a stuffing gland for shafts subject to relatively high pressures and comprising a collar disposed around the outer periphery of the stem and having one side thereof open to the high pressure acting on the stem , a passageway communicating the high pressure from the one side of the collar to the opposite side thereof for applying an equal and opposite force against the collar for equalization of the pressures acting on the shaft whereby the shaft may be freely rotated about its own longitudinal axis .