Benzoïn

Benzoïn, BENJAMIN, or BENZOIC GUM, a fragrant resinous substance, formed by the drying of the milky juice of the Benzoïn or Benjamin Tree (Styrax, or Lithocarpus benzoïn), a tree of the natural order Styracaceæ, and a congener of that which produces Storar (q.v.), a native of Siam, and of Sumatra and other islands of the Indian Archipelago. Benzoïn is first mentioned by Batuta in 1350 A.D. as Java Frankincense (Arabic Lubîn Jâwi), corrupted into Banjawi, Benjoin, Benzoë, &c. Benzoïn comes to us in reddish-yellow transparent pieces. Different varieties, said to depend upon the age of the trees, are of very different price; the whitest, said to be the produce of the youngest trees, being the best. Amygdaloidal benzoïn contains whitish almond-like tears diffused through its substance. Benzoïn is obtained by making longitudinal or oblique incisions in the stem of the tree: the liquid which exudes soon hardens by exposure to the sun and air. Benzoïn contains about 14 to 18 per cent. of Benzoic Acid (q.v.), although in some varieties this is either entirely wanting or replaced by 11 per cent. of cinnamic acid. A very fragrant oil, styröl, is present in small proportion (a few drops from a pound), the bulk of the gum consisting of resin. Benzoïn is used in perfumery, in pastilles, and for incense, being very fragrant and aromatic, and yielding a pleasant odour when burned. Its compound tincture is prepared by macerating benzoin, along with storax, tolu, and aloes, in rectified spirit for seven days, and subsequent straining, when the Compound Tincture of Benjamin (called variously Wound Balsam, Friar's Balsam, the Commander's Balsam, or Jesuit's Drops) is obtained. It is frequently applied to wounds directly; or is used as an exterior varnish over a bandage. In the preparation of court-plaster, sarcenet (generally coloured black) is brushed over with a solution of isinglass, and then with a coating of the alcoholic solution of benzoin. The tincture is likewise used in the preparation of soaps and washes. Benzoin possesses stimulant properties, and was formerly much used in medicine, particularly in chronic pulmonary affections. The name Asa dulcis (q.v.) was given to it in the 16th century.—The milky juice of Terminalia benzoin, a tree of the natural order Combretaceæ, becomes, on drying, a fragrant resinous substance resembling benzoin, which is used as incense in the churches of the Mauritius. It was at one time erroneously supposed that benzoin was the produce of Benzoin odoriferum, formerly Laurus benzoin, a deciduous shrub of the natural order Lauraceæ, a native of Virginia, about 10 to 12 feet high, which still bears in America the name of Benzoin, or Benjamin Tree, and is also called Spicewood or Fever-bush. It has a highly aromatic bark, which is stimulant and tonic, and is much used in North America in intermittent fevers. The berries are also aromatic and stimulant.