_Balsam umindicum nigrum_; _Balsam of Peru_; F. _Baume de Pérou, Baume
de San Salvador_; G. _Perubalsam_.
=Botanical Origin=—_Myroxylon Pereiræ_ Klotzsch (_Myrospermum Pereiræ_
Royle), a tree attaining a height of about 50 feet, and throwing out
spreading, ascending branches at 6 to 10 feet from the ground.[798]
It is found in a small district of the State of Salvador in Central
America (formerly part of Guatemala), lying between 13°·35 and 14°·10
N. lat., and 89° and 89°·40 W. long., and known as the _Costa del
Balsamo_ or Balsam Coast. The trees grow naturally in the dense
forests; those from which the balsam is obtained are, if in groups,
sometimes enclosed, in other cases only marked, but all have their
distinct owners. They are occasionally rented for a term of years, or a
contract is made for the produce of a certain number.
The principal towns and villages around which balsam is produced, are
the following:—Juisnagua, Tepecoyo or Coyo, Tamanique, Chiltiuapan,
Talnique, Jicalapa, Teotepeque, Comasagua and Jayaque. All the lands on
the Balsam Coast are _Indian Reservation Lands_.
The Balsam of Peru tree was introduced in 1861 into Ceylon, where it
flourishes with extraordinary vigour.
[798] We are not yet prepared to accept the opinion of Baillon, that
_M. Pereiræ_ is specifically identical with _M. Toluifera_, though we
admit they are very closely related. According to our observations, the
two trees exhibit the following differences:—
_M. Toluifera._ | _M. Pereiræ._
|
Trunk tall and bare, | Trunk throwing off
branching at 40 to 60 feet | ascending branches
from the ground, and forming | at 6 to 10 feet from
a roundish crown of foliage. | the ground.
|
Calyx rather tubular. | Calyx widely cup-shaped, shallow.
|
Racemes dense, | Racemes loose,
3 to 4½ inches long. | 6 to 7 inches long.
|
Legume scarcely narrowed | Legume much narrowed
towards the stalk-end. | towards the stalk-end.
See also Bentley and Trimen, _Medicinal Plants_, part 10 (1876),
_Toluifera Pereiræ_.
=History=—As in the case of Balsam of Tolu, it is to Monardes of
Seville that we are indebted for the earliest description of the drug
under notice. In a chapter headed _Del Balsamo_,[799] he states that
at the time he wrote (1565) the drug was not new, for that it had been
received into medicine immediately after the discovery of New Spain. As
the conquest of Guatemala took place about 1524, we may conclude that
the balsam was introduced into Europe soon afterwards.
Monardes further adds, that the balsam was in such high estimation
that it sold for 10 to 20 ducats (£4 10_s._ to £9) the ounce; and that
when taken to Rome, it fetched even 100 ducats for the same quantity.
The inducement of such enormous prices brought plenty of the drug to
Europe, and its value, as well as its reputation, was speedily reduced.
The description given by Monardes of extracting the balsam by boiling
the chopped wood of the trunk and branches, raises a doubt as to
whether the drug he had in view was exactly that now known; but he
never was in America, and may have been misinformed. Evidence that
our drug was in use, is afforded by Diego Garcia de Palacio, who, in
his capacity of Auditor of the Royal Audiencia of Guatemala, wrote
an account to Philip II., king of Spain, describing the geography
and productions of this portion of his majesty’s dominions. In this
interesting document, which bears date 1576 and has only recently been
published,[800] Palacio tells the king of the great balsam trees of
Guaymoco and of the coasts of Tonala,[801] and of the Indian method of
promoting the exudation of the balsam by scorching the trunk of the
tree. Prior to the conquest of the country by the Spaniards and for a
short time after, balsam formed part of the tribute paid to the Indian
chiefs of Cuscatlan, to whom it was presented in curiously ornamented
earthen jars.
