Populus balsamifera.

Preparation.—Tincture of Populus Bals.

Dose.—From five drops to half a drachm.

Therapeutic Action.—The buds of the Populus balsamifera (commonly called the "Balm of Gilead Buds") are frequently employed as a tonic, gentle excitant, and pectoral agent. They yield a rich balsamic gum, upon which their virtues are dependent.

This remedy is exhibited in colds, coughs, chronic bronchitis, in all chronic bronchial affections, pain in the thorax, hemoptysis, and even in phthisis they have occasionally done good by relieving pain in the cheat, lessening irritation and cough, and in promoting expectoration when it was performed with difficulty, owing to weakness in the respiratory organs.

The American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics, 1898, was written by John M. Scudder, M.D.