the resinous juice of a tree or shrub; the true balsams being distinguished from the spurious ones, or turpentine, by containing benzoic or an analogous acid as one of their essential ingredients, in addition to the volatile oil and resin of which alone the turpentines consist. The true balsams known in commerce are five in number, viz., the balsam of Peru, yielded by the Myrospermum Peruvianum; the balsam of Tolu; procured from the M. Toliferum; benzoin, the produce of styrax benzoin; storax, from the Storax officinalis; and liquidamber, from Liquidambar styraciflua. Balsams are used in medicine in certain diseased states of the mucous membranes, and are hence frequently prescribed in cough mixtures, and during recovery from certain inflammatory and diseased conditions of the mucous surfaces of the stomach and bowels, &c. Formerly balsamic preparations were much used in surgery for dressing wounds, sores, &c., but are almost completely exploded in modern practice in this country. Balsams are used also in the manufacture of sealing-wax, pastils, &c.; and the incense burnt in Roman Catholic chapels owes its peculiar perfume chiefly to the presence of benzoin. Canadian balsam, balsam of copaiba, balm of Gilead, &c., though commonly styled balsams, are not so properly speaking, since they contain no benzoic acid.