TURPENTINE. 323 
we use is imported from Norway, and other northern 
parts of Europe. That from Christiana, which is called 
yellow deal, or red deal, is frequently brought over in 
planks, but more commonly in boards, each about ten 
inches and half in width. The wood of such trees as 
are raised in England is equal to the foreign wood 
in weight and durability, but its grain is generally 
coarser. 
The outer bark of the fir-tree may be used in the 
tanning of leather ; and it is said that, in the northern 
parts of Europe, the soft, white, and fibrous inner bark 
is, in times of scarcity, made into a kind of bread. For 
this purpose it is dried over a fire, reduced to powder, 
kneaded with water, and a small portion of corn-flour, 
into cakes, and baked in an oven. Children in Norway 
are very fond of the fresh bark, in the spring of the 
year, either shaved off with a knife, or grated with a 
rasp. 
Common Turpentine is the resinous juice chiefly of the 
Scots fir, obtained by boring holes into the trunks of 
the trees, early in spring, and placing vessels beneath 
for its reception. It is of brown colour ; and has a 
strong odour, and disagreeable taste. In the distilla- 
tion of turpentine an essential oil is produced, called 
oil of turpentine, which is extremely pungent. When 
the distillation is continued to dryness, the substance 
which remains is known by the name of common resin 
or rosin ; but, if water be mixed with it, while yet fluid, 
and incorporated by violent agitation, a substance is 
formed called yellow resin. 
^ Common turpentine is mostly employed as an ingre- 
dient in the plasters used by farriers. The oil is occa- 
sionally used in medicine: and, lately, it has been 
considered efficacious in cases of worms. It is much 
employed by painters for rendering their colours more 
fluid ; as well as in the composition of different kinds 
of varnish used in floor-cloth, umbrella, and other ma- 
nufactures. The noxious spirit called gin was formerly 
flavoured with juniper berries ; but as these are now 
