306 
AVENA SATIVA. 
one-celled, and of a bright yellow, with the remains of the hard, 
persistent calyx at the base; the nut contains a cartilaginous 
hard kernel, which yields the Oleum Palmae of the shops. To ob- 
tain the oil, the nuts are first slightly roasted and cleaned, and then 
ground to a paste in a mill, and on a levigating stone : this is then 
mixed with -^^tbs its weight of boiling water and put into a bag, and 
the oil expressed between two heated plates of iron. It is afterwards 
purified by washing in hot water. The kernel yields from -^^ to ^ 
of oil. 
Qualities, &c. Palm oil, when good, has the consistence of 
butter, of a golden yellow colour, and the odour of violet or Floren- 
tine orris root. When well preserved, it keeps several years without 
becoming rancid : by long keeping however it loses its colour and 
odour. It is said to be often adulterated, and sometimes imitated, 
with axunge, coloured with turmeric. 
Medical Properties and Uses. Palm oil is never prescribed 
internally, and only externally as an emollient ointment, in which 
form we deem it preferable to hog's-Iard, more especially as a 
▼ehicle for more active applications. Of late it has been imported 
in considerable quantity, and used to manufacture the toilet soap, 
called palm soap. 
Off. The Fixed Oil of the Nut. 
AVENA SATIVA. 
Commo?2 Oat* 
Class Triandria. Order Digynia. 
Nat. Ord. Gramina, Linn. 
Gen. Ghar. Calyx two-valved, many-flowered, with a 
t\Tisted awn on the back. 
Spec. Char. Panided. Calyces two-seeded. Seeds very 
smooth, one-awned. 
• Fig. a. the flower. I. The pistillum magnified. 
