Tolu balsam solution

To Detect factitious Balaam of Tolu. The genuine balsam is perfectly soluble in alcohol, forming a transparent solution. By exposure to tho air it becomes hard and brittle. It i.s frequently adulterated, in which cose it has a weaker smell, is less soluble in alcohol, and the tincture formed with that ilnid is opaque. 

Coating for Fills. Durden recommends collodion as a corering for pills others, a solution of gutta pcrcha iu chloroform but tho ready solubility of theso materials iu the stomach may be questioned. Blanchard uses balsam of tolu dissolved in ether. Baildon recommends chloroform instead of ether for dissolving the balsam. 

Compound Paint of Iodoform (Whitehead s Varnish). This contains 10 per cent w/v of iodoform in an ethereal solution of benzoin, storax and balsam of tolu. 

Dissolve 2-5 g of balsam of tolu, or the alcoholic extractive from 2-5 g of benzoin, in 15 ml of hot 95 per cent ethanol in a 300-ml flask. Add all at once a mixture of 10 ml of 5 per cent potassium hydroxide solution and 50 ml of water mix and dilute with 150 ml of water. To the mixture add 2 5 g of magnesium sulphate dissolved in 50 ml of water, and stand the flask on a water-bath for five minutes. Cool, and continue the determination of total balsamic acids as given above. 

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