Balsam of Riga.
Related entries: White pine bark - Rosin - Oil of Turpentine - Rectified Oil of Turpentine
Balsam of Riga. Riga Balsam. Balsamum Carpaticum. Balsamum Libam.—This is the product of Pinus Cembra, L. (Fam. Pinaceae), a large tree growing in the mountainous regions and northern latitudes of Europe and Siberia. The juice exudes from the extremities of the young twigs, and is collected in flasks suspended from them. It is a thin, white fluid, having an odor analogous to that of the juniper, and possessing the ordinary terebinthinate properties. In this country it is very rare; but it is occasionally brought from Riga or Kronstadt in bottles. Keller, of Darmstadt, affirms that Riga Balsam is the product of the ordinary Pinus palustris Mill.. A similar product, called Hungarian balsam, is obtained in the same manner from Pinus Pumilio Haenke, growing on the mountains of Switzerland, Austria and Hungary.