The idea of great virtues attaching to the balsam is shown by the fact
that, in consequence of representations made by missionary priests in
Central America, Pope Pius V. granted a faculty to the Bishops of the
Indies, permitting the substitution of the balsam of Guatemala for that
of Egypt, in the preparation of the chrism used in the Roman Catholic
Church. This document, bearing date August 2, 1571, is still preserved
in the archives of Guatemala.[802]
In the 16th century, the balsam tree grew in the warm regions of Panuco
and Chiapan in Mexico, whence it was introduced into the famous gardens
of Hoaxtepec near the city of Mexico, described by Cortes in his letter
to Charles V. in 1552.[803]
A rude figure of the tree, certainly a _Myroxylon_ and probably the
species under notice, was published in the _Thesaurus Rerum Medicarum
Novæ Hispaniæ_ of Hernandez,[804] who also says that it had been
transferred to the “Hoaxtepecences hortos” of the Mexican kings
“delitiarum et magnificentiæ gratia.”
[799] Occurring in the first book of the work quoted in the Appendix,
which was published separately at Seville in 1565.
[800] Squier, _Documents and Relations concerning the Discovery and
Conquest of America_, New York, 1859.—Frantzius, _San Salvador und
Honduras im Jahre_ 1576. Berlin, 1873.
[801] The ancient name of the Balsam Coast; Guaymoco is a village
between Sonsonate and San Salvador. The pillars of wood of _Myroxylon_
in the church are, perhaps, says Squier, the very same as those
mentioned with admiration by Palacio.
[802] It may be found _in extenso_ in the original Latin in _Pharm.
Journ._ ii. (1861) 447 as well as in Hanbury’s _Science Papers_, 1876.
294.
[803] Clavigero, _Hist. of Mexico_, English trans. i. (1787) pp. 32.
379.
[804] Rome, 1628; 2nd ed. 1651. fol. 51; the book written in the town
of Mexico, bears at the same time also the title given in the Appendix.
Balsam of Peru was well known in German pharmacy in the beginning of
the 17th century (see article _Balsamum Tolutanum_).
The exports of Guatemala being shipped chiefly at Acajutla, were
formerly carried to Callao, the port of Lima, whence they were
transmitted to Spain. This circumstance led to the balsam acquiring
the misleading name of _Peru_, and in part to the notion that it was a
production of South America.
The history of Balsam of Peru was much amplified by a communication
of the late Dr. Charles Dorat, of Sonsonate, Salvador, in 1860 to
the _American Journal of Pharmacy_, and by still further information
accompanied by drawings and specimens, transmitted to one of us in
1863.[805] These statements have lastly been confirmed again on the
spot by Mr. Theophilus Wyss, a Swiss apothecary, established in San
Miguel la Union, San Salvador.[806]
=Extraction of the Balsam=—Early in November or December, or after the
last rains, the stems of the balsam trees are beaten with the back of
an axe, a hammer or other blunt instrument, on four sides, a similar
extent of bark being left unbruised between the parts that are beaten.
The bark thus injured soon cracks in long strips, and may be easily
pulled off. It is sticky as well as the surface below it, and there is
a slight exudation of fragrant resin, but not in sufficient quantity to
be worth collecting. To promote an abundant flow, it is customary, five
or six days after the beating, to apply lighted torches or bundles of
burning wood to the injured bark, whereby the latter becomes charred.
About a week later, the bark either drops or is taken off, and the stem
commences to exude the balsam. This is collected by placing rags (of
any kind or colour), so as entirely to cover the bare wood. As these
rags in the course of some days become saturated with the exudation,
they are collected, thrown into an earthen vessel of water, and
gently boiled and stirred until they appear nearly clean, the balsam
separating and sinking to the bottom. This process goes on for some
hours, the exhausted rags being from time to time taken out, and fresh
ones thrown in. As the rags are removed they are wrung out in a sort
of rope bag, and the balsam so saved is added to the stock. When the
boiler has cooled, the water is decanted, and the balsam is poured into
_tecomates_ or gourds, ready for the market.
