Tinctura Benzoini Composita. U. S., Br. Compound Tincture of Benzoin.

Tr. Benz. Co.

Related entries: Benzoin - Tincture of Benzoin

Tinctura Balsamica, Balsamum Commendatoris, Elixir Traumaticum; Friars' Balsam; Teinture (alcoole) balsamique, Fr. Cod.; Baume du Commandeurde Permes, Fr.; Persischer Wundbalsam, G.

"Benzoin, in No. 40 powder, one hundred grammes [or 3 ounces av., 231 grains]; Aloes, in No. 40 powder, twenty grammes [or 308.6 grains]; Storax, eighty grammes [or 2 ounces av., 360 grains]; Balsam of Tolu, forty grammes [or 1 ounce av., 180 grains]; to make one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]. Prepare a Tincture by Type Process M, using alcohol as the solvent." U. S.

"Benzoin, in powder, 100 grammes; Prepared Storax, 75 grammes; Balsam of Tolu, 25 grammes; Aloes, 20 grammes; Alcohol (90 per cent.), sufficient to produce 1000 millilitres.

"Macerate the Benzoin, Storax, Balsam of Tolu, and Aloes with eight hundred millilitres of the Alcohol in a closed vessel for two days, shaking occasionally; filter; pass sufficient of the Alcohol through the filter to produce the required volume." Br.

Compound tincture of benzoin now contains 10 Gm. of benzoin to each 100 mils instead of 12 as in the U. S. P., 1890.

Uses.—Compound tincture of benzoin is chiefly employed both for its antiseptic and protective effect as a local application to minor wounds, chapped hands or nipples, indolent ulcers, etc. It is the balsamum traumaticum of the older Pharmacopoeias, and may be considered as a simplified form of certain complex compositions, such as baume du commandeur, Wade's balsam, Balsam de Maltha, Friar's balsam, Jesuit's drops, Turlington's balsam, etc., which were formerly in great repute, and are still esteemed by the people, as pectorals and vulneraries. The compound tincture of benzoin is precipitated by water. A variety of court plaster is made by applying to black silk, by means of a brush, first a solution of isinglass, and afterwards an alcoholic solution of benzoin.

It is occasionally employed Internally as a stimulating expectorant in chronic bronchitis. More frequently it is used as an inhalant by adding a teaspoonful of the tincture to a pint of hot water and breathing the vapors; this mode of treatment is especially useful in the early stages of acute bronchitis. It has also been recommended in chronic dysentery with the idea that it would exercise its local action upon the ulcerated surface of the colon, but is of doubtful utility.

Dose, fifteen to sixty minims (0.9-3.75 mils).


The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.