BALM OF GILEAD. The earliest specifics against personal injuries resorted to by mankind, were probably the different parts of vegetables produced in their respective countries ; and hence we find, that most savages are acquainted with vulneraries pre pared by the hand of nature, or that they seek to im prove them from decoctions and infusions of roots, flowers, and leaves. Among the more precious sub stances obtained from plants, applied as a curative of wounds by the ruder inhabitants of the eastern cli mates, the balm of Gilead, or balsam of Mecca, has been eminently distinguished during many ages. But although the balm of Gilead is better known from several scriptural allusions, and most esteem ed, it is only of secondary quality to the balsam of Mecca, for which it is frequently substituted, and illustrationif of its nature and properties must chiefly be derived from the latter. This balsam is a resinous matter, exuding, like ordinary resin, from incisions in the bark of two different vegetables, at least there are apparently two, though the distinction is not well characterized or described by natural ists, which has excited .conjectures that there is on ly one, and that it is subject to certain external modifications from soil and climate. The plant pro ducing the balsam of Mecca, was first ascertained by Forskal to belong to the genus Antyris. He transmitted one or two specimens to Linnaeus, who has characterized it as the " Amyris °pawl:an:um, leaves pinnate, with sessile leaflets, a native of Ara bia ;" while he characterizes the Other " Anwris Gi kadensis, leaves ternate, very entire peduncles, one flowered lateral, a native of Abyssinia. But, to con sider it more in detail : This plant grows to the height of fourteen feet, flourishing in a hot climate, and in a stony barren soil. In general it is lower, and Mr Bruce describes a specimen five feet and a half in height, and five inches across the stem where thick est. The wood is white, light, and of open tex ture, covered with a smooth bark, reddish or of blue ish white, resembling that of a healthy standard cherry-tree, green within, and emitting a very fla grant odour. That of the branches, which are very flexible and resinous, is equally agreeable. The leaves, which are evergreen and scanty, bear some resemblance to those of rue ; and the flowers, which are leguminous, and of a purplish colour, resemble those of the acacia. The fruit consists of small pointed ovoidal berries, containing a yellowish fluid similar to honey, of a bitterish taste, and exhaling a pleasing perfume, approaching. the odour of balm. This plant is called Balessan in the east ; but it would require new botanical researches to ascertain definitely, and beyond dispute, whether it is of different species, as is most probable, and what is its real character,.--points which we must consider as remaining to be establishtd.
It has been maintained, that the plants producing the balsam of Mecca are restricted to a plantation, extending little more than 30 acres, at Beder Hu nein, a station for pilgrims in Arabia, half way be tween Mecca and Medina. Yet it cannot be posi tively affirmed if this be one distinct species ; that Abyssinia, the country ascribed to the other, is de prived of it ; or that the balm of Gilead grows in Abyssinia exclusively. These are facts which also
require elucidation in future botanical research. The plantation belongs to a noble family of Arabs, of the tribe Beni K'oreish, from which Mahomet origi nated, unless the incursions of the Wahabee, who in terrupted the wonted pilgrimages, may have dispos sessed them.
The balsam flows from incisions in the tree, which are made with an axe, in July, August, and the be ginning of September, when the circulation of the sap is in the greatest activity ; and it is received into a small earthen bottle. Each day's produce is col lected, and poured into one of larger dimensions ; but the quantity obtained is very small, and its col lection tedious and troublesome ; for the total exu dation is usually but three or four drops in a day ; nor does the most productive tree afford above sixty. Its scarcity, therefore, and the difficulty of procuring it, have no inconsiderable effect in enhancing its va lue.. The odour is at first strong and pungent, oc casioning a sensation like that of volatile salts rashly inhaled. Its intensity is proportioned to its fresh ness and the care it receives, for if neglected, and exposed to the influence of the air, the fragrance entirely decays. It is also of a rough, acrid, pungent taste. Originally the balsam is of a light yellow co lour, a little turbid, and of a whitish cast, which is supposed to arise from the globules of air absorb ed along with it; and it dissolves readily in water. It next acquires greater -consistence resembling honey, and becomes pellucid ; and after the lapse of some years, grows of deeper yellow, or gold colour, when it is tery tenacious, and may be drawn out in threads. It is difficult, however, to obtain the bal sam in a state of purity, for several different substan ces are employed in its adulteration ; to detect which various experiments are resorted to. If dropped" in to a glass of clean water, it falls to the bottom with out rising again to the surface, or if remaining still on the surface, like oil in a drop, it is certainly adul terated. If, on the contrary, it spreads on the sur face of the water, diffusing in a thin pellicle, scarcely visible to the eye, and may be collected with a thread or a feather, it is the pure and natural pro duct. In this state it will coagulate in milk, but not if otherwise. If pure it collects in a globule, when dropped on hot iron ; if adulterated it runs and spreads itself all around. The different substances used in the adulteration of this balsam are honey, wax, oil of sesamum, turpentine, and ostrich fat. Sweetness of taste betrays the honey, and its turbid appearance the presence of wax. Adulteration with oil is detected by its yielding a darker and grosser flame than what issues from the genuine balsam, when dropped on burning coals. When the consistency becomes too great, which seems a consequence of age and long preservation, fluidity is restored by the simple application of heat.