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Canada balsam

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
balsam /bal·sam/ (bawl´sam)
1. a semifluid, resinous, and fragrant liquid of vegetable origin, usually trees; often composed chiefly of resins, volatile oils, and various esters.balsam´ic
2. balm.

Canada balsam  an oleoresin from the balsam fir, used as a microscopic mounting medium.
balsam of Peru , peruvian balsam a thick brown liquid from the tree Myroxylon pereirae, used as a local protectant and rubefacient.
tolu balsam  a balsam obtained from the tree Myrotoxylon balsamum, used as an expectorant and pharmaceutic aid.

Canada balsam 
A transparent resinous substance produced by the sap of the Canadian balsam fir and used to cement glass (doublet, beam-splitting prisms, the segment of a bifocal lens, etc). Its index of refraction is equal to about 1.54. It has nowadays been superseded by modern chemical adhesives.


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