PlMENTA. 245 



positus. Caryophyllum is slightly astringent, by virtue of its 

 tannic acid. 



2. ACTION ON THE BLOOD. 



The aromatic oils of cloves and its allies enter the blood as 

 such, and whilst oxydised in part by the red corpuscles, leave 

 the circulation mainly unchanged. Some of them are known 

 to increase the number of white corpuscles, possibly by acting 

 on the lymphatic glands or spleen. 



3. SPECIFIC ACTION AND USES. 



The aromatic oils are rarely given in sufficient doses to 

 produce definite specific effects on the tissues and organs. It 

 may safely be assumed that in the main their action closely 

 resembles that of turpentine, or that of camphor, respectively, 

 as the one or the other compound is in excess in the particular 

 drug. (See these substances.) Speaking generally, they are 

 stimulant and antispasmodic ; but let it be noted that a great 

 part of this effect is reflex from the stomach, as described. 



4. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



The aromatic oils are excreted by the kidneys, skin, bronchi, 

 liver, and probably the bowels ; and in passing through these 

 structures stimulate and disinfect them. This subject is of 

 the first importance in pharmacology, and will be best discussed 

 under the head of turpentine, an oil which produces very 

 marked remote effects. See Terebinthina Oleum, page 346. 



Pimenta PIMENTO. The dried unripe berries 

 of the Allspice tree, Eugenia Pimenta. West Indies. 



Characters. Of the size of a small pea, brown, rough, 

 crowned with the teeth of the calyx, yellowish within, and 

 containing two dark brown seeds. Odour and taste aromatic, 

 hot, and peculiar. 



Substances resembling Pimenta : Pepper, which has no calyx. 



Composition. Pimento contains chiefly the officinal volatile 

 oil, identical with oil of cloves. 



Preparations. 



1. Oleum PimentsB. The oil distilled from the fruit in 



England. Colourless, becoming brown by keeping. Sinks 

 in water. Dose, 1 to 3 rnin. 



2. Aqua Pimenta. 1 in 11 , by distillation. Dose, 1 to 2 oz. 



Pimenta is also contained in Syrupus Khumni. 



