OLEA EUROPCEA. 
69 
countrres, it would be useless to give the different methods adopted 
to obtain the oil ; it is only necessary to observe, that the oil brought 
from Italy in small flasks, and sold under the name of Florence oil, 
is by far the purest; tliough this, as well as the other kinds, is 
frequently adulterated with oil of poppy seeds, a considerable 
quantity of which is annually exported from Holland, to France and 
Italy, for this purpose. By exposing olive oil to the freezing tem- 
perature its degree of purity can be readily ascertained^ for the olive 
oil freezes, while that of the poppy seeds retains its fluidity ; and as 
oils which freeze with the greatest difiiculty have the greatest 
tendency to become rancid, olive oil is deteriorated by the mixture 
of poppy oil with it. Good olive oil has a pale yellow colour; with 
little taste or smell, and should congeal at 38" Fahrenheit. The best 
oil, however, becomes rancid by age, particularly if kept in a warm 
situation pr exposed to the air. 
Medical Properties and Uses. Oil in some shape enters 
into the composition of a considerable portion of our food, wliethfer 
animal or vegetable, and affords much nourishment: with some 
persons, however, oily substances by not uniting with the con- 
tents of the stomach, frequently occasion eructations ; this hap- 
pens especially to those whose stomachs abound with acid in 
any extraordinary degree.* Oil, considered as a medicament, is sup- 
posed to correct acrimony, and to lubricate and relax the fibres; 
it has therefore been recommended internally to obviate the effects 
of various stimuli which produce irritation and consequent inflam- 
mation : hence also it has been prescribed in catarrhal affections, &c. 
Olive oil has been effectually used in worm cases; and in nephritic 
pains, colic, constipation of the bowels, spasms, &c., it has occa- 
sionally been found serviceable. Taken internally also, it operates as 
a gentle laxative. But it is as an external application that this oil is 
chiefly resorted to, both alone and in combination with other sub- 
stances, as camphor, lime-water, spirit of hartshorn, &c. In this 
way it has been applied to extensive burns, tumours, &c.; and to 
wounds occasioned by the bites and stings of animals and reptiles. 
See the experiments of Dr. Oliver, related in the Philosophical 
Transactions, vol. xxxix. p. 310, by which it appears that a man 
suffered his arm to be bitten by serpents, and waited until most 
violent symptoms ensued, which were soon removed by applying 
warm oil of olives to the wounded part ; similar experiments were 
made upon dogs, pigeons, &c. with equal success. Numerous ex- 
* Calteu's Materia Medica, vol. i. p. 302. 
