250 BALSAMS BALTARD fir, abiet bakamea, of the northern states. It is collected by breaking the vesicles which form on the trunk and branches, and receiving their contents in a bottle. Its color is whitish, slight- ly yellow, and its odor like that of the turpen- tines. Its analysis is thus given by Bonastre : Essential oil 18-6 per cent. Resin soluble in alcohol 40-0 Resin soluble with difficulty 88-4 Elastic resin 4-0 Bitter extract and salts 4-0 ' 100-0 It is used in the preparation and preservation of objects for the microscope, and in a few un- important medicinal compounds. The copaiba balsam is obtained from the copaifera offici- nalis, a tree of Brazil and Guiana. It is of Balsam Copaiba (Copaifera offictnalis). yellowish color, semi-liquid consistency, a bit- ter sharp taste, and a disagreeable suffocating smell. It will dissolve one fourth its weight of carbonate of magnesia, and continue translucent. With alkalis it gives crystalline compounds. It contains an oil that dissolves caoutchouc. Its composition, according to Durand, is : Volatile oil 85-00 percent. Copaiba acid 52-75 " Brown soft resin 1-66 " Water and loss 7'59 " 100-00 " Its use is principally in medicine, for altering the secretions of the mucous membranes by which it is excreted, namely, those lining the re- spiratory and urinary organs. The resin is said to be more active therapeutically than the oil. It is also used for liqueurs, and for making pa- per transparent. It is often largely adulterated with castor oil and with turpentine. Mecca balsam, called also opobalsam, is the product of the balsamodendron Oileadense of the East. Its properties are similar to those of balsam of copaiba and liquid turpentines. (See BALM OF GILEAD.) BALTA (formerly Jnzefogrod), a town of Rus- sia, capital of a circle of the same name, in the government of Podolia, on the Kodyma, a tribu- tary of the southern Bug, 1 60 in. S. E. of Kame- netz; pop. in 1867, 14,528. Its suburb on the S. side of the river, now in the government of Kherson, formerly belonged to Turkey, while the chief part of the town was in Poland. It has three Greek churches, a Roman Catholic church, a synagogue, two schools, and facto- ries of candles, soap, and tallow. It carries on a brisk trade, principally in manufactured articles, horned cattle, horses, hides, wool, and cereals. Two fairs are annually held here. In 1780 the greater part of the place was de- stroyed by the Russians. I! li.l HIM. I. Saverio, an Italian poet, horn at Barletta, April 27, 1800. He was for some time a journalist, and has published La giojetta, Claudia Vannini (Naples, 1836), Ugone di Cortona (1838), and other poetry, and made translations from Byron and Shelley. In 1848 he was one of the chief editors of a scientific and literary periodical and of a polit- ical journal, and afterward he was for a time prominent in politics at Naples, and presi- dent of the committee of public instruction. II. Mil liclc, an Italian historian and novelist, brother of the preceding, born in Naples, Feb. 11, 1803. His Novelette morali (1829) and Istoria di Masaniello (1831) have passed through many editions. He is also the author of a historical romance and of disquisitions on the life and writings of Oampanella (1840-'43), and on the philosophy of Kant (1854). BALTA .M (anc. Phidalia, or Portus Mu- lierum), a bay and port on the European side of the Bosporus, in lat. 41 10' N. and Ion. 29 8' E., between Rumili Hissar and Therapia. It was formerly a place of rendezvous for the Turkish fleets. A convention was concluded here May 1, 1849, between Russia and Turkey, in which it was stipulated that Russia should have for seven years an equal right with Tur- key to interfere in the affairs of the Danubian principalities, and keep there 10,000 men as an army of occupation. BALTARD. I. Louis Pierre, a French architect and engraver, born in Paris, July 9, 1765, died Jan. 22, 1846. He was architect of the Pan- theon and of the Paris prisons, and executed the chapels of the houses of detention of St. Lazare and Ste. Pelagie, the greater part of the hall of justice in Lyons, and other remarkable buildings ; was a member of the board of pub- lic works, and in 1818 became professor at the academy of fine arts. He left many superb works descriptive of monuments and illustra- ted by his own plates ; published the " Athe- nfflurn," a journal of art ; and excelled in the engraving of historical and miscellaneous sub- jects. II. Victor, son of the preceding, born in Paris, June 19, 1805. He studied under his father and in Italy, became architect of the government and of the city of Paris, and chief superintendent in the academy of fine
