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VOLATILE  OIL  OF  ERIGERON  CANADENSE. 
ON  THE  VOLATILE  OIL  OF  ERIGERON  CANADENSE. 
By  William  Procter,  Jr. 
This  volatile  oil  has  recently  been  introduced  into  medical  prac- 
tice by  the  "  Eclectic  "  physicians,  who  esteem  it  for  its  medicinal 
powers.  The  specimen  of  the  oil  submitted  to  examination  was 
labelled  "  Oil  of  Erigeron,  American  Chemical  Institute,  New 
York."  It  has  a  light  straw  color,  is  very  limpid,  has  a  peculiar 
aromatic,  not  unpleasant  odor,  somewhat  analogous  to  oil  of  hem- 
lock (Abies  canadensis,)  which  is  extremely  persistent ;  its  taste  is 
peculiar,  mild  and  not  very  pungent.  Its  density  very  low,  being 
according  to  the  mean  of  two  careful  observations  .845;  it  is  very 
inflammable,  burning  with  an  abundant  sooty  flame,  begins  to  boil 
at  the  temperature  of  310°  Fahr.,  and  continues  rising  till  365°, 
•showing  that  there  must  be  two  volatile  oils.  It  distils  per  se  un- 
changed^and  colorless,  leaving  a  small  oleo-resinous  residue  in  the 
retort,  which  is  probably  oxidized  oil.  When  a  globule  of  potas- 
sium is  thrown  into  the  commercial  or  the  recently  distilled  oil,  it 
acts  on  it  with  the  elimination  of  gaseous  matter  (hydrogen  ?)  from 
the  entire  surface  of  the  globule,  and  the  action  continues  until 
the  metal  disappears.  The  oil  at  first  assumes  a  reddish  brown 
color,  which  becomes  deeper  and  finally  causes  a  gelatinous 
residue,  to  separate  which  is  probably  a  resinate  of  potassa.  The 
oil  is,  therefore,  highly  oxigenous. 
Hydrate  of  potassa  acts  on  oil  of  erigeron  slowly,  turning  it  of 
a  reddish  color.  Powdered  iodine  combines  with  it  without  ex- 
plosion. Fuming  nitric  acid  at  ordinary  temperatures  acts  slowly; 
but  when  heated  explosively ;  sulphuric  acid  instantly  decomposes 
it.  The  oil  is  very  soluble  in  ether  and  anhydrous  alcohol,  but 
moderately  in  commercial  (.835)  alcohol. 
The  volatile  oil  of  Erigeron  canadense,  when  taken  internally, 
acts  as  a  stimulant  carminative,  like  many  of  the  milder  volatile 
oils,  but  it  is  also  said  to  possess  a  peculiar  and  efficient  power  as 
an  anti-hsemorrhagic,  especially  in  uterine  haemorrhage.  It  has 
been  found  useful  (American  Eclectic  Dispensatory,  page  451,)  in 
diarrhoea,  dysentery,  hemoptysis,  hematamesis,  menorrhagia,  and 
externally  mixed  with  castor  oil  or  stramonium  ointment  in  haemor- 
rhoids. 
The  dose  internally  is  from  4  to  10  drops,  mixed  with  sugar  and 
water.  In  uterine  haemorrhage  the  dose  should  be  repeated  at  short 
intervals  (10  or  15  minutes,)  till  relief  is  obtained. 
