Tinctura Tolutana (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Tolu.

Botanical name: 

Related entry: Balsamum Tolutanum (U. S. P.)—Balsam of Tolu

Preparation.—"Balsam of tolu, one hundred grammes (100 Gm.) [3 ozs. av., 231 grs.]; alcohol, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters, (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏]. Add the balsam of tolu to nine hundred cubic centimeters (900 Cc.) [30 fl℥, 208♏] of alcohol, and macerate until it is dissolved; then filter through paper, adding through the filter, enough alcohol to make the tincture measure one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏]"—(U. S. P.). A yellow tincture, striking milky with water.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—This tincture possesses the properties of balsam of tolu, and may be used in cough and chronic catarrhal diseases; also as an adjunct to cough and expectorant compounds. The dose is from ½ to 1 or 2 fluid drachms.

Related Tincture.—TINCTURA TOLUTANA SOLUBILIS (N. F.), Soluble tincture of tolu. "Balsam of tolu, one hundred grammes (100 Gm.) [3 ozs. av., 231 grs.]; magnesium carbonate, ten grammes (10 Gm.) [154 grs.]; glycerin, four hundred cubic centimeters (400 Cc.) [13 fl℥, 252♏]; water. alcohol, of each, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏]. Mix two hundred cubic centimeters (200 Cc.) [6 fl℥, 366♏] of alcohol with the glycerin, and dissolve the balsam of tolu in the mixture with the aid of heat, avoiding loss by evaporation. Next add four hundred cubic centimeters (400 Cc.) [13 fl℥, 252♏] of water, and allow the mixture to become cold. Pour off the milky liquid from the resinous precipitate (which latter is to be rejected), mix it with the magnesium carbonate, by trituration, and filter. Lastly, pass enough of a mixture of one (1) volume of alcohol and two (2) volumes of water through the filter, to make the whole filtrate measure one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏]. Note.—This preparation may be added to syrup or water without producing cloudiness. A mixture of 1 fluid ounce of this preparation with 15 fluid ounces of syrup yields a product which may be used as syrup of tolu in all cases where the official preparation is not required"—(Nat. Form.).


King's American Dispensatory, 1898, was written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D.