453 



TURPENTINE, MANUFACTURE OF. 



TURPENTINES. 



451 



yields the hydrocarbons resinein or colophen and tereben already 

 referred to. At a higher heat it gives a liquid hydrocarbon containing 

 retinaphtha or toluen (C,,H,) [ToiUENic GROUP]; retinyl (C, t H a >, 

 isorueric with cttmen [CUMINIC ACID]; and retinal (C ol H a .,?), an ino- 

 dorous and tasteless oil, of sp. gr. 0'9, and boiling-point about 460 

 Fahr. Retinol is a solvent of sulphur and iodine. It absorbs many 

 times its volume of sulphurous and other gases, and is not acted upon 

 by alkalies. 



The acids of resin are monobasic, difficult to obtain in a definite 

 crystalline state, are mostly insoluble in water, and soluble in ether. 

 The alkaline resinates are of course true soaps, but are inferior in 

 detergent qualities to the stearates, oleates, and margarates. 



By prolonged ebullition with strong nitric acid, turpentine resin 

 yields AZOMARIC ACID and terebic or tcrelilic aiid (C,,H ]0 0,). The 

 latter is almost insoluble in cold water, moderately soluble in hot 

 water, and readily taken up by alcohol or ether. Submitted to de- 

 structive distillation, it gives piirutertiilic acid, a colourless oily liquid 

 of sp. gr. !( 1, and boiling-point 39:i Fahr. 



TURPENTINE, MANUFACTURE OF. The common turpentine 

 used in the arts is mostly imported from America, in barrels and casks. 

 [TURPENTINE.] It is used for very few purposes in the state in which 

 it is imported. The process of distillation is in most cases resorted to, 

 as a means of separating it into solid rain and liquid oil or ettcnce of 

 turpentine. Turpentine-wurks, where this distillation is carried on, are 

 managed with much caution on account of the inflammable nature of 

 the substance operated on. The viscid turpentine is put into a still 

 and exposed to heat ; it melts into a liquid, gives off its essential or 

 oily portion in the form of a vapour, and there remains a liquid resin 

 in the still. The vapour, on leaving the still, passes through a refrige- 

 rator or cooling vessel, and is collected as a clear and limpid oil or 

 spirit of turpentine. The residue is taken from the still as rain, 

 black or yellow according to the kind of turpentine which hag been 

 employed. 



A patent was taken out in America a few years ago, for making soap 

 at the same time as distilling turpentine. Raw turpentine and alkali 

 were put into the still ; the spirit of turpentine passed off into a con- 

 denser, while the resin became partially saponified by combining with 

 the alkali, and prepared to enter into the composition of soap. 



Considered as an ingredient in house-painters' colours, spirit of 

 turpentine, or turpi, is an important substance. Chevreuil has pointed 

 out three kinds of service which turpentine renders to oil-colours. It 

 facilitates the application, by diminishing the viscidity of the oily 

 mixture ; it allows the painter greatly to modify the appearance of his 

 work, by varying the degree of gloss or of dullness ; and it prevents 

 the appearance of cracks which would otherwise be visible when 

 the work is varnished. As, however, the durability of the work de- 

 pends chiefly on the oil, the best mode is found to be to use as little 

 turpentine aa possible when the work is neither to be dead nor var- 

 nished. 



Common or crude turpentine is imported to the extent of about a 

 quarter of a million owts. annually (iUri,458 cwts. in 1858, and 256,663 

 in 1859). A small import duty, imposed many years ago, has been 

 since repealed. 



TURPENTINES, Medical I'tet of. Common turpentine, or Reaina 

 liquida (Tmbinthina i-ulgaris), as the natural combination is termed, 

 yields two distinct articles to the Materia Medica, namely, 1. Oleum 

 terebinthinrc, obtained by the distillation of the liquid resin ; 2. Resina, 

 or simply resin or rosin, which is resin with a little water, remaining 

 after nearly all the oil has been distilled off: but if the process of 

 distillation be carried as far as possible without causing new combina- 

 tions of the elements, all the water i driven off, and the residuum 

 becomes black, and a termed colophony, and sometimes fiddler's rosin. 

