsam, An′odyne. Syn. Sooth′ing balsam; Bal′samum ano′dynum (-dĭn-), B. tranquil′lans, L.; Baume anodin, B. tranquille, B. tranquillisant, &c., Fr. Prep. 1. (Bate’s.) See Patent Medicines.
2. (Guy’s.) A vulnerary balsam invented by Guy, of Caliac, once in great repute, but now obsolete. It consisted of aloes, amber, ammoniacum, balsam of Peru, bdellium, caranna, castor, galbanum, labdanum, myrrh, olibanum, storax, tacamahaca, and Venice turpentine, digested in alcohol.
3. (B. TRANQUILLANS, P. Cod.) Fresh leaves of belladonna, henbane, night-shade, tobacco, poppy, stramonium, of each two ounces; dried leaves of costermary, rosemary, rue, and sage, of each half an ounce; dried tops of wormwood, hyssop, sweet marjoram, peppermint, buckbean, and thyme, of each half an ounce; flowers of lavender and elder, of each half an ounce; olive oil, fifty ounces. Heat the green plants in the oil gently until all their water is dissipated; keep on the fire until the oil becomes of a green colour, and whilst still hot, mix in the other plants, carefully dried, and cut up. Digest for twelve hours on a water bath, strain, and filter.
4. (Baume tranquille de Chomel.) Henbane, hound’s tongue, and tobacco, of each
1 lb.; white wine, 3 pints; boil down to a quart; press, strain, and add to the hot ‘strained liquor’ of olive oil, 1 quart, and again boil.
Balsam, Ap′oplexy. Syn. Bal′samum apoplec′ticum, B. ad apoplec′ticos (Ph. E. 1744), L. Prep. 1. Amber, civet, musk, Peruvian balsam, and some volatile oils, made into a balsam.