Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume Ii Part 85

An oil closely resembling that from bitter almonds is obtained by distillation from the leaves of the peach and cherry-laurel, the bark of the plum-tree, the bruised kernels of cherries, plums, and peaches, the pips of apples, and from several other vegetable substances that possess a nutty odour and flavour.

A NON-POISONOUS OIL OF ALMONDS has been introduced. This is simply the ordinary oil of commerce freed from hydrocyanic acid, and is intended to be subst.i.tuted for the crude, poisonous oil for domestic purposes.

Unfortunately, the purified essence does not keep well, and is often converted after a few months into little else than a solution of benzoic acid, almost devoid of the usual odour and flavour of the bitter almond.

"No wonder, then, under such circ.u.mstances, that the public preferred the preparations they had been accustomed to, which were not so liable to change." (Redwood.) The following methods have been adopted for this purpose:--

1. (Liebig.) Agitate the crude distilled oil with red oxide of mercury, in slight excess, and after a few days' contact, rectify the oil from a little fresh oxide of mercury. The product is quite pure, when the process is properly managed. The cyanide of mercury thus formed may be either employed as such, or reconverted into mercury and hydrocyanic acid.

2. (Mackay.) Commercial oil of almonds, 1 lb.; fresh-slaked lime, q. s. to form a milk-like liquid; afterwards add, of solution of pota.s.sa, 1-1/2 lb.; water, 3 pints; agitate occasionally for 48 hours, then distil over the oil, and rectify it from a fresh mixture of lime and pota.s.sa.

3. (Redwood.) The oil is mixed with an equal quant.i.ty of water, and the mixture is digested in a water bath with red oxide of mercury, and small quant.i.ties of fresh-slaked lime and protochloride of iron, with as little access of air as possible; as soon as decomposition of the acid has taken place, the whole is introduced into a copper retort, and submitted to distillation. The product is perfectly free from hydrocyanic acid. The first process is, however, the simplest, cheapest, and best.

The sp. gr. of this non-poisonous oil is 1051. (G. Whippell.) That of pure colourless hydride of benzoyl is 1043; it boils at 356 Fahr., is soluble in 35 parts of water, and in all proportions in alcohol and ether.

Exposed to the air, it greedily absorbs oxygen, and becomes converted into a ma.s.s of crystallised benzoic acid. The purified oil of almonds does the same, only less rapidly.

=Oil of Almonds (Facti"tious).= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF MIRBANE, NITROBENZOL.

The preparation of this article on the small scale is explained under NITROBENZOL. It is now extensively prepared as a subst.i.tute for the oil of almonds obtained by distillation. The following is Mansfield's process:--The apparatus consists of a large gla.s.s worm, the upper end of which is divided into two branches, gradually dilating so as to form two funnel-shaped tubes. Into one of these concentrated nitric acid is poured, and into the other benzol, which need not, for this purpose, be chemically pure. These bodies meet at the point of junction of the two tubes, and the rate of their flow is regulated by any appropriate means. Chemical reaction instantly takes place, and the new compound is cooled by its pa.s.sage through the worm, which is refrigerated for the purpose. It has then only to be washed with water or a very weak solution of carbonate of soda for the process to be complete. The product has the sp. gr. 1209, boils at 415 Fahr., has an intensely sweet taste, and an odour closely resembling, but not actually identical with, that of oil of bitter almonds. Unlike genuine oil of almonds or hydride of benzoyl, it is insoluble in water, and does not distil without suffering partial decomposition. It is chiefly used to scent soaps, and to adulterate the genuine oil. The benzol for this purpose is obtained from coal-tar. See BENZOL and NITROBENZOL.

=Oil of Boxwood.= (Ph. L. 1746.) _Syn._ OLEUM BUXI EMPYREUMATIc.u.m.

Distilled from fragments of boxwood in a retort, with a sand bath gradually increased in heat. Anodyne, antispasmodic, and diaph.o.r.etic.--_Dose_, 10 to 20 drops. (Jourdan says 4 to 5 drops in gonorrha.) It relieves toothache.

=Oil, Brandy.= See OIL OF GRAPE.

=Oil of Bu'chu.= _Syn._ OLEUM BAROSMae, O. DIOSMae, L. From the leaves of _Diosma crenata_. Yellow; lighter than water; smells of the leaves.

=Oil of Caj'eput.= _Syn._ CAJEPUTI OIL, KYAPOOTIE O.; CAJEPUTI OLEUM (B.

