Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume Ii Part 87

ESSENTIALE L. From either the berries or leaves of _Laurus n.o.bilis_ (Linn.), or sweet bay-tree. Pale yellow, clear, odorous, aromatic, stimulant, and narcotic. Sp. gr. 871. _Prod._ From the leaves, 3/4 to 1% (fully).

=Oil of Lavender.= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF L.; LAVANDULae OLEUM (B. P.), OLEUM LAVANDULae (Ph. L.), O. L. VERae (Ph. E. & D.), O. L. SPICae, O. L.

ESSENTIALE, O. L. FLORUM, L. The oil (OLEUM LAVANDULae ANGLIc.u.m) distilled from the flowers of '_Lavandula vera_' (Ph. L.). Very pale lemon-yellow; highly fragrant; taste, warm and not disagreeable; carminative, antispasmodic, and stimulant. Sp. gr. 877 to 905. According to Brande, the sp. gr. of the oil obtained from the flowers only is 8960; that from the whole plant, 9206. The lightest is esteemed the best. _Prod._ Flowers, 1-1/2 to 2% (nearly). The whole of the flowering herb is commonly distilled. According to Raybaud, the herb, after flowering (Sept.), yields the most oil.

_Pur._ Alcohol is the substance commonly used to adulterate this oil; but, occasionally, oil of bergamot is used for the same purpose. If the density is below 87, there is reason to suspect adulteration. When pure--1.

Sulphuric acid turns it reddish-brown, and the reaction is accompanied by strong insp.i.s.sation.--2. It fulminates quickly and violently with iodine, and the thick syrupy residue possesses a pungent, acid, balsamic odour.

The oils of the other l.a.b.i.ate plants fulminate much less powerfully with iodine. The presence of alcohol weakens, but does not destroy, the action of this test, unless it is added in an equal volume, when only a lively effervescence and a disengagement of orange-coloured vapours are produced by the iodine, without fulmination.--3. Santaline is nearly insoluble in pure oil of lavender, and exerts no marked action on it, but is freely soluble in oil of lavender adulterated with alcohol or rectified spirit.

_Obs._ English oil of lavender possesses the purest fragrance; and of this, the variety known as "MITCHAM OIL OF LAVENDER," from the place of its preparation, is esteemed the best. The foreign oil of lavender is inferior. This last is improved by rectification. See OIL OF SPIKE.

=Oil of Lem'ons.= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF L.; OLEUM LIMONIS (B. P.), OLEUM LIMONIS, O. LIMONUM (Ph. L. E. & D.). From the yellow portion of the rind, grated, placed in hair bags, and exposed to powerful pressure; also by distillation, but the product is then less agreeably fragrant and sweet, but keeps better. Nearly colourless; odour that of the fruit. Sp. gr.

8752 to 8785. Expressed oil, 8517, distilled do., 845, at 72 Fahr.

(Ure.) _Prod._ 100 lemons yield, by expression, 1-3/4 to 2 oz. (nearly); by distillation 1-1/4 to 1-1/2.

_Pur._ Commonly adulterated with oil of turpentine, and occasionally with nut or poppy oil. These may be detected in the manner already explained.

When pure, it is soluble in all proportions in absolute alcohol, but rectified spirit only dissolves 16% of it. It also boils at 148 Fahr., whereas oil of turpentine boils at 312, and mixtures of the two at intermediate temperatures, depending on the proportions.

=Oil of Le'mon Gra.s.s.= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF L. G., INDIAN GRa.s.s-OIL, OIL OF VERBENA. Probably from _Andropogon citratum_, the Indian lemon-gra.s.s. Pale yellow; powerfully fragrant. CITRONELLE OIL is also the product of this or of an allied species of _Andropogon_.

=Oil of Lemon Thyme.= _Syn._ OLEUM SERPYLLI, L.; HUILE DE TAIN, Fr. From the fresh flowering herb of _Thymus serpyllum_, the lemon or wild thyme of our hills and pastures. Very fragrant, used to scent soaps &c. Sp. gr.

867. _Prod._ 100 lbs. yield 2-1/2 to 5-1/2 oz. of oil. When pure, it is scarcely affected by iodine, but solution of chromate of pota.s.sa acts on it with energy.

=Oil of Let'tuce.= _Syn._ OLEUM LACTUCae VIROSae, L. From _Lactusa virosa_ (Linn.), or strong-scented wild lettuce. Closely resembles the odorous matter of opium.

=Oil of Limes.= _Syn._ OLEUM LIMETTae, L. From the rind of the fruit of _Citrus limetta_, or lime, as oil of lemons, which it somewhat resembles.

_Prod._ 100 limes yield 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 oz. of oil.

=Oil of Lov'age.= _Syn._ OLEUM LEVISTICI, L. From the leaves of fruit of _Levistic.u.m officinale_, Lovage. Pale yellow, aromatic, carminative.

_Prod._ Fresh herb, 1% to 15%.

