708

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

semblance to the dried opaque portion of common turpentine. Th cturpentine (? Thus) of the Abies communis has been analyzed by CaiH°b(Journ. de Pharm. t. xvi. p. 436) who obtained the following results:'"'Volatile Oil 32‘00, Resin insoluble in alcohol 7’40, Abietin (a crystal'lizable resin) 1T47, Abietic acid (? Pinic and Sylvie acids) 4o' ; b>Extractive and Succinic acid P22, Loss (principally volatile oil) 2‘52.

Physiological Effects. —The effects of terebinthinate substanceshave been before noticed (p. 73). Locally they operate as irritants-Applied to the shin they cause rubefaction, and sometimes a vesicula*eruption. Swallowed they give rise to a sensation of warmth at th cstomach, in large doses occasion sickness, and promote the peristaH lCmovement of the intestines. After their absorption they operate on 1“general system as stimulants, and excite the vascular system, especial/of the abdominal and pelvic viscera. Their influence is principallyrected to the secreting organs, more especially to the mucous membrane*and the urinary apparatus. They act as diuretics, and communicate ‘violet odour to the urine. This odour depends on a portion of the 0having undergone a slight change in its nature during its passagthrough the system. Part of the oil, however, is thrown off uncliang et ’for Moiroud (' Pharmacol.-Veterin . p. 312) has observed,that at the san 1time that the turpentines cause a violet odour, they flow in part "' lU _the urine. “ 1 have verified,” says he, “ this double phenomenon on man)horses, to whom turpentine has been given, for some days, in , ,enormous dose of ten or twelve ounces.” But the kidneys are not monly parts engaged in getting rid of the absorbed turpentine. All 111secreting organs, but more especially the bronchial surfaces and the sk> ! ’‘are occupied in the same way. By these the oil is exhaled appai' ellt ^unchanged, or at least with its usual odour. During the circulationthe terebinthinate particles in the system, they exercise a local inllu e ? ,over the capillaries and secerning vessels, in the vital activity of "'In ^they effect a change. In certain morbid conditions, this change is 0 .most salutary nature. In catarrhal affections of the mucous membra®the secerning vessels become constringed under the use of terebin 11nates, and the discharge is, in consequence, checked. g {

The most important, because by far the most active, constituentthe terebinthinate oleo-resins is volatile oil. Hence their effects ^almost identical with the latter (vide Oleum Terebinthincc , p. 710). S? 1slight differences, however, are to be noticed. They are less i' a l ,ltl ( kabsorbed, are more permanent in their operation, confine their infl ueI1 , eprincipally to the apparatus of organic life, not affecting, at least tosame extent, the brain, and act less powerfully on the cutaneous sy ste ’We have few data on which to rely in judging of the comparativelluence of the different terebinthinates; but as their most active c°

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[rest

stituent is volatile oil, we may fairly infer that those which pthe greatest liquidity, and which, in consequence, contain thequantity of oil, are the most powerful preparations. Venice and StrasbufSTurpentines stand m tins respect pre-eminent. Canada Balsam 1valuable on account of its purity and agreeable flavour. In activ^’purity, and flavour, Common Turpentine holds the lowest rank.

r iT?®, terebmlhmate oleo-resins are, with some exceptingapplicable for the same purposes as the volatile oil. The following **Uie principal cases in which they are employed:_

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