5103. To Detect Factitious Balsam of Tolu

5103.    To Detect Factitious Balsam of Tolu. The genuine balsam is perfectly soluble in alcohol, forming a transparent solution. By exposure to the air it becomes hard and brittle. It is frequently adulterated, in which case it has a weaker smell, is less soluble in alcohol, and the tincture formed with that fluid is opaque.

5104. Factitious Balsam of Copaiba

5104.     Factitious Balsam of Copaiba. Powdered gum benzoin, 4 ounces; castor oil, 1 gallon; yellow resin, 3 pounds; balsam of Canada, 2 pounds; oil of juniper, 2 ounces; oil of savine, 1 ounce; essences of orange and lemon, of each 1/2 ounce. Melt the resin, then add a little of the castor oil and the powdered benzoin, and withdraw the heat; when well mixed add the remainder of the castor oil, and, when nearly cold, the essences; mix well, and filter through a Canton flannel bag, adding a little coarsely powdered charcoal.

5105. Imitation Balsam of Copaiba

5105.    Imitation Balsam of Copaiba. Balsam of Canada, 8 pounds; yellow resin, 2 pounds; castor oil, 3 pounds; oil of juniper, 1/4 ounce; essential oil of almonds, 15 drops; oil of savine, 20 drops. As above.

5106. Reduced Balsam of Copaiba

5106.    Reduced Balsam of Copaiba. Balsam of copaiba, 4 pounds; castor oil, 3 pounds; mis. Or: Balsam of copaiba, 7 pounds; castor oil, 4 pounds; yellow resin, 2 pounds. Or: Equal parts of balsam of copaiba and balsam of Canada mixed together. Or: To the last add 2 pounds of Venice turpentine. Or: Balsams of Canada and copaiba, and nut or castor oil, equal parts. Or: Copaiba, 7 pounds; nut oil, 3 pounds; yellow resin, 2 pounds; balsam of Canada, 1 pound. The above are the forms for the reduction of copaiba balsam, that have from time to time been circulated in the drug trade. For the mode of distinguishing such compounds from the pure balsam, see next receipt.

5107. To Detect Factitious or Reduced Balsam Copaiba

5107. To Detect Factitious or Reduced Balsam Copaiba. Chevallier recommends the following test: Place a drop of the balsam on a piece of unsized paper, and heat it until all the essential oil be expelled; it should then form a semi-transparent, well-defined spot; but if the balsam has been adulterated with a fat oil, it will be surrounded by an oily areola. According to Planche, the pure balsam, when shaken with liquid ammonia specific gravity .965, becomes clear and transparent in a few moments. Vigne says: 21/2 parts pure balsam with 1 part liquor of ammonia, form a transparent mixture, which may be heated to 212° without becoming opaque. Boiled with 50 times its weight of water for 1 hour, it should lose at least half its weight.

Dr. Hager recommends the following simple mode as very reliable for detecting adulteration of copaiba balsam with turpentine oil: 5 or 6 drops of water and about 1 drachm of the balsam are mixed in a small porcelain dish with as much litharge as will make a thin ointment. This mass, at the common summer temperature, exhales the characteristic odor of oil of turpentine, even if the balsam is adulterated with only 10 per cent, of the oil.