C INN A MO MI CORTEX. 319 



Characters. Oval or nearly round, about an inch in length, 

 marked externally with reticulated furrows, internally greyish- 

 red with dark-brownish veins. It has a strong peculiar odour, 

 and a bitter aromatic taste. 



Substance resembling Nutmeg : Areca, without odour. 



Composition. Nutmeg and mace contain about 30 per 

 cent, of the officinal concrete oil, 4 to 9 per cent, of the officinal 

 volatile oil, starch, etc. The concrete oil is a compound of (fluid) 

 glycerides of oleic and butyric acids, and the solid glyceride of 

 myristic acid, QuH^C^, a little volatile oil, and resin. The 

 volatile oil of nutmeg consists chiefly of a terpene, and an 

 oxygenated oil, myristicol. 



Preparations. 



1. Myristicsa Oleum Expression, The concrete oil, obtained 



from nutmegs by expression and heat. Orange-coloured, 

 with the odour of nutmeg. 



From Myristica Oleum Expressum are prepared : 

 Emplastrum Calefaciens and Emplastrum Ficis. 



2. Myristicse Oleum. The volatile oil distilled in Britain from 



nutmegs. Colourless, fragrant. Dose, 2 to 6 min. 



From Myristicce Oleum is prepared : 



Spiritus MvristicsB. 1 in 50. Dose, 30 to 60 min. 



Nutmeg and the volatile oil are also contained in many prepa- 

 rations of more important drugs. 



ACTION AND USES. 



The solid oil has the local stimulant action of volatile 

 oils, and is used as an inunction, or in plasters, to relieve the 

 pain and swelling of chronic rheumatism, etc. The volatile 

 oil resembles its many allies, and is chiefly used for culinary 

 purposes. 



LAURACE^E. 



Cinnamomi Cortex CINNAMON BARK. The 

 inner bark of shoots from the truncated stocks of Cin- 

 namomum zevlanicum. Imported from Ceylon, and 

 distinguished in commerce as Ceylon Cinnamon. 



Characters. About one-fifth of a line thick, in closely- 

 rolled quills, which are about four lines in diameter, containing 

 several small quills within them, light yellowish-brown, with a 

 fragrant odour and warm sweet aromatic taste : breaks with a 

 splintery fracture. 



