Balm of Gilead

a resinous liquid obtained from incisions in the bark of a small tree in Arabia and Abyssinia. It was counted a precious substance in Bible times for its fragrance and medicinal qualities. It is a yellow, honey-like substance. Mixed with oil, it constitutes the sacred ointment used in the Roman Catholic church at the consecration of a bishop, and in the rites of baptism of children, confirmation of church members, ordinations of the clergy, and coronation of kings. It is used also in the consecration of churches, altars, and baptismal fonts. The name Balm of Gilead is applied in the United States to a large woolly-leafed, waxy, warty poplar, which, because of its spreading branches, is sometimes planted as a shade tree. The large buds are covered with a resinous gum, hence the name.