372 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Action and Uses of Rosin. 



Rosin is a local stimulant and antiseptic externally. The cerate is 

 an excellent preparation for burns, wounds, ulcers, and abraded surfaces. 

 The fumes arising from burning rosin (on a hot shovel) are said to be of 

 value when inhaled in chronic or subacute bronchitis. 



Pix LiairiDA. Tar. (U. S. & B. P.) 



A product obtained by the destructive distillation of the wood of Plnus palus- 

 tris Miller, or of other species of Pinus (Fam. Coniferae). 



Synonym. — Resina empyreumatica liquida — goudron, goudron v6g6tal, Fr.; 

 theer, G. 



Habitat. — United States. 



Properties. — Semi-fluid, viscid, blackish-brown; noij-crystalline, translucent in 

 thin layers, becoming granular and opaque with age; odor empyreumatic, tere- 

 binthinate; taste sharp, empyreumatic. 



Tar is slightly soluble in water; miscible with alcohol, ether, fixed or vola- 

 tile oils, and solutions of potassium or sodium hydrate. 



Constituents. — Mainly — 1, oil of turpentine; 2, methylic alcohol; 3, creosote; 

 4, gualacol; 6, phenol; 6, pyrocatechin ; 7, toluene; 8, xylene (also cumene, 

 methene, chrysene, retene) ; 9, acetic acid; 10, acetone; 11, resins. 



Dose.—H. & C, Sss-i, (15-30); Sh. & Sw., 3i-ii, (4-8); D., Tll,xv-5i, (1-4). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Vnguentum Picis Liquidce. Tar Ointment. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Tar, 500; yellow wax, 150; lard, 350. 



Pix Carbonis Preparala. Prepared Coal Tar. (B. P.) 

 Liquor Picis Carbonis. Solution of Coal Tar. (B. P.) 

 Oleum Picis Liquidce Rectificatum. Rectified Oil of Tar. (U. S. P.) 

 A rectified, volatile oil distilled from tar. 



Properties. — A thick liquid having a dark reddish-brown color, and a strong 

 empyreumatic odor and taste. Spec. gr. 0.960 to 0.990. Soluble in alcohol. 



Pix Nigra. Pitch. (Non-official.) 

 A solid, shining, black, bituminous substance. Soluble in ether, oils, and 

 aqueous alkaline solutions. It contains an altered resin, and a crystalline prm- 

 ciple, retine (CisHu). 



Oleum Cadinum. Oil of Cade. (U. S. & B. P.) 



An empyreumatic oil obtained by the dry distillation of wood of Juniperus 

 Oxycedrus LinnS (Fam. Pinaceae). 



Synonym. — Oleum juniperi empyreumaticum, E.; huile de cade, Fr. ; kadeol, G. 



Habitat. — North Africa, Spain, France, and Portugal, on the borders of the 

 Mediterranean, in waste places and stony hill-sides. 



Properties. — A dark brown, clear, thick liquid; having a tarry empyreumatic 

 odor and a warm, faintly aromatic and bitter taste. Spec. gr. 0.980 to 1.055. It 

 is almost insoluble in water, but imparts to it an acid reaction. Partially soluble 

 in alcohol; completely soluble in ether, chloroform, oil of turpentine, or carbon 

 disulphlde. 



Constituents. — Phenols and cadinene (latter unimportant). 



Dose. — Same as that of tar. 



Action and Uses of Tar, Oil of Cade and Pitch. 



Externally, tar produces hyperemia, and, when rubbed continually 

 into the skin, sometimes papules and pustules. It is a stimulant, rube- 

 facient, antiseptic and parasiticide externally. Poisoning may follow 

 the extensive application of large quantities of tar over a denuded sur- 



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