P.), OLEUM CAJEPUTI (Ph. L. E. & D.), L. From the dried leaves of the _Melaleuca Cajeputi_ (_Melaleuca minor_, B. P.). Colourless, when pure (that of commerce is usually green); odorous; aromatic; taste hot and penetrating. Its odour has been compared to a mixture of those of camphor and cardamoms. It boils at 343 Fahr. Sp. gr. 925 to 927. When rectified, about 3/4ths of the quant.i.ty pa.s.ses over colourless, and has the density 897; the remaining portion is green, and has the density 920 to 925. Its green colour is derived from chloride of copper, the presence of which may be recognised by the red precipitate occasioned by agitating the oil with a solution of ferrocyanide of pota.s.sium. (Guibourt.) From the East Indies.

Pure oil of cajeput is slightly soluble in water; entirely and freely soluble in alcohol; dissolves iodine; and when dropped on water, rapidly diffuses itself over the surface, and soon completely evaporates. A spurious kind (FACt.i.tIOUS OIL OF CAJEPUT), made of oil of rosemary, flavoured with camphor and the oils of peppermint and cardamoms, and coloured with verdigris, is occasionally met with in the shops.

Oil of cajeput is a powerful antispasmodic and diffusible stimulant.--_Dose_, 3 to 6 drops, on sugar; in cholera, colic, epilepsy, hysteria, rheumatism, spasms, toothache, &c.

=Oil of Cam'phor.= _Syn._ LIQUID CAMPHOR; OLEUM CAMPHORae, O. C. VOLATILE, L. Obtained from incisions in the wood of the camphor tree of Borneo and Sumatra (_Dryobalanops aromatica_), in which it exists in cavities in the trunk; also by distillation from the branches of the _Camphora officinarum_, or laurel camphor tree. Colourless when rectified. Sp. gr.

910. _Prod._ 60 lbs. of the crude brown oil yields 40 lbs. of pure white oil and 20 lbs. of camphor. It rapidly oxidises in the air. Used to scent soap. See CAMPHOR (Liquid).

=Oil of Car'away.= _Syn._ OLEUM CARUI (B. P. Ph. L. E. & D.), O. C.

ESSENTIALE, L. From the fruit of _Carum Carui_ (caraway seeds). Nearly colourless; aromatic; carminative. Sp. gr. 940; (old) 946 to 950.

_Prod._ Av. 5% (nearly). It is frequently adulterated with oil of c.u.min.

Added to purgative medicines to prevent griping.

=Oil of Car'damoms.= _Syn._ OLEUM CARDAMOMI, O. C. ESSENTIALE, L. From the seed of _Elettaria cardamomum_, or true cardamom. Colourless; fragrant; carminative. Sp. gr. 943. _Prod._ 5% (nearly). The capsules ('lesser cardamoms') yield only about 1% of oil. (M. Raybaud.)

=Oil of Cascaril'la.= _Syn._ OLEUM CASCARILLae, L. From the bark of _Croton eleuteria_ (Swartz.), or cascarilla tree. Very fragrant. _Prod._ 4% to 75%.

=Oil of Cas'sia.= _Syn._ OIL OF CHINA CINNAMON; OLEUM Ca.s.sIae (Ph. E.), L.

From ca.s.sia buds, or from ca.s.sia bark, Golden yellow; aromatic; fragrant.

It is generally adulterated with rectified spirit. Nitric acid converts the pure oil into a crystalline ma.s.s. Sp. gr. 1071 to 1073; (old) 1078 to 1090 _Prod._ From the buds of 1% (barely); from the bark of commerce, 75%. It is frequently sold for oil of cinnamon.

=Oil of Cebadil'la.= _Syn._ OIL OF SABADILLA; OLEUM CEBADILLae, L. A green butyraceous matter, obtained from _Asagraea officinalis_.

=Oil of Ce'dar-wood.= From the wood of a species of _Cedrus_. It consists of two hydrocarbons. One, a volatile liquid (cedrene), and the other a solid, crystalline compound containing oxygen. _Prod._ 2% to 25%.

=Oil of Ce'drat.= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF CEDRA; OLEUM CEDRI, O. CITRI FINUM, L.

From the exterior yellow rind of the fruit of _Citrus medica_ (Risso), or citrons, either by expression or distillation, as oil of bergamot. The first portion of oil that comes over is colourless; the latter portion greenish. Very fragrant. Sp. gr. 847. _Prod._ 100 citrons yield nearly 1 fl. oz. of pale, and 1/2 fl. oz. of green oil. See OIL OF CITRON (_below_).

=Oil of Cel'ery Seed.= _Syn._ OLEUM APII. L. From the fruit (seed) of _Apium graveolens_. Diuretic; stimulant. _Prod._ 3/4% to 1% (nearly).

