VASELINE 435 



cally to the fatty or alcohol series of hydrocarbons. Methane, 

 ethane, and the gases low in the series, and the more 

 volatile liquids are more easily absorbed and excreted than 

 the heavier liquids and solids, and are stimulants, anaes- 

 thetics, and inebriant narcotics. 



Petroleum benzin, or petroleum spirit, is a topical irritant, 

 germicide and vermicide, a stimulant and antispasmodic. 

 On the skin its irritant action is very similar to that of oil 

 of turpentine. It must be distinguished from benzine 

 (C 6 H 6 ) obtained from the distillation of coal-tar, which has 

 a higher specific gravity and a higher boiling-point. Petro- 

 leum benzin is seldom prescribed internally because of its 

 irritant effects on the digestive tract. The dose for horses 

 and cattle is f ss. to f j. ; for dogs, i~^\ to f3J-> given in 

 milk, olive oil, or gruel. 



Animals are sometimes poisoned by the refuse oils from 

 petroleum works contaminating the drinking water. Cases 

 have been recorded of cattle suffering from diarrhoea, 

 wasting, and anaemia, and their intestinal glands being 

 found saturated and darkened with the oil. 



Petroleum spirit and other paraffin oils, in virtue of 

 their diffusive, solvent, stimulant, and antiseptic actions, 

 are applied in limited scaly skin complaints, as in old- 

 standing cases of grease in horses, to destroy vermin, remove 

 scurf and dissolve accumulated sebaceous matters, to stimu- 

 late the dermis, and promote growth of hair. For such 

 purposes they are frequently used in conjunction with 

 alkalies, three parts of petroleum and alkali to one hundred 

 of bland oil, or vaseline. The application of petroleum 

 benzin to the skin demands care, as it may cause poisoning. 



Vaseline, the petrolatum of the U.S. P., is prepared by 

 heating rock-oil in iron retorts, and filtering the residual 

 heavier oils through animal charcoal. It is red, yellow, or 

 white, according to the proportion of colouring matter 

 retained. It has the consistence of summer butter, is 

 tasteless, odourless, and neutral. It melts about 95 Fahr., 

 and boils about 300 Fahr. It is insoluble in water, glycerin, 

 cold alcohol, and ether, but is soluble in chloroform, carbon 

 disulphide, and in fixed and volatile oils. A handy solvent is 

 made with one part of castor oil and eight of water. Vaseline 