The balsam prepared by means of rags is termed “balsamo de trapo;” a
little balsam of inferior quality is also produced, according to Wyss,
by boiling the bark with water. This method affords “Tacuasonte” or
“balsamo de cascara,” which is sometimes mixed with the balsamo de
trapo. Tacuasonte means prepared without fire.
[805] Hanbury in _Pharm. Journ._ v. (1864) 241. 315; also _Science
Papers_, 294-309.
[806] See my paper, with map, in _Schweizerische Wochenschrift für
Pharmacie_, 1878. 219 (Library of the Pharm. Soc., London).—In the
Catalogue of the contributions of San Salvador to the Paris exhibition,
p. 33, Dr. D. J. Guzman gives: “Détails sur le moyen, d’extraire
et travailler le _Balsamo negro_ du Salvador,” which are far from
satisfactory.—F. A. F.
The Indians work a tree a second year, by bruising the bark that was
left untouched the previous year. As the bark is said to be renewed in
the short space of two years, it is possible to obtain from the same
tree an annual yield of about 2 lb. of balsam for many years, provided
a few years of rest be occasionally allowed. Clay or earth is sometimes
smeared over the bare wood.
The trees sometimes exude spontaneously a greenish gum-resin of
slightly bitter taste, but totally devoid of balsamic odour. It has
been analyzed by Attfield (see opposite page).
=Secretion of the Balsam=—No observations have yet been made as to the
secretion of the balsam in the wood, or the part that is played by the
operation of scorching the bark. Neither the unscorched bark nor the
wood, as we have received them, possess any aromatic odour.
The old accounts speak of a very fragrant resin, far more valuable
than the ordinary balsam, obtained by incisions. We have made many
inquiries for it, but without the least success. Such a resin is easily
obtainable from the trunk of _M. Toluifera_.
=Description=—Balsam of Peru is a liquid having the appearance of
molasses, but rather less viscid. In bulk it appears black, but when
examined in a thin layer, it is seen to be of a deep orange-brown and
perfectly transparent. It has a balsamic, rather smoky odour, which is
fragrant and agreeable when the liquid is smeared on paper and warmed.
It does not much affect the palate, but leaves a disagreeable burning
sensation in the fauces.
The balsam has a sp. gr. of 1·15 to 1·16. It may be exposed to the air
for years without undergoing alteration or depositing crystals. It is
not soluble in water, but yields to it a little cinnamic and traces of
benzoic acid; from 6 to 8 parts of crystallized carbonate of sodium are
required to neutralize 100 parts of the balsam. It is but partially
and to a small extent dissolved by dilute alcohol, benzol, ether or
essential or fatty oils, not at all by petroleum ether. The balsam
mixes readily with glacial acetic acid, anhydrous acetone, absolute
alcohol or chloroform. Its rotatory power is very insignificant.
=Chemical Composition=—The peculiar process by which balsam of Peru is
obtained, causes it to contain a variety of substances not found in
the more natural resin of _Myroxylon Toluifera_; hence the two drugs,
though derived from plants most closely allied, possess very different
properties.
Three parts of the balsam mix readily with one part of bisulphide of
carbon, yet a further addition of the latter will cause the separation
of a brown flocculent resin. If the balsam be mixed with thrice
its weight of bisulphide, a coherent mass of dark resin, sometimes
amounting to about 38 per cent. of the balsam, is precipitated. The
bisulphide of carbon forms then a perfectly transparent brown liquid.
If this solution is shaken with water, the latter removes _Cinnamic_
and _Benzoic_ acids. To separate them, ammonia is cautiously added,
yet not in excess.[807] The solution of cinnamate and benzoate thus
obtained and duly concentrated, yields both these acids in white
crystals on addition of acetic or hydrochloric acid.
