MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 57 



Good lanolin should be white or nearly so, most of the lano- 

 lin in this country is a dirty yellow, owing to its impurity. It is 

 used as a base for ointments when the medicine is to be absorbed. 



It also allays the itching of skin diseases, especially when 

 combined with sub-nitrate of bismuth. 



SBVUM — Suet. — Abdominal fat of sheep. It is used as 

 a base for ointments when they are wanted to be stiff. 



OLEUM AMYGDALA EXPRESSUM— Expressed Oil of 

 Almond — Almond Oil. — A fixed oil obtained from the bitter or 

 sweet almond. It is combined with other drugs in itching skin 

 disease. 



OLEUM THEOBROMATIS.—Oil of Theobroma.— Com- 

 mon name, Cacao Butter. It is the oil from the kernels of the 

 fruit of the theobroma cacab, used as a base for suppositories. 



OLEUM OLIVM— -Olive or Sweet Oil— Used as a demul- 

 cent, emollient and laxative. It is a solvent for iodoform. 



OLEUM GOSSYPII SEMI N IS— Cotton Seed Oil.— A 

 fixed oil expressed from the seeds of cotton and subsequently 

 purified. It is used as a laxative, tonic, demulcent and emollient, 

 also used instead of olive oil. 



The seeds in the south are used to fatten cattle. 



PETROLATUM (VASELINE OR COSMOLINE).—A 

 semi-solid substance, yellowish, fat-like mass, obtained from 

 petroleum, rock-oil or coal-oil. It is used as an emollient, and 

 as a base for ointments. It has some antiseptic properties, and is 

 used as a protective as well as a a healing agent. It should not 

 be used as a base for blisters or other ointments where absorption 

 is desired. 



It is not absorbed itself and consequently prevents absorp- 

 tion of contained medicaments. 



OLEUM MORRHUM—Cod Liver Oil— A fixed oil ob- 

 tained from the fresh livers of codfish ; has a pale yellow color, 

 is official and said to be the best for nutritive purposes. Cod- 

 liver oil is often adulterated with the oil of other fish. 



Action and Uses. — Nutrient, tonic and alterative ; on account 

 of its biliary constituents is easily emulsified and digested. It 

 is indicated in all cases of malnutrition and where the digestive 

 organs are weakj also in animals recovering from debilitating dis- 



