4. Terebinthina Veneta. (Pinus Larix.)[[668]] The Larch. Venice Turpentine. The resin is by most writers, and in the shops, esteemed the best, after that of Pistachia Terebinthus, of those juices commonly called Turpentines. It is usually thinner than any other kind, of a pale yellowish colour, and of a hot, pungent, bitterish taste; the smell is strong, and far from being agreeable. Although it bears the name of Venice Turpentine, very little of it is exported from the Venetian territories; but it is probable that the merchants of that country were the first who substituted it for the genuine Turpentine of Cyprus. The resinous juice of the Larch is said to remain always, or at least a very long time, in a state of liquidity; a property which is particularly adverted to by Pliny.[[669]] As a Diuretic, the Venice Turpentine has been generally preferred to all the other kinds; and it is said to relax the bowels more, for which reason Riverius[[670]] considers it as being safer than other irritating diuretics.
5. Terebinthina Argentoratensis. (Pinus Picea.) Strasburg Turpentine. This resin is generally of a middle consistence between that of the Terebinthus and the Larix; more transparent and less tenacious than either; in colour yellowish brown; in smell more agreeable than any other turpentine, except the Cyprian; in taste the bitterest, yet the least acrid.
Form of Exhibition. The Turpentines may be either made into Pills with powdered liquorice root, or suspended in water by the intervention of egg or mucilage; for which purpose, ℥j requires the yelk of one egg, or ʒiss of gum arabic. Dose, gr. x to ʒj.
TEREBINTHINÆ OLEUM. L.E.D.
Oil of Turpentine.
Qualities. Form, a limpid and colourless liquid, whose specific gravity is only ·792; Odour, strong, penetrating, and peculiar; Taste, hot, bitter and pungent. Chemical Composition. It is an essential oil, possessing, however, peculiar habitudes with respect to alcohol, being readily dissolved by hot alcohol, but separating again in drops, as the spirit cools; in the cold it is sparingly soluble in the strongest alcohol, and separates from it on standing; but it dissolves completely in six parts of sulphuric æther. It is not acted upon by the alkalies, except by long triture, when it is converted into a species of resin.[[671]] Med. Uses. It acts according to the dose, either on the primæ viæ producing catharsis, or on the kidneys, exciting diuresis; thus its operation offers another illustration of the views which I have so frequently urged during the progress of the present work; it furnishes a striking example of the important influence of quantity, or dose, in determining the specific operation of a remedy; thus two fluid-drachms of the oil may so excite the urinary organs as to produce even bloody urine, and the other ill effects described by Boerhaave and Lange; whereas six fluid-drachms, or a fluid-ounce, will stimulate the bowels, and produce scarcely any apparent effect upon the kidneys.
As a medicine acting powerfully on the first passages, its value seems only to have been lately appreciated; in Tænia, it may be said to act almost as a specific remedy, discharging it in all cases, dead. In obstinate constipation, depending on affections of the brain, I have lately had several opportunities or witnessing its beneficial effects; in an unfortunate instance of Hydrocephalus acutus in a boy of thirteen years of age,[[672]] it brought away an accumulation of feculent matter almost incredible as to quantity, after the total failure of the strongest doses of ordinary purgatives; and, I believe, if its dose be sufficiently large, that it may generally be administered with perfect safety and confidence. Dr. Latham has long regarded it as a valuable medicine in Epilepsy, in which cases it may in the first instance prove beneficial by unloading the bowels, and subsequently in producing an affection of the head peculiar to its use; and, which generally succeeds a large dose, it is an approach to intoxication, but is unaccompanied with that hilarity and elevation of thought that so usually follow the potation of spirituous liquors. In small doses it produces diuresis, and is used with much advantage in sciatica and lumbago.[[673]] Its use in diseases of the kidneys originating from ulcerations and obstructions in those organs has been very highly extolled. Cheyne, in his Essay on the gout, recommends it as a specific in Sciatica; upon this subject my own experience so completely confirms the truth of Dr. Maton’s observations, that I shall here insert them. “If,” says he, “I may be allowed to offer the result of my own practice, its effects are in a few instances successful in the removal of that disease; and even those cases which I have seen cured under its use, appeared to be rather of the symptomatic than idiophatic kind; it is reasonable to presume that the sciatic nerve, from its origin and course, may owe some of its morbid affections to an obstructed ureter, as well as to a rheumatic diathesis.” Form: 50. Hunter spoke of oil of turpentine as a styptic, and it has been administered in the Almond emulsion in cases of internal hemorrhage of an active nature. We should however be very careful how we make such an experiment. This oil has the effect of communicating the odour of violets