TEREBINTHIN& OLEUM. 345 



in tympanites, either by the mouth or as the enema, especially 

 when this is associated with constipation ; and it has proved 

 useful in some forms of diarrhoea and dysentery. It may also 

 be advantageously added to enemata after haemorrhage from 

 any part, being, as we shall see, haemostatic. 



Turpentine proves to be an anthelmintic, and is given 

 either by the mouth for the tape-worm, in doses of \ to 2 fl.dr., 

 which may certainly cause unpleasant symptoms ; or as the 

 Enema, for the thread-worm, an excellent method. 



Another local application of oil of turpentine is to the respi- 

 ratory organs, as an inhalation. The diluted vapour in steam 

 should be used, or the pure vapour inhaled from a warm sponge, 

 which may however be irritant. Turpentine enters the blood 

 thus, but the chief action desired is a purely local one, to 

 disinfect and stimulate the chronically inflamed or ulcerated 

 surfaces of the lungs and bronchi, and correct the smell and 

 irritant properties of the products. It is therefore used in 

 gangrene of the lung, dilated bronchi, and other allied con- 

 ditions. 



2. ACTION ON THE BLOOD. 



Oil of turpentine is freely absorbed by all surfaces, and 

 enters the blood unchanged. Thus introduced, it produces none 

 of the rapidly fatal effects which follow its injection into the 

 veins of animals, and which are referable in part to coagula- 

 tion and its results. Probably, however, even in medicinal 

 quantities, turpentine is partially oxydised at the expense of 

 the blood. 



3. SPECIFIC ACTION AND USES. 



Found unchanged in the tissues and organs, oil of turpen- 

 tine sets up a series of symptoms, mainly depressant in their 

 character, which follow the reflex stimulant effects already 

 described as referable to its action on the nerves and vessels of 

 the stomach. A full dose produces a feeling of languor, 

 debility, nausea, dulness, sleepiness, and unsteady gait ; a large 

 dose may lead to coma. These sedative effects on the nervous 

 system may account for the success of the empirical use of 

 turpentine in painful affections such as neuralgia, especially 

 obstinate sciatica. 



At the same time the heart is disturbed by the oil, and the 

 blood pressure decidedly falls. Here we may find the ex- 

 planation, in part, of the unquestionable value of turpentine 

 as a haemostatic. Of all the means of arresting internal 

 haemorrhage, it frequently proves itself to be the most 

 powerful : bleeding from the lungs, stomach, bowels, and 

 uterus will often cease after a full dose of turpentine, when 



