Distilled Vegetable Oils. 107 



solution of caustic potass of the specific gravity 1'1:2; hent is 

 thereby developed, and a portion of the materials composed of 

 eupione, etc., not being dissolved, floats on the surface, and is 

 removed. The alkaline solution is poured into an open capsule, 

 and regularly heated to boiling. It rapidly absorbs the oxygen 

 of the atmosphere, whereby a peculiar oxidizable principle in it 

 is decomposed, and the mixture then turns brown. After cooling 

 in the open air, diluted sulphuric acid is added until the oil is 

 set at liberty. It is then distilled with water holding a little 

 caustic potass, and the whole is kept boiling until the quantity of 

 oil w hicn passes from the retort becomes diminished ; at this point 

 the distillation should cease. The oil and water in the receiver 

 are again distilled with potass, and the same treatment with sul- 



{)huric acid repeated, as in the former instance. A third distil- 

 ation is then made, and a little phosphoric instead of sulphuric 

 acid is added, in order to take up some ammonia retained in the 

 oil. The oil is then for the third time dissolved in caustic potass, 

 and if the preceding processes have been carefully managed, they 

 combine without leaving any residue of eupione, and the mixture, 

 on exposure to the air, does not turn brown, but takes on a 

 slightly reddish tint. As long, however, as any eupione remains, 

 and the mixture turns brown, the solution in potass should be 

 repeated. In this state the creosote is not entirely pure, but it 

 may be used for medicinal purposes. 



It may be obtained perfectly pure by distiUing it with water 

 alone, then rectifying the product of the distillation repeatedly 

 until no water passes over when the heat is raised to 203° C. 

 The last product is creosote unalloyed by eupione, picamare, 

 water, or other matters. 



With respect to the fkerapeiitic propcrtirs of creosote, it has 

 been found l)eneficial in burns, in several skin diseases, in obstinate 

 syphilitic ulcers, and in improving the condition of cancerous 

 ulcers ; it facilitates the expectoration in phthisis and bronchitis ; 

 chronic glandular tumors have been dispersed by frictions or 

 fomentations of creosote; it has been often found to afford tem- 

 porary relief in t<x)thach ; it arrests capillary hemorrhage with 

 certainty, but fails in that from the large vessels; it has been 

 found an almost effectual remedy in atonic rheumatism. 



Mode of ndministeririff Creomte. — In the treatment of ulcers 

 creosote is to be applied in the concentrated form. At first it 

 occasions more or less of inflammation, which however (juickly 

 subsides ; as soon as this inflammation appears, the remedy should 

 be discontinued for a few days. It \m\y oe apj)lied to the surface 

 of the sore by means of a camel hair brush, or from 6 to 12 drops 

 may be placed on a pndtice, and this applied to the ulcer. — When 

 the object is to arrest external hemorrhage, it may be jwured by 

 drops into the wound ; or, what seems more effectual, cotton or 