to the urine of those who take it, and what is still more extraordinary, to those even who merely expose themselves for a short time to its effluvia:[[674]] a mixture of ♏︎x of this oil with f℥j of almond oil, introduced upon cotton into the ears, is serviceable in cases of deafness resulting from a diseased action of the ceruminiferous glands; it is also employed as a local stimulant in a variety of cases: and in cholic, and obstinate constipation, it is sometimes exhibited in the form of an enema. In America, oil of Turpentine, in doses of a drachm every hour or two, has been successfully administered in cases of Yellow fever, when, says Dr. Chapman, it appears to be soothing in its effects, removing the sense of heat and irritation in the stomach, subduing the force of vascular action and general excitement, and inducing at once a condition of more comfort and security. Orfila also recommends it as the best corrective of inflammation in the stomach from acrid poisons. In this country it has been very successfully employed in cases of Melæna, and in Puerperal fever. As a stimulating liniment its advantages are considerable, see Liniment: Terebinth: In Germany, Norway, and some parts of the Russian Empire, this essential oil is frequently used as a remedy for lesions of the tendons, and other bruises.[[675]] Dose as an anthelmintic, f℥ss-f℥ij, repeated every eight hours until the worm is ejected; in these large quantities it is more convenient, as well as more efficacious, to administer it like castor oil, floating upon some liquid aromatic vehicle:[[676]] by rubbing up Oil of Turpentine with mucilage, we do but render it more pungent, and difficult to swallow. As a diuretic or stimulant it may be given in the form of an electuary, in doses of from ♏︎x to fʒj. It may be also employed as a very active clyster, made by carefully incorporating one or two table spoonsful of the oil with the yelk of an egg, and adding to it a pint of thin mucilage. This terebinthinate clyster is well calculated to relieve a paroxysm of flatulent cholic. Officinal Prep. Liniment. Terebinth. L. The Pharmacopœias direct the rectification of the oil by redistillation,[[677]] when it is commonly called Spirit of turpentine, but it appears to be an unnecessary refinement. Dr. Nimmo has proposed the following process for purifying the oil intended for medicinal use, by which it is said to have its disagreeable flavour lessened without sustaining any loss of efficacy. To eight parts of the oil, add one part of the strongest alcohol, and let them be well agitated together. In a few minutes a separation takes place; the oil, unless very impure, falls to the bottom, and the alcohol, having discharged the impurities, floats at the top. Pour off the alcoholic portion, add a similar quantity of alcohol, and proceed as before. If this be repeated three or four times, the oil will become nearly tasteless, almost inodorous, and when evaporated will leave no residuum. But pure as the oil may be thus rendered, it speedily returns to its original condition.
TIGLII OLEUM. L. Oil of Tiglium.
Croton Tiglium. Oleum e Seminibus expressum.
The Croton Tiglium is a native of the island of Ceylon, and is found in Malabar, China, Cochinchina, and the Molucca Islands. Every part of the plant would seem to be endowed with medicinal activity; the root acts as a drastic purgative, and when pulverized, and exhibited in the dose of a few grains, is considered at Amboyna and Batavia, as a specific for dropsy; the wood (lignum Pavanæ) produces, when administered in small doses, a diaphoretic effect, and in larger ones it proves drastic; the leaves are also purgative, and when dried and powdered are supposed to afford an antidote against the bite of the cobra del Capella. The seeds, however, are the parts which have been more generally employed in medicine, the effects of which appear to have been well known for nearly a thousand years.[A] They were early introduced into Europe, and long known under the names of Grana Molucca—Tilii Grana—and Grana Tiglia.[[678]] It appears that they were at first very frequently administered, but their extreme acrimony and violence,[[679]] and probably the accidents which arose from their injudicious use, soon banished the article from medical practice; in India, however these seeds are still employed as an effectual purgative, after first undergoing the process of roasting, or baking, for the purpose of removing the shell, rendering the nut pulverulent, and at the same time of moderating the acrimonious qualities.[[680]] The expressed oil of these seeds does not appear to have been obtained in a separate form until a later period; Lemery speaks of it, and Geoffroy in directing its dose cautions us against giving more than ʒj!—he probably meant a drop. Its use has very lately been revived, and there can be little doubt but that under proper restrictions, it may become a valuable acquisition to the practitioner. The profession is indebted for its late introduction, or rather revival, to Mr. E. Conwell, of the East India Company’s Medical Service, on the Madras Establishment, who,[[681]] having for many years prescribed it with advantage, introduced a quantity of it for trial in London, through the medium of his friend, Mr. Short, of Ratcliffe Highway.