240 MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 



acid until moistened, but 2 to 3 per cent, of a body called 

 amygdalin^ C^H^NOn, a crystalline glucoside, which, in the 

 presence of water, and under the fermentive influence of the 

 emulsin, breaks up into the volatile oil, hydrocyanic acid, and 

 glucose : C^H^NOu -f 2H 2 = C 7 H 6 + HCN + 2C 6 Hi 2 6 . 

 When purified by separation of the hydrocyanic acid, volatile 

 oil of bitter almonds is not poisonous, consisting, as it does, of 

 hydride of benzol (CyHgOH), with benzoic acid (C 7 H 6 2 ) as a 

 product of oxydation by exposure, and other allied substances, 

 and is used for flavouring sweets. Nitro-benzine, however, 

 which is sometimes substituted for it, having a very similar 

 flavour, is decidedly poisonous. 



Preparations of the Sweet Almond. 



1. Oleum Amygdalae. Almond Oil. The oil expressed from 



bitter and sweet almonds. Pale yellow, nearly in- 

 odorous or with a nutty odour, and a bland oleaginous 

 taste. Dose, 2 to 4 fl.dr. 



Almond Oil is contained in Unguentum Cetacei, ITnguentum 

 Simplex (and its preparations), Unguentum Hydrar- 

 gyri Oxidi Rubri, Unguentum Plumbi Subacetatis 

 Compositum. It is used in preference to olive oil, as 

 it makes a whiter ointment. 



2. Pulvis Amygdalae Compositus. 8 to 4 of Sugar, and 1 of 



Gum Acacia. Dose, 60 to 120 gr. 



Pulvis Amygdalae is used in preparing : 

 a. Mistura Amygdalae. 1, with water, 8. Dose, 1 to 2 

 fl.oz. 



ACTION AND USES. 



The Sweet Almond is demulcent and nutritive, and has 

 been ground into a flour for making cakes to be eaten by 

 diabetic patients, instead of starchy food. The Compound 

 Powder and Mixture are used only as vehicles for insoluble 

 powders and demulcent cough medicines. 



Almond oil has the same action, and is used for the same 

 purposes, as olive oil, which, though less agreeable, is more 

 generally employed as being cheaper. See Oleum Olivce, p. 284. 



Prunum PRUNE. The dried drupe of the Plum, 

 Prunus domestica. From southern Europe. 





