Oil of Rose′wort. Syn. Oil of rose-root; Oleum rhodiolæ, L. From the roots of Rhodiola rosea. Yellowish; odour resembles that of oil of rhodium, for which it is often sold, as well as the distilled water for rose water. 11⁄2 lb. yields about 1 dr.
Oil of Rue. Syn. Rutæ oleum (B. P.), Oleum rutæ (Ph. L. & E.), L. The “oil distilled from the fresh herb of Ruta graveolens” (B. P.), or common rue. Pale yellow, turning brown by age, and depositing a brownish, resinous sediment; congeals at about 40° Fahr.; acrid, bitter; odour that of the plant; stimulant, antispasmodic, and emmenagogue. Sp. gr. ·909 to ·911. Prod. 1⁄4 to 1%(nearly). According to Raybaud, the recent dried seeds yield fully four times as much oil as the flowering herb.
Pur. Nearly always adulterated. When pure—1. It forms a clear solution with rectified spirit.—2. It does not form a camphor with gaseous hydrochloric acid.—3. Iodine dissolves in it slowly, without any apparent reaction, beyond a darkening and a slight increase of viscidity.—4. It is unaffected by a solution of chromate of potassa.—5. Nitric acid very slowly changes it into a greenish-yellow liquid balsam.—6. If it forms a reddish-brown solution with liquor of potassa and a still darker one with oil of vitriol, or if it fulminates with iodine, it is adulterated with the oil of some labiate plant.—7. It is more soluble in both rectified spirit and water than any of the oils used to adulterate it.
Oil of Saf′fron. Syn. Oleum croci, L. From the pistils of Crocus sativus (saffron). Yellow; heavier than water; acrid, pungent, and narcotic; decomposed by exposure to light and age, with the formation of a white solid matter, which is lighter than water.
Oil of Sage. Syn. Oleum salviæ, L. From the herbaceous portion of Salvia officinalis, or common sage.
Oil of San′dal-wood. Syn. Oleum santali,
O. s. albi, L. From the wood of Santalum album, or sandal-tree, and preferably from that of Malabar. It has an odour somewhat resembling that of oil of rhodium, for which it is commonly used; also used to adulterate otto of roses. Prod. 9 lbs. yield 1 oz.; 100 lbs. yield 5 oz. (Raybaud).
Oil of Sarsaparil′la. Syn. Oleum sarzæ, L. From the root bark, distilled along with salt-and-water. Acrid; odour and flavour same as the root.
Oil of Sas′safras. Syn. Volatile oil of s.; Oleum sassafras (Ph. E.), O. lauri s., O. s. officinalis, L. From bruised sassafras chips, the sliced root of Sassafras officinale, as oil of cloves. Pale yellow; highly odorous; hot, pungent, rubefacient, and stimulant; reputed alterative, sudorific, and diuretic, and, as such, occasionally given in rheumatism, cutaneous affections, &c. Sp. gr. 1·094 to 1·096. Prod. 11⁄2 to 2% (fully).
Pur., &c.—1. If the density is lower than 1·094, it is adulterated.—2. Nitric acid acts on this oil, at first slowly, merely turning it of an orange-red, but afterwards with violence, and a reddish-brown resin is formed.—3. Mixed with about one half its weight of sulphuric acid, a green colour is at first developed, which, by heat, is changed to a blood red. A large quantity of sulphuric acid acts at once violently, white fumes are given off, and mere charcoal is left.—4. With iodine it forms a permanently clear solution, or at least one that remains so for some time.—5. By agitation with water, it separates into two oils—one lighter, the other heavier, than that fluid.