OIL OF THEOBROMA 609 



Habitat — Tropical Asia and Africa, but cultivated in 

 tropical, sub-tropical and temperate countries. 



Description. — In irregular, angular masses, which are 

 easily reduced to a fine powder ; white, inodorous and taste- 

 less ; insoluble in ether, alcohol or cold water. Under the 

 microscope appearing as granules, nearly uniform in size, 

 more or less angular in outline, with indistinct striae and 

 with a distinct hilum near the centre. 



Constitzients. — 1, starch-granulose ; 2, starch-cellulose. 



PREPARATION. 



Olyceritum Amyli. (Seep. 581). 



Acticm and Uses. — Starch is a mechanical protective 

 externally, used as a dusting powder, alone or with zinc 

 oxide (1-4), in chafing, erythema, and moist eczema. The 

 glycerite of starch is a serviceable demulcent. Boiled starch 

 paste, mixed with glue, is used to stiffen bandages by paint- 

 ing the mixture on in layers with a brush. Boiled starch 

 gruel (2 tablespoons of starch to a pint of water) is a suitable 

 diet for diarrhoea, and is frequently injected into the rectum 

 as a demulcent in diarrhoea and dysentery, and as a vehicle 

 for enemata. Starch is an antidote to iodine. It is utilized 

 in pharmacy as a vehicle to suspend insoluble powders or 

 oils, and in mucilage (1-40, B.P.), as a basis for ointments. 

 Zinc oxide, one part ; starch and vaseline, each 3 parts, 

 form a very satisfactory preparation for acute eczema in 

 dogs, which does not rub off so readily as zinc ointment. 



Oleum Theobromatis. Oil of Theobroma. 

 (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Butter of cacao, E.; beurre de cacao, Fr.; 

 cacaobutter, G.; oleum (butyrum) cacao, P.G. 



A fixed oil expressed from the seed of Theobroma Cacao 

 Linne (nat. ord. Sterculiaceae). 



Properties. — A yellowish- white solid, having a faint, 