=Oil of Cham'omile.= _Syn._ OIL OF ROMAN CHAMOMILE; OLEUM ANTHEMIDIS (Ph.

L. E. & D.), O. CHAMaeMELI, O. C. FLORUM, O. ESSENTIALE EX FLORIBUS C., L.

From the flowers of _Anthemis n.o.bilis_. In the Ph. L., English oil of chamomile (ANTHEMIDIS OLEUM ANGLIc.u.m) is ordered. Blue; turns yellow and brown by exposure and age; odour characteristic. Sp. gr., English (from the flowers), 9083; foreign, 9289. _Prod._ Fresh flowers, 1% (barely); recently dried (finest commercial), 5%; av. of 6 dried samples, 25% (nearly). If much water is employed, even the above small quant.i.ties of oil will not be obtained.

Oil of chamomile is reputed antispasmodic, tonic, and stomachic. 1 to 3 drops on a lump of sugar, taken just before retiring to rest, is an excellent preventive of nightmare, and will frequently induce quiet sleep where more active substances have failed. Unfortunately, the oil of the shops is generally either adulterated or old, and commonly both, in which case the oil acts as an irritant. A common plan is to mix it with old oil of lemons, a fraud which may be detected by the lessened density of the oil, and by its diminished solubility in rectified spirit.

=Oil of Cher'ry-laurel.= _Syn._ OLEUM LAURO-CERASI, L. From the leaves of _Cerasus Laurocerasus_, or common laurel. Closely resembles oil of almonds, but is said to be weaker. Like that substance, it is powerfully poisonous. _Prod._ 100 lbs. fresh leaves (undeveloped, June), 1013 oz.; do. (half grown, June), 72 oz.; do. (full-grown, 8 weeks on tree, July), 496 oz.; do. (do., 3 months on tree, Sept.), 704 oz.; do. (15 months on tree), 224. (Christison.)

=Oil of Cher'vil.= _Syn._ OLEUM CHaeROPHYLLI, L. From the bruised fresh herb, macerated for 2 or 3 days in salt and water, and then distilled.

=Oil of Cincho'na.= _Syn._ OLEUM CINCHONae, L. From cinchona bark.

Butyraceous; smells of the bark. 20 lbs. yield only 2 gr. (Trommsdorff.) The odour of bark is imitated by a solution of turmeric in potash, and by chloride of iron.

=Oil of Cin'namon.= _Syn._ HYDRIDE OF CINNAMYL; OLEUM CINNAMOMI (B. P., Ph. L. E. & D.), O. C. VERI, L. From the bark of _Cinnamomum zeylanic.u.m_, macerated for several days in salt and water, and then distilled.

Yellowish or red; very aromatic; both odour and taste resemble that of the bark. Sp. gr. 1035. _Prod._ 11 lbs. yielded 1 oz.; 100 lbs. yielded 156 oz. (M. Raybaud.)

_Pur._ Oil of cinnamon, owing to its high price, and the consequent premium for its adulteration, can scarcely be obtained pure from the shops of this country. Oil of ca.s.sia and highly rectified spirit are the substances usually employed for this purpose. The increased sp. gr.

resulting from the first, and the diminished sp. gr. from the second, afford ready means of detecting these frauds. The presence of oil of ca.s.sia may also be detected by an experienced person by the odour, which differs a little from that of pure oil of cinnamon. Oil of ca.s.sia is less limpid than oil of cinnamon, and it stands a greater degree of cold without becoming turbid or congealing. "Wine-yellow, when recent; cherry-red, when old; odour purely cinnamonic; nitric acid converts it nearly into a uniform crystalline ma.s.s." (Ph. E.) During this reaction the odour of bitter almonds is perceptible. Both oil of ca.s.sia and oil of cinnamon are thus converted into a brown balsam; with oil of ca.s.sia, however, a brisk decomposition occurs sooner, and at a slighter heat. It also forms a crystalline compound with ammonia. These reactions, unfortunately, are not characteristic. "The most distinguishing characteristic of the cinnamon oils is, perhaps, their relation to the alcoholic solution of caustic potash. Both dissolve in it readily and clear, with a reddish, yellowish-brown colour; after some time, however, the solution becomes very turbid, and a rather heavy undissolved oil precipitates, when the solution gradually becomes clear again. (Ure.) The palest oil is considered the best.

_Obs._ Oil of cinnamon is chiefly imported from Ceylon, where it is distilled from bark that is unfit for exportation. The dark coloured oil is usually rectified, when two pale oils are obtained, one lighter, and the other heavier, than water; but 10% of oil is lost by the process. The oil distilled from the root of the tree (O. CINNAMOMI RADICIS) is much weaker than that from the bark. The oil from the leaves (O. C. FOLIORUM), also imported from Ceylon, smells of cloves, but has a less density than oil of cloves.