 The resin is used merely to make cerates, ointments, and plasters, 

 which are more or less stimulant. 



As turpentines have a very disagreeable taste, it is customary to 

 form them into pills or boluses; but since this is rather difficult, it is 

 well to bo aware that magnesia affords a convenient means of accom- 

 plishing it, as in the case of the oleo-resin of copaiba. The kind of 

 magnesia and the quantity to be used vary in the different kinds ol 

 turpentine. Bordeaux turpentine (from P. maritima, or P. pinaster) 

 requires one twenty-one part of magnesia usta to form a pill-mass. 

 Venice turpentine (from Larix Eu/ropaa), called also turpentine of 

 Briancon, requires a quantity equal to its own weight of carbonate of 

 magnesia to form a pill-malts. But the quantity of magnesia must 

 vary with the age of the turpentine, more being required when it is 

 very fresh than when the turpentine is old and more solid. The dura- 

 bility of the mass also varies with the proportion of magnesia used. 



One ounce of Venice turpentine united with one ounce of kydnitcd 

 carbonate of magnesia formed a mass which was slow of consolidating, 

 and the pills soon lost their globular form : but three ounces of the 

 magnesia formed a persistent mass. One ounce of turpentine and 

 one ounce of Bordeaux turpentine, with six drachms one scruple of 

 carbonate of magnesia, furnished a slowly hardening mass, which at 

 last resolved itself into powder ; while one ounce of the same turpen- 

 tine with eight grains of magnesia formed a soft mans, which, at'tur 

 thiity-.-ix liniirs, was sufficiently consistent to form pills. Smut; days 

 aftorwanls it became harder, and did not for a long space become 

 friable. With a yet smaller quantity of magnesia these changes take 



place more slowly, so that it is requisite in magistral formulae never to 

 order less magnesia than the one-fiftieth part of the turpentine. Tiiis 

 proportion forms in a few minutes a transparent pill-mass with a 

 vitreous fracture. But the finer sorts of turpentine may be adminis- 

 tered in the liquid form ; the coarser must be in pills. 



Oleum Terebinthina:, Oil or Spirits of Turpentine, as it occurs in 

 commerce is never pure, but contains more or less resin formed by the 

 action of the air ; and to obtain it pure, it is ordered to be distilled a 

 second time, and then called Oleum Terebenthinoo purificatum, and 

 sometimes Oleum Pini purissimum. The commercial oil of turpentine 

 has an acid reaction, the purified has not. 



Oil of turpentine is one of the most energetic of the volatile oils : 

 the vapour is quickly destructive to plants, and in large doses it acts 

 as a poison to both vertebrate and invertebrate animals. Like all 

 volatile oils it acts powerfully on insects which respire by the whole 

 surface, hence it instantly kills wasps, lice, fleas, and worms. It has 

 a more potent action on the lower animals than on man, both exter- 

 nally and internally. Applied to the skin of horses, it blisters it more 

 rapidly than the skin of man ; and two drachms administered to a 

 dog (ijchubart, in Christison) caused death in three minutes, while 

 human beings have taken three ounces without any serious con- 

 sequences. Indeed Dr. Christison states that he is not aware that 

 it has ever proved fatal. Horses also have taken for some days as 

 much as ten or twelve ounces. 



In moderate doses it acts as a stimulant to the stomach and whole 

 intestinal canal ; manifested by a grateful feeling of warmth, with 

 greater activity in the mucous membrane of the intestines, and of the 

 liver. The increasing secretions of these organs, particularly of the 

 bile, causes more frequent evacuations ; further, it promotes the 

 secretion of the kidneys, and likewise, but less evidently, of the skin, 

 the pulmonary surface, and also of the uterus. It communicates the 

 terebinthaceous odour to the cutaneous perspiration, and sometimes 

 even causes an eruption on the skin. 



