DICOTYLEDONS 79 



is harmless, at least when quite pure and not 

 contaminated. 



Two principles thus give the bitter almonds 

 their poisonous properties, the " essence " and 

 "prussic acid." This is why bitter almonds and 

 ratafia biscuits should be only eaten sparingly. 



Essential oil of Almonds, or Peach-nut oil, 

 which is produced by the distillation of the pulp 

 of bitter almonds with water, is a powerful poison, 

 and has caused numerous deaths, in consequence 

 of the presence of prussic acid, which is intimately 

 combined with it. Five pounds of almonds are 

 calculated to yield about half-an-ounce of the oil, 

 containing on the average ten per cent, of prussic 

 acid. 



The liquid called "Almond Flavour," spirit of 

 almonds, or essence of peach-kernels, is sold to 

 give a pleasant flavour to confectionery. It may 

 be as well to state, writes Dr. Taylor, from whose 

 work the preceding is copied, that one ounce of 

 this almond flavour is, at the lowest computation, 

 equivalent in strength to two hundred and fifty 

 grains of the pharmacopoeial prussic acid, yet it is 

 entrusted in private families in the hands of ignorant 

 cooks to apportion the dose which may give the 

 requisite flavour to food ! 



Mr. Blyth, in a lecture on Old and Modern Poison 

 Lore, says : — " On an Egyptian papyrus are the 

 words, * Pronounce not the name of I. A. O. under 



