484 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Oleum Cadinum. Oil of Cade. (U. S. P.) 



A product of the dry distillation of wood of Juniperus 

 Oxyeednis Linne (nat ord. Coniferse). 



Synonym. — Oleum jnniperi empyreumaticum, E. ; huile 

 de cade, Fr. ; cadol, G. 



Habitat. — North Africa, Spain, France, and Portugal, on 

 the borders of the Mediterranean, in waste places and stony 

 hill-sides. 



Properties. — A brownish or dark brown, clear, thick 

 liquid ; having a tarry odor, and an empyreumatic, burning, 

 somewhat bitter taste. Spec. gr. about 0.990. It is almost 

 insoluble in water, but imparts to it an acid reaction. Parti- 

 ally soluble in alcohol ; completely soluble in ether, chloro- 

 form, or carbon disulphide. 



Constituents. — The composition is similar to that of tar. 



Dose. — Same as that of tar. 



ACTION AND USES OF TAR, OIL OP CADE AND PITCH. 



Extei-nolly, tar produces hypersemia, and, when rubbed 

 continually into the skin, sometimes papules and pustules. 

 It is a stimulant, rubefacient, antiseptic and parasiticide 

 externally. Poisoning may follow the extensive application 

 of large quantities of tar over a denuded surface, or if it be 

 licked off the skin. Tar is mainly employed in veterinary 

 medicine on the skin, and is a valuable remedy to relieve 

 itching and as a local stimulant in chronic eczema (" grease "), 

 sometimes in moist eczema and erythema, psoriasis, pityri- 

 asis, pruritus, and lichen. It also destroys the parasites of 

 mange and ringworm. It is applied with fat, vaseline, soap 

 or alcohol, in the proportion of 1-2 to 10. The official oint- 

 ment (1-2), is generally appropriate in the above-mentioned 

 skin diseases, but may require dilution. The following 

 preparation is serviceable on patches of psoriasis : 



Tar, soft or green soap, each two ounces ; alcohol, twa 

 ounces. Pure tar painted over the surface with a brush, i* 

 often most efficient in obstinate cases of eruptive disorders. 



