AMseJp°tURi,  mf'}         Oils  of  Chinese  Pharmacy.  433 
altogether  inferior  to  the  oil  obtained  from  the  Dryobalanops  cam- 
phora,  on  the  west  coast  of  Sumatra,  where  the  oil  dripping  from  the 
split  timber  of  the  tree,  felled  to  procure  the  Borneo  or  Baros  camphor,, 
is  sold  at  the  price  of  a  Dutch  guilder  for  a  large  quart  bottleful.  It 
would  be  worth  importing  to  England  for  use  as  a  cheap  substitute 
for  the  Lin.  Camphorae.  It  answers  capitally  as  an  embrocation  in 
rheumatism  and  sprains. 
Oil  of  Chaulmugra. — This  oil  is  made  from  the  seeds  of  the  Gryno- 
cardia  odorata,  or  lucrubau  fruits.  The  oil  is  both  cold-drawn  and 
made  by  superheating  the  crushed  seeds.  It  is  used  in  leprosy  as  an 
outward  application,  with  doubtful  benefit,  and  is  useful  in  the  treat- 
ment of  pediculi  and  itch. 
Oil  of  Cinnamon  or  Cassia. — This  volatile  oil,  obtained  from  the 
leaves  and  twigs  of  the  cassia-tree  by  distillation,  is  made  in  Canton, 
and  regularly  exported.  It  is  the  Oleum  Malabatliri  of  commerce. 
This  oil  is  nearly  as  good  as  the  Ceylon  oil. 
Oil  of  Cloves. — A  well-made,  heavy,  acrid  oil,  of  a  pale  reddish- 
brown  color,  becoming  very  dark  by  age  and  exposure  to  light.  None 
of  these  essential  oils  were  known  to  the  old  medical  writers  in  China,, 
and  are,  therefore,  not  met  with,  as  a  rule,  in  their  Pharmacopoeia  or 
Herbal.  They  are  nearly  all  made  at  Canton,  and  are  obvious  imita- 
tions of  European  articles  of  commerce. 
Oil  of  Cotton  Seeds. — The  oil  expressed  from  the  seeds  of  Grossy- 
pium  herbacewn,  and  Cf.  religiosum,  is  commonly  used  for  purposes  of" 
illumination  in  Chinese  country  villages,  where  all  wants  are  met  on 
the  spot  in  the  most  primitive  fashion.  It  is  also  used  in  cooking,  but 
the  taste  is  unpleasant.  It  is  prescribed  as  a  demulcent  remedy,  and 
is  applied  to  leprous,  scabious,  and  other  forms  of  skin  disease,  so 
fearfully  prevalent  in  China. 
Oil  of  Fish. — The  Chinese  do  not,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  extract  oil 
from  the  liver  of  any  fish,  but  there  is  an  oil  called  Yu  san,  prepared 
from  the  entrails,  etc.,  of  a  fish.  The  cod  has  not  been  met  with  in 
Chinese  waters.  Large  quantities  of  a  fish  resembling  the  cod  are 
caught  off  the  coast  of  the  Chehkiang  (or  Ningpo)  province,  in  the 
sixth  or  seventh  (Chinese)  months.  The  oil  obtained  from  the  por- 
poise (or  "river-pig,"  as  they  call  it),  which  frequents  the  Yang-tzse- 
Kiang  river  as  far  up  as  Hankow,  is  used  to  make  putty  for  caulking 
27 
