Composition of the turbot:
| Nitrogenous matter | 18·1 | per cent. |
| Fat | 2·9 | ” |
| Saline matter | 1·0 | ” |
| Water | 78·0 | ” |
| ——— | ||
| 100·0 |
TUR′KEY. See Poultry.
TUR′MERIC. Syn. Curcuma (Ph. L. & D.), L. The rhizome of Curcuma longa. The best is imported from Ceylon. It is stimulant and carminative, but is chiefly used in dyeing yellow, and as an ingredient in curry powder; also as a test for alkalies. It gives a fugitive golden yellow with wold, and an orange tinge to scarlet. It dies wool and silk, mordanted with common salt, or sal ammoniac, a fugitive yellow.—Dose, 10 to 30 gr. See Curcumine.
Composition of an average sample of Curcuma longa:
| Water | 14·249 |
| Curcumin | 11·000 |
| Turmeric | 12·075 |
| Volatile oil | 1·000 |
| Gum | 8·113 |
| Starch | 3·627 |
| Extractive | 3·388 |
| Woody fibre | 46·548 |
| Ash, included in above weights | [5·463] |
| ———— | |
| 100·000 |
Under the microscope turmeric presents a very characteristic structure, viz. “a cellular tissue containing large, loose, yellow cells, with here and there small, but very distinct, starch granules, similar in shape and size to those of Curcuma arrowroot, and some woody fibre and dotted ducts. The yellow granular cells can readily be identified whenever they occur.[242]
[242] Dr Winter Blyth.
TURNBULL’S BLUE. Syn. Ferricyanide of iron; Ferri ferricyanidum, L. Prep. Precipitate a solution of protosulphate of iron with another of red prussiate of potash (ferricyanide of potassium.)
Obs. This is a variety of Prussian blue, remarkable for its beautiful colour, and may be distinguished from the ordinary Prussian blue of commerce by its action on the yellow prussiate of potash. When boiled in a solution of the latter it is decomposed, a portion is dissolved, and a grey residue remains.