Balsam of Sul′phur, Anisated. (Ph. Edin. 1722). Originally made by digesting one part of sulphur; three of turpentine; and four of oil of aniseed. A mixture of one part of oil of aniseed with three or four of balsam of sulphur is usually sold for it.
Balsam of Sul′phur with Turpentine. Digest one part of sulphur with three of oil of turpentine till dissolved. Similar compounds were formerly made with sulphur and Barbadoes tar, and with the empyreumatic oils of amber, benzoin, &c.
Balsam of Syri′acum. See Balsam of Mecca.
Balsam of Tolu′ (-l′ōō). Syn. Tolu’ bal′sam*; Bal′samum toluta′num (Ph. L., E., & D.), B. de To′lû, L.; Baume de Tolu, Fr.; Tolutanischer balsam, B. von Tolu, &c., Ger. Balsam flowing from the incised trunk of “myrosper′mum toluif′erum.” (B. P.) The tree which produces it is a native of the mountains of Tolu, Turbaco, &c., in South America.
Prop., Uses, &c. When first brought over it is soft and tenacious, but by age and careless
keeping becomes hard, and even brittle, somewhat similar to resin. It is perfectly soluble in alcohol and in ether, and gives out its acid (benzoic or cinnamic) to water. Its odour is fragrant, though less powerful than that of either styrax or balsam of Peru; and it has a pleasant sweetish taste. It softens under the teeth, melts readily, and burns with an agreeable odour. As a medicine it is a stimulating expectorant, and, as such, is employed in chronic bronchial affections unaccompanied with inflammatory action. It has long been a popular pectoral. Syrup of Tolu is an agreeable and common adjunct to pectoral mixtures, and, with Tolu lozenges, is often serviceable in tickling coughs. It is also used by confectioners, perfumers, &c., and in fumigating pastils.—Dose, 5 to 20, or even 30 gr., dissolved in spirit, or made into an emulsion.
Pur. This is shown by its perfect solubility in rectified spirit, forming a transparent tincture, and by its odour. When adulterated it has a weaker smell, is only partially soluble in alcohol, and the tincture formed with that fluid is opaque. The presence of colophony (or lac), according to Ulex, may be detected by the balsam, instead of dissolving in sulphuric acid, swelling up, blackening, and disengaging sulphurous fumes.[106] Castor oil may be detected in the way noticed under Balsam of Peru.
[106] ‘Archiv der Pharm.,’ 1855.
Balsam of Tolu, a Factitious, was formerly met with in trade, made of equal parts of orange-lac and white sugar, reduced to a proper consistence with rectified spirit, and ‘brought up’ with some tincture of benzoin, and a few drops of the oils of cassia and nutmeg dissolved in a little essence of vanilla.
Balsam of Tur′pentine (-tīne). Syn. Bal′samum terebin′thinæ, L. A name formerly given to Strasburgh, Venice, and other like turpentines.