Under the name _American storax_, _white Peru balsam_, _white Indian balsam_ or _liquid ambar_ is found in commerce a product similar to storax, which is derived from _Liquidambar styraciflua, L._, a tree indigenous to Mexico and Louisiana. This balsam forms a clear, transparent, brownish-yellow, semi-fluid mass. It has a storax-like odor, and a sharp and pungent taste. It is only partially soluble in alcohol, specifically lighter than water, and shows an acid reaction. It is said to consist of 24 per cent. styracin, 1 per cent. benzoic acid, volatile oil, etc. It is sometimes used for fumigating purposes, but chiefly serves for the adulteration of Tolu balsam. _Myrrh_ (_Gummi-resina myrrha_, _Gummi myrrha_) is a gum resin, the produce of _Balsamodendron Ehrenbergianum, Berg_, and, perhaps, also of _Balsamodendron Myrrha, Nees_. The first-named tree is found in the countries bordering on the Red Sea, and extends into Africa to the Somali Coast, where the principal supply of myrrh is collected. The gum-resin exudes naturally as a white oil-like mass, which, after hardening, whereby it becomes considerably darker, is collected by the natives and brought chiefly to Berbera, a small seaport opposite Aden, to be exchanged for English and Indian goods. From there, by way of Aden and Bombay, it reaches the European market. In Bombay the first sorting takes place, which is, however, superficial, and hence has to be repeated in Europe (London). According to Parker, ten different resins are admixed with myrrh, especially bdellium resins. In commerce _Myrrha electa_ and _Myrrha vulgaris_ or _in sortis_ are distinguished. _Myrrha electa_, the best quality, occurs in pieces of irregular form and variable sizes, consisting of tears--either distinct or agglomerated--usually covered with a fine powder or dust. The surface is seldom smooth, but generally rough or granular. The color varies, being pale reddish-yellow, red, or reddish-brown. The fracture is conchoidal, seldom smooth, but rather granular, rough, of a fatty lustre, and sometimes shows whitish striæ or veins, or opalesces like flint. The fractured edges are more or less translucent; thin disks or splinters are translucent or transparent. The specific gravity is, according to Hager, 1.195 to 1.205, and according to Ruickholdt, 1.12 to 1.18. A _Myrrha electa_ is the better, the more fragile, friable, and paler in color it is, and the more rapidly it ignites and burns with a yellow, sooty flame. Poorer qualities may be recognized by the dark-brown color and dirty appearance. Myrrh is with difficulty rubbed to a fine powder, this being possible only after drying, which must, however, be done at a very moderate heat in order to prevent loss of volatile oil.