Olea Distillata

Lond.

Distilled Oils,

"The fruit of anise, carraway, and juniper, the flowers of chamomile, lavender, and elder, the berries of allspice, the tops of rosemary, and the entire recent plants of the other herbs are to be employed.

"Put any one of these into an alembic, then pour in as much water as will cover it, and distil the oil into a large vessel, kept cool."

Olea Volatilia

Edin.

Volatile Oils.

"As much water only is to be employed as will prevent empyreuma during the distillation. The distillation may be immediately commenced after a proper maceration; and the oil afterwards separated from the water.

"It is also necessary to observe in preparing these oils, and the distilled waters, that the quality of the substances, their texture, the season of the year, and similar circumstances, must occasion so many differences, that it is scarcely possible to give any certain and general rules which shall strictly apply to every example. Many things, therefore, which must be regulated by the judgment of the operator, are omitted, and the more general only given."

Few of the volatile oils are prepared by the apothecary. The oils of anise, chamomile, juniper, origanum, rosemary, and pimento, are usually imported into this country; while those of lavender, peppermint, spearmint, and pennyroyal, are annually prepared on a large scale.

Oleum Anisi

Lond. Dub. Oleum Volatile Pimpi-nellae Anisi, Edin. Oil of Anise-seed,

Syne. Huile d' Anis (F.), Anisohl (G.), Olio dei Anice (I.).

This oil is of a whitish, or a pale straw colour, has the odour of the plant, and a slightly pungent, bitter, sweetish taste. It crystallises at 50° in flat tables. One hundred pounds of anise-seeds yield about ijss. of oil; but the produce varies. It is sometimes adulterated with wax, spermaceti, or camphor: but the fraud is easily detected; for on moderately warming the genuine oil the crystals dissolve, which is not the case with sophisticated.1 The greater part of the oil of anise-seed consumed in this country is prepared in Spain. The specific gravity of that made in England is .9768; of that imported, or the foreign, .9903.

1 Baume.

Medical properties and uses. - This oil is used chiefly as a carminative; and, as it is less pungent than many of the other volatile oils, it is better adapted for relieving flatulence in children. It is given in doses of from v. to xv., triturated with sugar.

Oleum Anthemidis

Lond. Oleum Volatilae Anthemidis Nobilis, Edin. Oil of Chamomile.

Syn. Huilede Camomille Romaine (F.), Kamillenohl (G.), Olio di Cama-milla Romana (I.), Azeyte de Manganella de Botera (S.).

The odour of this oil is unpleasant, and the taste pungent. When recently distilled the colour is cerulean blue; but by exposure to light it changes to yellow. One hundred pounds of chamomile flowers yield ij. xij. of oil. The spec grav. of the English oil, from the flowers only, is .9083, of the foreign it is .9289.

Medical properties and uses. - This oil is supposed to possess antispasmodic powers, and is therefore sometimes recommended in cramp of the stomach, and as an adjunct to purgative pills. The dose is from v. to xj.; but it is seldom used.