[807] By saturating the acid aqueous liquid with ammonia, it assumes a
transient bright yellow hue; an excess of ammonia transforms the whole
mixture into an emulsion, from which the cinnameïn again separates but
imperfectly.
The resin separated by means of bisulphide of carbon as above stated,
is a black brittle amorphous mass, having no longer the specific odour
of the balsam. It is soluble in caustic alkalis, also in alcohol; the
solution in the latter which may be considerably purified by charcoal,
reddens litmus, and is abundantly precipitated by an alcoholic solution
of neutral acetate of lead. Kachler (1869) by melting this resin with
potash obtained about ⅔ of its weight of protocatechuic acid.[808] By
destructive distillation, it furnishes benzoic acid, styrol, C₈H₈, and
toluol, C₇H₈.
As to the solution obtained with bisulphide of carbon, it forms, after
the bisulphide has evaporated, a brownish aromatic liquid of about
1·1 sp. gr., termed _Cinnameïn_. This substance may also be obtained
by distillation, yet less easily, on account of its very high boiling
point, about 300° C.
Cinnameïn, C₁₆H₁₄O₂, is resolved by concentrated caustic lye into
benzylic alcohol, C₇H₁₄O₂, and cinnamic acid, C₉H₈O₂, whence it follows
that cinnameïn is _Benzylic Cinnamate_. This is, according to Kraut
(1858, 1869, 1870) and to Kachler (1869, 1870), the chief constituent
of the balsam. The former chemist obtained from it nearly 60 per cent.
cinnameïn. Kachler assigns to the balsam the following composition: 46
per cent. of cinnamic acid, 32 of resin, 20 of benzylic alcohol. These
latter figures however are not quite consistent: 46 parts of cinnamic
acid (molecular weight = 148) would answer to 73 parts of benzylic
cinnamate; and 20 parts of benzylic alcohol require on the other hand
only (mol. weight = 108) 27·4 parts of cinnamic acid in order to form
benzylic cinnamate (mol. = 238).
Benzylic cinnamate, prepared as above stated, is a thick liquid,
miscible both with ether or alcohol, not concreting at -12° C., boiling
at 305° C., yet under ordinary circumstances not without decomposition.
By exposure to air, it slowly acquires an acid reaction; by prolonged
action of potash, especially in an alcoholic solution, toluol is
also formed. In this process, cinnamate of potassium finally forms a
crystalline mass, while an oily mixture of benzylic alcohol and toluol,
the so-called “_Peruvin_” constitutes the liquid part of the whole.
Grimaux (1868) has artificially prepared benzylic cinnamate by heating
an alkaline cinnamate with benzylic chloride. Thus obtained, that
substance forms crystals, which melt at 39° C., and boil at 225 to 235°
C. They consequently differ much from cinnameïn.
Delafontaine (1868) is of the opinion, that cinnameïn contains besides
benzylic cinnamate, cinnamylic cinnamate, C₃₆H₃₂O₄, the same substance
as described under the name of styracin in the article _Styrax
liquida_. He states that he obtained benzylic and cinnamylic alcohol
when he decomposed cinnameïn by an alkali. The two alcohols however
were separated only by fractional distillation.
From the preceding investigations it must be concluded, that the bark
of the tree contains resin and probably benzylic cinnamate. The latter
is no doubt altered by the process of collecting the balsam, which is
followed on the Balsam Coast. To this are probably due the free acids
in the balsam and its dark colour.
Another point of considerable interest is the fact, that the tree
exudes a gum-resin, containing according to Attfield 77·4 per cent.
of resin,[809] which is non-aromatic and devoid of cinnamic acid, and
therefore entirely distinct from balsam of Peru. The leaves of the tree
contain a fragrant oil.
[808] Numerous resins as benzoin, guaiacum, dragon’s blood, myrrh,
etc., and many other substances are capable of affording the same acid.
[809] _Pharm. Journ._ v. (1864) 248.
