BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA. 351 
presence of resin, azulene or ccerulein; the va- 
riety of colors is said to be due to the different 
proportion existing in these bodies. A brown 
color is due to the resin, a green to the second 
substance, and the blue color to the ccerulein. 
Be this as it may, they all become darker by 
age, and soon become unfit for use by expos- 
ure. For further account and information, see 
the U. S. Dispensatory, page 909, 17th ed. 
Oleum Amygdalz, Amare, Bitter Almond 
Oil.—A_ volatile oil, prepared by macerating 
the bitter almond in water and then distilling. 
The water seems to act on the almond in the 
same manner as on the black mustard-seed, for 
this volatile substance does not exist until it is 
produced by the reaction of the water, for by 
expression we get the bland, tasteless oil, which 
will be found under the head of Fixed Oils. 
The volatile substance distilled from the peach 
kernel and the cherry-laurel leaf is identical in 
every respect with that of the bitter almond. 
The oil as it occurs in the stores is of a straw- 
color, with an odor of peach leaves, having a 
burning, bitter, acrid taste; of neutral reaction, 
with a specific gravity of 1.043, and contains acid 
hydrocyante, acid benzoic and benzoin. 
The theory is advanced that after maceration 
the emulsin decomposes the Amygdalin, andthus 
the oil is generated. But the chemistry of these 
substances is very complex, and I refer you to 
the Dispensatory. It is never administered in 
form of the oil, but in the form of the officinal 
water, Agua Amygdale Amare. It is often 