Its effect on the vascular system is equally stimulant : Dr. Copland 

 made many experiments on himself, when in health, and found that 

 his pulse became more frequent, small, and contracted ; with feelings 

 of intoxication, anxiety, shiverings, a sensation as if the intestines 

 were drawn towards the vertebral column, unpleasant eructations, 

 thirst, and a sharp hunger ; sensations which food caused gradually to 

 subside, without vomiting or diarrhoea. Very large doses often pro- 

 duce temporary intoxication, and sometimes a kind of trance, lasting 

 twenty-four hours, without any subsequent bad effect. 



Implicit reliance is placed on oil of turpentine against the tape-worm. 

 It is in general recommended to be given in large frequently-repeated 

 doses, mixed with mucilage, syrup, and cinnamon- water, and is thought 

 to directly kill the worm, rather than destroy it by removing tua 

 means of its further nourishment. But this mode of administration 

 is by no means so eligible as that of small doses (3j to 3>j) per diem 

 for a continuance, a plan recommended by Vogt (' Puarmaoodyu.,' vol. 

 ii., p. 163), and proved by Dr. Graves to be effectual. " Turpentine 

 is of value in leading to the expulsion of flukes (distomahepaticum 

 [WORMS ; also BOTRYLLHXE, in NAT. HIST. Div.] of sheep, or the rot), 

 and is one of our most valuable anthelmintics." Professor Simonds' 

 Report to the Royal Veterinary College, Dec. 14, 1860. 



In chronic affections of the liver, obstructions from gall-stones, &c., 

 if no inflammatory state be present or approaching, oil of turpentine 

 with twice its weight of spirit. a;ther. sulphur, in the dose of from 

 10 to 20 drops, in yolk of egg, is often very useful; in melsena and 

 obstructions of the liver, and vena porta, 4c. It is most likely, from 

 its action on the liver, that it proves serviceable in chronic rheumatism. 

 In sciatica, Dr. Cheyne recommends it in small doses. Ill is useful in 

 atony of the intestines, lactealg, particularly of old and phlegmatic 

 people, especially of the lower orders. Eveu typhus fever, it' there be 

 i tympanitic state of the abdomen, is benefited by it, and Dr. Chap- 

 man has found it valuable in the yellow fever of Philadelphia. Dose 

 from 1 to 2 drachms per diem. In cholera asiatica, with spirits of 

 ammonia. In obstinate constipation, in large doses. In scarlet fuver, 

 when the eruption does not come freely out, 1 to 60 drops in one to 

 three tea-spoonsful of castor-oil. (Dr. Delany, of Georgia, U.S.) In 

 chronic cramps, convulsions, and epilepsy (with only temporary benefit). 

 In atony of the kidneys and bladder. In catarrhus vesicso, gleet, 

 gonorrhoea, and leucorrhcca, it may often be advantageously sub.stiii:t< <1 

 tor copaiba. In atonic haemorrhages it is very useful. In puerperal 

 peritonitis, applied externally, it is of great utility. Externally in 

 aurns. the linimentum terebinthinra, or hot dressing, is. useful. In 

 Deritonitis with a tympanitic condition of the abdomen it is very 

 excellent. The vapour of oil of turpentine can be used as an anaes- 

 thetic, and as a substitute for chloroform. 



Cltmn or Cyprus Turpentine, called also true turpentine, is obtained 

 Irom the Pistachia terekinthui, a native of Barbary, Syria, the south of, 

 France, and, above all, of the Grecian Archipelago. Eight or ten 

 ounces are the utmost obtained from one tree ; hence it is very dear. 

 It is of the consistence of new honey, tenacious, pellucid, of a light 

 yellowish-green colour. The odour is pentrating and peculiar. It has 

 1 slightly bitter taste ; but when adulterated with any of the conifer, .it* 

 dnds, its odour is fctrong. its taste acrid, and of a sensible degree of 

 jitterness. It consists of a volatile oil and resin, and when by time 

 the former is dissipated or oxidised, it becomes hard and translucent. 



