SOAP LINIMENT 435 



SECTION XIII.— VEGETABLE DEMULCENTS. 



Oleum Ouv^. Olive Oil. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Sweet oil, E.; oleum olivarum, P. G. ; huile d'olive, Fr.; oilven51, G. 



A fixed oil obtained from the ripe fruit of Oleo europoea LinnS (Fam. Olea- 

 cese) . It should be kept in well stoppered bottles in a cool place. 



Habitat. — Southern Europe and Asia. 



Properties.— A pale yellow, or light greenish-yellow, oily liquid, having a 

 slightly peculiar odor, and taste, with a faintly acrid after-taste. Spec. gr. 0.910 

 to 0.915. Slightly soluble in alcohol, but miscible with ether, chloroform, or car- 

 bon disulphide. Very frequently adulterated with cotton seed, or other seed 

 oils, which probably are of equal medicinal value, however. 



Constituents. — 1, olein, C3H5 (CisH3j02)s, 72 per cent., a fluid oil, a combina- 

 tion of oleic acid (HC18H33O2) and glyceryl; 2, palmitin, C3H5(CioH3i03)3, about 

 28 per cent., a combination of palmitic acid (HCi„H3i02) and glyceryl; and (3) 

 arachin, CjoH^oOj. 



Dose.— Laxative.— H. & C, Oi-ii, (500-1000) ; D., 5ii-iv, (60-120). 

 Oleum Gossypii Seminis. Cotton Seed Oil. (U. S. P.) 



A fixed oil obtained from the seed of Gossypium herbaceum Linn6 and of 

 other species of Gossypium (Fam. Malvacese). 



Habitat. — S. United States and other semi-tropical countries; cultivated. 



Properties. — A pale yellow, oily liquid, odorless or nearly odorless, and having 

 a bland taste. Spec. gr. 0.915 to 0.921. Slightly soluble in alcohol but miscible 

 with ether, chloroform, or carbon disulphide. 



Constituents. — 1, olein; 2, palmitin; 3, coloring matter. 



Dose. — Same as that of olive oil. 



Action and Uses. — Olive oil is in common use as an emollient in burns 

 and skin irritation. It assists in the performance of massage for sprains 

 and bruises. Cotton seed oil has superseded it in liniments, as a matter 

 of economy. Administered internally, sweet oil (with an equal part of 

 castor oil) is a useful laxative for dogs. Linseed oil is more frequently 

 given to the larger animals. An enema of ^ pint, or more, of olive oil 

 IS serviceable in softening Ijard fecal masses in dogs, and should be fol- 

 lowed by the use of warm soap suds. 



Sweet oil is a food, but is rarely used as such. Like other bland 

 oils, it improves the nutrition of the bronchial mucous membrane in sub- 

 acute or chronic bronchitis, and is of considerable benefit in these dis- 

 orders, but inferior to cod liver oil or linseed oil. Olive oil is an eflScient 

 demulcent in inflamed conditions of the alimentary tract, and in poisoning 

 by irritants. Large quantities form soap-like masses, — with the alkaline 

 intestinal juices, — which have been mistaken for gall stones. Cotton seed 

 oil is of equal therapeutic value with sweet oil. 



Sapo. Soap. 



Synonym. — Sapo duras, B. P.; hard soap, white castile soap, E.; savon 

 mSdicinal, Fr.; medizinische seife, G. 



Derivation. — Soap is made by boiling olive oil with a solution of caustic soda, 

 C3Hb(Ci8Hs302)s (olein) -f3 NaOH=3 NaC,sHs30j (sodium oleate or soap) -|- 

 C3H3(OH)3 (glycerin). 



Properties. — A white, or whitish solid, in the form of bars, hard, yet easily 

 cut when fresh; or as a fine, yellowish-white powder, having a faint, peculiar 

 odor free from rancidity; a disagreeable alkaline taste, and an alkaline reaction. 

 Soluble in water and in alcohol; more readily with the aid of heat. 



PKEPAHATIOlfS. 



Linvmentum Saponis. Soap Liniment. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Synonym. — Opodeldoc. Lin. sapo. camph. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



