50

BICA

with a cone of paper over it to receive the acid as it sublimes; but asthis always contains an empyreumatic oil, it may be obtained pure byboiling gum benzoin finely pulverized in a considerable quantity ofwater with lime or carbonate of potass, and precipitating by means ofmuriatic acid, when the precipitate may be dried by a gentle heatand purified by sublimation. It is sweetish, aromatic, reddenslitmus paper, and forms benzoates with alkaline bases.Soluble in water, and still more so in alcohol, particularly when heated.Benzoinum. L. E. P. Benzoc. D. Benzoin or Benjamin, ox gum Ben-jamin. O. Procured from the Slyrax Benzoin, a plant 'which is anative of Sumatra. It is nearly tasteless, but fragrant, and containsbenzoic acid (see Acidum Benzoicuji) and resin.Adulterated with other gum resins. The genuine is free from dross,

and of a yellowish colour, with white spots, and brittle.Medicinally it is stimulant, nervine, and expectorant, but in a weak

degree, and is little used.Enters into Tinct. Benzoini Comp. L. E. D. Acid. Benzoicum. L. E. D.Bergamot. In perfumery, is an essence or oil very fragrant, procuredfrom the outer rind of the bergamot orange, or fruit of the Citrusmella rosa, by expression, or by distillation.Adulterated with cheaper oils, but may easily be known by the fine-ness of the fragrance.Bergamot Water is prepared by taking two gallons of good oldFrench brandy, one gallon of highly-rectified spirits of wine, andone gallon of spring water, into which put 5j of true Roman orSicilian oil of bergamot, previously well triturated with lump sugar,in a glass mortar. Distil by a water heat, and draw off only sixquarts. It will keep for twenty years.Bestucheff's Nervous Tincture. See Tinct. ^Ether.Betonica Officinalis. P. Wood Betony. A common native herbof reputed virtue, as a laxative and alterative. The powder of theleaves is errhine ; root, emetic.Bezoar Stone. A sort of calculus found in the stomachs of ruminatinganimals, and formerly sold, as it now is in the east, at a high price,as a cordial and restorative. Its virtues, it is probable, are in a greatmeasure fabulous. Several preparations of antimony take the nameof Bezoardicum.Bi. This prefix signifies that the base is contained in a compound intwo definite proportions, as biarseniate, bichromate, bihydroguret ofcarbon or of phosphorus.Bicarbonates are salts containing a double proportion of carbonic acidgas. The term has arisen from the doctrine of definite propor-tions.