TEREBINTHINA 9 1 



long sheaths. Sterile flowers rose-purple. Cones large, cylindrical or 

 conical-oblong. 



SOURCE AND COLLECTION. Southern United States, particularly North Carolina. 

 The oleoresin is secreted in the sap wood; some of it flows spontaneously, but 

 it is generally obtained by a process called "boxing," as follows: During the 

 winter from one to four excavations, each holding from 4 to 8 pints, are cut 

 into the tree through the sapwood. After a few days the bark above these 

 cavities is removed for about a height of 3 feet, and some of the wood is hacked 

 off, the hacks being in the shape of the letter L. The oleoresin begins to flow 

 about the middle of March, and continues until September or October. The 

 turpentine is removed by means of dippers constructed for the purpose, and 

 then usually distilled. That which flows the first year is considered the best, 

 being termed "virgin dip," and yields about 6 gallons of oil per barrel, and 

 "window-glass rosin;" that of the next and subsequent years is known as 

 "yellow dip," yielding about 4 gallons of oil per barrel, and medium grades of 

 rosin. The turpentine which hardens on the tree is known as "scrapings," 

 and yields about 2 gallons of oil per barrel, leaving a dark resin. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. In yellowish, opaque, tough masses, brittle in the cold, 

 crumbly-crystalline in the interior, of a terebinthinate odor and taste. In 

 warm weather it is a yellowish, viscid semiliquid when fresh, but ultimately, 

 through exposure to the air, becomes perfectly dry and hard. 



CONSTITUENTS. Volatile oil 20 to 30 per cent. (27 b), abietinic anhydride, 

 C44He2O4, in rosin (27 c), the acid of which, abietic acid, C44H64Os, is crystal- 

 line, soluble in CSa, benzol, alcohol, ether, chloroform, glacial acetic acid, 

 and alkalies. 



27 a. Terebinthinae Laricis, N. F. Venice Turpentine. A yellowish or greenish 

 liquid of honey-like consistence, collected in Switzerland and portions of 

 France from Larix europaea De Candolle. Obtained by boring holes into the 

 center of the wood and dipping the liquid out as it accumulates. It received 

 its name from having formerly been almost entirely distributed from the 

 Venetian port. Genuine Venice turpentine is comparatively scarce in the 

 markets to-day, most of it being a factitious brown liquid made by dissolving 

 rosin in oil of turpentine. 



A number of other turpentines are obtained from various species of pine, 

 larch, and fir, but hardly any of them enter our markets. The turpentines 

 all agree in their medical properties, and differ only slightly in their physical 

 characteristics, all of them being liquid at first, thickening through the 

 evaporation and oxidation of their volatile oil, and ultimately solidifying 

 They melt by heat, and at a high temperature ignite with a white flame 

 attended with dense smoke. 



CONSTITUENTS. Volatile oil 20 to 30 per cent., resin (abietic anhydride, crystal- 

 lizing out as abietic acid), a bitter principle, and traces of succinic and acetic 

 acids. 



ACTION AND USES. The turpentines are rarely used internally, the volatile oil, 

 to which the medicinal virtues are due, being used instead. Dose: 15 to 

 60 gr. (i to 4 Gm.), in pills. Externally irritant and rubefacient, in ointments 

 and plasters. 



27 b. OLEUM TEREBINTHINJE, U.S. OIL OF TURPENTINE. SPIRITS OF 

 TURPENTINE. A volatile oil distilled from turpentine, the markets of the 

 United States being chiefly supplied by the North Carolina forests. A per- 

 fectly limpid, colorless liquid when pure, but generally somewhat colored 

 from resin contained, or from oxidation; odor peculiar, strong, penetrating; 

 taste hot, pungent, somewhat bitter. It is very volatile and inflammable. 

 When purified by distilling with caustic soda, it constitutes the Oleum Tere- 

 binthinae Rectificatum, U.S., which is officially directed to be dispensed when 

 oil of turpentine is required for internal use. 