=Commerce=—The balsam is shipped chiefly at Acajutla. It used formerly
to be packed in large earthenware jars, said to be Spanish wine-jars,
which, wrapped in straw, were sewed up in raw hide. These packages have
of late been superseded by metallic drums, which have the advantage
of being much less liable to breakage. We have no exact statistics as
to the quantity exported from Central America. In the catalogue of
San Salvador (quoted above, page 207, note 2) p. 39, the value of the
balsam exported in 1876 from that country is stated to have been 78,189
dollars. The value of tobacco amounted to 69,717 dollars, that of
coffee to 1⅓ millions of dollars, indigo to 2¼ millions.
=Uses=—Occasionally prescribed in the form of ointment as a stimulating
application to old sores, sometimes internally for the relief of asthma
and chronic cough. It is said to be also employed for scenting soap.
=Adulteration=—We have before us a sample of an adulterated balsam,
which, we are told, is largely prepared at Bremen. It is less aromatic,
less rich in acids, and contains usually much less than 38 per cent. of
resin separable, as above stated, by means of bisulphide of carbon. At
first sight however the adulterated drug is not so easily recognized.
Other sorts of Balsam of Peru.
The value anciently set upon balsam for religions and medicinal uses,
led to its being extracted from the pods and also from trees no longer
employed for the purpose; and many of the products so obtained have
attracted the attention of pharmacologists.[810] Parkinson writing in
1640 observes that—“there have been divers other sorts of liquours,
called _Balsamum_ for their excellent vertues, brought out of the West
Indies, every one of which for a time after their first bringing was of
great account with all men and bought at great prices, but as greater
store was brought, so did the prices diminish and the use decay ...”
In Salvador, the name _Balsamo blanco_ (White Balsam) is applied to the
soft resin contained in the large ducts of the legume of _Myroxylon
Pereiræ_. This, when pressed out, forms a golden yellow, semi-fluid,
granular, crystalline mass, hardening by age, having a rather
unpleasant odour suggestive of melilot. Stenhouse (1850) obtained from
it the neutral resin _Myroxocarpin_, C₂₄H₃₄O₃, in thin colourless
prisms, an inch or more in length. We have succeeded in extracting
it directly from the pods. This White Balsam, which is distinctly
mentioned in the letter of Palacio in 1576 (see p. 206), is a scarce
and valuable article, never prepared for the market. A large jar of it
was sent to Pereira in 1850;[811] Guzman[812] and Wyss state that it is
known in the country as “Balsamito,” or “Balsamo _catolico_ or Virgin
Balsam.”
[810] Guibourt, _Hist. des Drog._ iii. (1850) 440.
[811] _Pharm. Journ._ x. (1851) 286.
[812] In the Catalogue alluded to, page 207, note 2.
A fragrant balsamic resin is collected, though in but very small
quantity, from _Myroxylon peruiferum_ Linn. f., a noble tree of New
Granada, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. A fine sample of this
substance, accompanied by herbarium and other specimens, was presented
to one of us (H.) by Mr. J. Correa de Méllo of Campinas (Brazil); it is
a resin having a general resemblance to Balsam of Tolu, but of somewhat
deeper and redder tint, and greater hardness. Pressed between two slips
of warmed glass, it does not exhibit any crystals.
In a treatise on Brazil written by a Portuguese friar about
1570-1600,[813] mention is made of the “_Cabueriba_” (_Cabure-iba_),
from which a much-esteemed balsam was obtained by making incisions in
the stem, and absorbing the exudation with cotton wool, somewhat in the
same way as Balsam of Peru is now collected in Salvador. This tree is
_Myrocarpus frondosus_ Allem., now called _Cabriuva preta_. The genus
is closely allied to _Myroxylon_.
Another fragrant oleo-resin, which has doubtless been confounded with
that of a _Myroxylon_, is obtained in Central America from _Liquidambar
styraciflua_ L., either by incision or by boiling the bark.