602 TEREBINTHIN^] OLEUM 



parasitic: It is also prescribed as an adjuvant cathartic, 

 diaphoretic, and diuretic. 



GENERAL ACTIONS. Like other volatile oils, it is an active 

 antiseptic. In destroying bacteria spores, Koch found it 

 more effective than alcohol, ether, chloroform, or benzol. 

 It poisons lice, acari, entozoa, and other parasites, whether 

 lodged in the skin, bronchial tubes, or bowels. Applied to 

 the skin it irritates, and, if evaporation be prevented, 

 vesicates, and even ulcerates. 



When swallowed it is rapidly absorbed, diffused, and 

 excreted, and may be speedily detected in the sweat, breath, 

 and milk, and in the urine, to which it imparts the odour of 

 violets. In the mouth and stomach, its slight irritant 

 action determines an increased flow of blood to those 

 parts, stimulates secretory glands and the nerves of taste, 

 so that digestion is improved. In the intestine the same 

 action, combined with its antiseptic properties, makes it 

 useful in preventing griping, in improving the tone of the 

 bowel wall, and in promoting peristalsis. After absorption 

 the white corpuscles of the blood are increased in number, 

 especially the polynuclear ones. The central nervous system 

 is but little affected by medicinal doses, but reflexly the 

 local irritation and stimulation of function of the alimentary 

 tract cause a general stimulation. Thus the heart is 

 stimulated and the pulse quickened, respiration is generally 

 increased, blood-pressure is raised, and it is not until 

 dangerous doses have been given that the narcotic depressant 

 effect is developed. It is eliminated by the lungs, acting 

 as a stimulating antiseptic expectorant.; by the skin, 

 promoting diaphoresis ; by the kidneys, inducing diuresis ; 

 while full doses, especially in combination with laxatives, 

 are cathartic. 



Toxic EFFECTS. Large doses when inhaled irritate the 

 respiratory mucous membrane, and reflexly cause difficult 

 breathing. Large doses when swallowed cause irritation, 

 and occasionally ulceration of the bowels. A very large 

 dose quickly swallowed is absorbed, and as in the case of 

 alcohol, produces brief primary stimulation and prolonged 

 subsequent paralysis of the central nervous system. Rabbits 

 and kittens were paralysed (narcotised) by injection of 