Oil of cinnamon consists essentially of hydride of cinnamyl, but, unless when very recently prepared, it also contains a variable proportion of cinnamic acid formed by the oxidation of the hydride.

=Oil of Cit'ron.= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF CITRON; OLEUM CITRI, L. From the lees of citron juice; or, from the peels, as oil of lemons or bergamot. The last generally goes by the name of oil of cedrat. Both are fragrant. (See _above_.)

=Oil of Citron-flowers.= _Syn._ OLEUM CITRI FLORUM, L. Amber-coloured; highly fragrant. _Prod._ 60 lbs. yield 1 oz.

=Oil of Cloves.= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF CLOVES; OLEUM CARYOPHYLLORUM, O.

CARYOPHYLLI (B. P., Ph. L. E. & D.), O. EUGENIae C. (Ph. D. 1826), L. From the unexpanded flowers (cloves) of the _Caryophylus aromaticus_, or Molucca clove-tree, soaked for some time in salt and water, and then submitted to distillation; the distilled water, after having deposited its oil, being returned 3 or 4 times into the still, and again 'worked off'

from the same materials. Nearly colourless, when recent, gradually becoming pale yellow and ultimately light brown, by age; highly aromatic, with the characteristic odour and flavour of cloves. It is the least volatile of all the essential oils. Sp. gr. 1055 to 1061 (1034 to 1061, B. P.). _Prod._ 16% to 22%.

_Pur._ Oil of cloves is frequently adulterated with inferior essential oils, especially with those of pimento, pinks, and clove-gilly flowers, and, occasionally, with castor oil.--1. Pure oil of cloves forms a butyraceous coagulum when shaken with pure liquor of ammonia, which crystallises after fusion by a gentle heat.--2. Treated with an alcoholic solution of pota.s.sa, it entirely congeals into a crystalline ma.s.s, with total loss of its characteristic odour.--3. Shaken with an equal volume of strong caustic soda lye, it forms, on repose a ma.s.s of delicate lamellar crystals--4. Solution of chromate of pota.s.sa converts it into brown flakes, whilst the salt loses its yellow colour.--5. Chlorine turns it first green, and then brown and resinous.--6. Nitric acid turns it red, and a reddish-brown solid ma.s.s is formed; with heat, it converts it into oxalic acid.--7. It dissolves freely in sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol), yielding a transparent, deep reddish-brown solution, without any visible decomposition.--8. Mixed, gradually, with about 1/3rd of its weight of oil of vitriol, an acid liquor is formed, together with a resin of a rich purple colour, which, after being washed, is hard and brittle, and forms a red tincture with rectified spirit, which is precipitated of a blood-red colour by water.--9. It dissolves iodine freely, without any marked reaction.--10. It dissolves santaline freely.--11. Mix one drop of the oil with a small trace of solution of aniline by means of a gla.s.s rod, and then shake with 5 or 6 c.c. of distilled water. By the addition of a few drops of sodium hypochlorite to the mixture the characteristic blue coloration due to phenol will be developed in a few minutes, if the adulterant be present; whereas with the pure oil nothing but the purplish-violet colour of aniline will be perceived. Stirring or shaking must be avoided after the addition of the hypochlorite. The presence of 1 per cent. of phenol can thus be demonstrated in one drop of the oil.

_Obs._ Clove oil contains a heavy oil, sp. gr. 1079 (caryophyllic acid), and a light oil, sp. gr. 918 (clove hydrocarbon); by rectification, much of the light oil is lost, and the product becomes denser.

(1361--Bonastre.)

=Oil, Cog'nac.= See OIL, GRAPE (_below_).

=Oil of Copai'ba.= _Syn._ OIL OF CAPIVI; OLEUM COPAIBae (B. P., Ph., L. & E.), L. 1. (Ph. E.) Balsam of capivi, 1 oz.; water, 1-1/2 pint; distil, returning the water into the still, until oil ceases to pa.s.s over.

2. (Wholesale.) From the crude oil which separates during the manufacture of 'specific solution of copaiba' and 'soluble capivi,' by distillation along with a little salt and water.

_Pur., &c._ Colourless when pure; that of commerce has frequently a greenish tinge, derived from the copper utensils; odour, not disagreeable when recent. Sp. gr. 876 to 878. _Prod._ 50% to 55%. When adulterated with oil of turpentine, its solubility in rectified spirit is greatly diminished, and the solution is turbid.--_Dose_, 10 to 15 drops, in sugar; in the usual cases in which copaiba is ordered. 20 to 60 minims, three times a day (B. P.).