(seq. 411)

404

Materia Medica

Stimulants

Cullen says the balsam is usefull in hemorrhoids from 20 to 40 gtt [drops] three
or four times a day, in this case I think it acts as a laxative.

Balsam of Peru. This has a strong flavour, is
verry acrid, is the most powerfull balsam employ'd in Practice, it is
obtained from a tree in Peru that which is in the shops in the country
is made by boiling the branches in water, it contains an essential oil
which appears to be the Benzoine. Van Sweiten employ’d this balsam in
wounds of the nerves, and Sydenham used it as a laxative, and
cathartic in Colica Pictonum

Gum Guaicum.
This is an article deserving attention it is produced from a tree called
Guacum Officinalis growing in South America and the West Indies, the wood
is hard and compact and so heavy that it sinks in water, the outer
part is yellow, the best is of a dark yellow, it has no smell unless
heated, its purging principle is the resin. Soon after the discovery of
America it was employ’d in the Venerial Disease the Europians
having apply’d to the Indians. It is improperly called Guacum for
it is a Gum Resin. It is brought to us in large fryable masses, it is not
much used in Venerial Disease at present, but is still employ’d by some
of the Europian Physicians. Benjamin Ball used it and thought highly
of it, he said it removed Venerial blotches and ulcers on the skin, but