218 MYRISTICA FRAGRANS 



caution by those subject to apoplexy or other cerebral affec- 

 tions. 



2. OLEUM MYRISTICJE. Volatile Oil of Nutmeg. This is 

 obtained by distilling powdered nutmegs with water, the produce 

 varying commonly from 2 to 3 per cent. It is to this oil that 

 the odour and taste of nutmegs are principally due. It is colour- 

 less or pale straw yellow, soluble in both alcohol, and ether, 

 having a sp. gr. which is variously stated at between O920 and 

 0*948 ; and it is principally composed, according to Cloez, of a 

 hydrocarbon, which boils at 329, and which Gladstone has 

 termed Myristicene. Gladstone found in the crude oil an oxy- 

 genated oil, to which he has given the name of Myristicol ; 

 this is isomeric with Menthol, already noticed under the head of 

 Mentha piperita, and which has the odour of nutmeg. Oil of 

 nutmeg is dextrogyre. 



The crystalline stearoptene, which is sometimes deposited from 

 oil of nutmeg, is termed by John Myristicin ; it is probably the 

 same as Myristic acid, which is noticed below under Oleum 

 Myristicse Expressum. 



Volatile oil of nutmeg is carminative and stimulant like the 

 ordinary nutmeg, and may be used for similar purposes. 



3. OLEUM MYRISTICJE EXPRESSUM. Expressed Oil of Nutmeg. 

 Nutmeg Butter. Oil of Mace. This is commonly obtained by first 

 reducing nutmegs to a coarse powder, which is then placed in a 

 bag and exposed to the vapour of water, and afterwards subjected 

 to pressure between heated plates. The oil which is thus 

 obtained is at first liquid, but it becomes solid as it cools. 

 Fliickiger and Hanbury say that nutmegs yield about 28 per cent, 

 of oil when thus treated ; but commonly they are said to yield 

 only about half this amount. 



This oil is chiefly obtained from Singapore, and is usually 

 found in oblong cakes about 10 inches long by 2J square, enve- 

 loped in palm leaves. It is a solid unctuous substance of an 

 orange-brown or orange-yellow colour, more or less mottled, and 

 with the odour and taste of nutmeg. When pure it is soluble in 

 about four parts of warm alcohol, or in two of warm ether. It 



