Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1913. 
Current  Literature. 
287 
sulfuris  terebinthinatum,  Balsamum  sulfuris  Rulandii,"  states  that 
the  preparation  is  a  solution  of  sulphurated  linseed  oil  in  oil  of 
turpentine  and  that  it  is  also  dispensed  as  "  Harlemerol."  Hence, 
the  foremost  authorities  on  pharmaceutical  practice  define  Haarlem 
oil  as  a  solution  of  sulphurated  linseed  oil  in  oil  of  turpentine. 
It  is  true  that  Hager 6  declares  that  "  Harlemer  Balsam "  was 
originally  [urspninglich]  made  by  the  dry  distillation  of  50  parts 
aloe,  50  parts  myrrh,  20  parts  olibanum,  and  500  parts  olive  oil. 
The  product  was  also  called  "  Oleum  empyreumaticum  Batavicum." 
But  this  method  of  preparation  was  abandoned  long  ago,  presum- 
ably on  account  of  the  cost  of  materials.  Certainly  the  cheapness 
of  Haarlem  oil  as  it  now  appears  in  the  market  is  prima  facie  evi- 
dence that  it  is  not  manufactured  by  any  formula  such  as  that 
cited  above. 
Now  let  us  consider  the  physical  and  chemical  properties,  as 
shown  by  a  careful  examination  in  this  laboratory,  of  the  three 
brands  mentioned  above  and  referred  to  as  samples  A,  B,  and  C. 
1.  Physical  Appearance.  .  A.  A  viscid  liquid  of  a  red-brown 
color.  Odor  terebinthinate  and  somewhat  fetid.  B.  A  thin  liquid 
of  a  dark  red-brown  color.  Odor  composite,  terebinthinate  and 
amber-like.  C.  A  slightly  viscid  liquid  of  a  red-brown  color.  Odor 
terebinthinate,  much  finer  and  sweeter  than  the  other  two  and  re- 
minding of  turpentine  from  Pinus  sylvestris.  Odor  of  amber  oil, 
subsequently  shown  to  be  present,  disguised. 
2.  Specific  gravity.  Determined  in  a  50  c.c.  pycnometer  at  25  °. 
A.  0.9234.    B.  0.9082.    C.  1.0039. 
3.  Properties  of  the  portion  volatile  in  steam.  50  c.c.  of  each 
sample  were  distilled  with  steam,  a  little  NaOH  being  added  to  the 
still  to  hold  back  resins,  sulphur,  etc.  A.  A  nearly  colorless  oil 
was  obtained.  One  rectification  produced  a  colorless  oil,  the  prop- 
erties of  which  are  given  below.  B.  A  dark-colored,  strongly  odor- 
ous oil  was  obtained  which  had  to  be  thrice  rectified  before  a  satis- 
factory product  was  obtained.  C.  Results  exactly  similar  to  those 
obtained  with  B. 
(a)  Physical  appearance.  A.  A  colorless  oil,  having  the  true 
odor  of  oil  of  turpentine.  B.  A  light  yellow  oil,  odor  terebin- 
thinate, unmistakably  empyreumatic  and  characteristic  of  amber 
oil.  C.  A  yellow  oil,  odor  terebinthinate,  unmistakably  empyreu- 
matic and  highly  characteristic  of  amber  oil. 
6  Handbuch  der  Pharmaceutischen  Praxis,  1907,  II,  p.  502. 