=Oil of Mace.= _Syn._ OLEUM MACIDIS, O. M. ESSENTIALE, O. M. STILLAt.i.tIUM, L. From the arillus of _Myristica officinale_ (commercial mace). Nearly colourless; fragrant; lighter than water; closely resembles oil of nutmeg.

Sp. gr. 945. _Prod._ 4-1/2 to 9%.

=Oil of Marc-brandy.= _Syn._ FUSEL OIL OF M.-B., O. OF GRAPE SPIRIT.

Obtained after the spirit (marc-brandy) has pa.s.sed over during the distillation of the fermented residuum of expressed grapes. Limpid; odorous; acrid; offensive; soon turns yellow in the air; soluble in 1000 parts of water, and in all proportions in rectified spirit; 6 or 7 drops will spoil a hogshead of brandy. According to M. Balard, this oil is a mixture of potato oil and nanthic ether.

=Oil of Mar'joram.= _Syn._ OIL OF SWEET M.; OLEUM MARJORANae, O. ORIQANI M.

(Ph. E.), L. From the fresh flowering herb of _Origanum marjorana_, or sweet or knotted marjoram. Pale yellow; odorous; tonic; stimulant. Sp. gr.

925 (940--Baume). _Prod._ 33 to 35%. See OIL OF ORIGANUM.

=Oil of Mea'dow-sweet.= _Syn._ OLEUM SPIRaeae ULMARIae, L. From the flowers or flowering tops of _Spiraea ulmaria_ (Linn.), or common meadow-sweet.

This oil is a native hydride of salicyl. It is yellow, sweet-scented, and slightly soluble in water, which then strikes a deep violet colour with the persalts of iron. It boils at 385 Fahr. Sp. gr. 1172. (See _below_.)

=Oil of Mea'dow-sweet (Facti"tious).= This is prepared as follows:--Salicin, 1 part, is dissolved in distilled water, 10 parts, and being placed in a gla.s.s retort, bichromate of pota.s.sa (in powder), 1 part, is added, followed by oil of vitriol, 2-1/2 parts, previously diluted with 4 times its weight of water; a gentle heat is next applied to the retort, and after the first effervescence resulting from the mutual reaction of the ingredients is over, the heat is increased, and the mixture is distilled for the oil in the usual manner. The product is absolutely identical with the natural oil of meadow-sweet. (See _above_.)

=Oil of Mil'foil.= _Syn._ OLEUM MILLEFOLII, L. From the flowers of _Achillaea millefolium_ (Linn.), or yarrow. Blue. Sp. gr. 852. _Prod._ 14 lbs. of the dried flowers yield 3 dr. of oil.

=Oils, Mixed (Essential).= _Syn._ OLEA MIXTA ESSENTIALIA. From the oils of bergamot and lemons, of each 1 oz.; oils of lavender and pimento, of each 1/2 oz. Used to scent 'sal volatile drops,' smelling-bottles, &c.

=Oil of Mus'tard (Volatile).= _Syn._ SULPHO-CYANIDE OF ALLYL; OLEUM SINAPIS NIGRae, O. S. ESSENTIALE, L. From the seeds of _Sinapis nigra_(Linn.), or black mustard, as oil of bitter almonds. Nearly colourless; intensely acrid, pungent, rubefacient, and vesicant; slightly soluble in water; boils at 289 Fahr. It contains sulphur. Sp. gr. 1035 to 1038; 1015, at 68 Fahr. _Prod._ Av. 6% (fully).

_Obs._ This oil, like that of bitter almonds, does not pre-exist in the seed, but is the result of the action of myronic acid on a peculiar substance, myrosin, in the presence of water. Oil of black mustard has been used as a stimulant or counter-irritant in palsy, &c.; and the distilled water, or a solution of the oil in water, is said to be an excellent and cleanly remedy for the itch.

=Oil of Myrrh.= _Syn._ OLEUM MYRRHae, O. M. ESSENTIALE, L. Colourless; thin; heavier than water; stimulant; smells strongly of the drug.

=Oil of Myr'tle (Volatile).= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF M.; OLEUM MYRTae ESSENTIALE, L. From the flowers and leaves of _Myrtus communis_. 100 lbs. of the fresh leaves yield 2-1/2 to 5 oz.

=Oil of Namur Gra.s.s.= See OIL OF GRa.s.s (NAMUR).

=Oil of Narcis'sus.= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF JONQUIL; OLEUM NARCISSI, L. As OIL OF JASMINE. Delightfully odorous.

=Oil of Nero'li.= See OIL OF ORANGE FLOWERS.

=Oil of Nut'meg (Volatile).= _Syn._ OLEUM MYRISTICae (B. P., Ph. E.), O. M.

MOSCHATae (Ph. D.), L. From the officinal nutmeg or kernel of the fruit of _Myristica moschata_. Nearly colourless; odour and flavour that of the fruit, but more powerful. By agitation with water, it is separated into two oils--one lighter, the other heavier, than water; the last is butyraceous. Sp. gr. 948. _Prod._ 4-1/2 to 7%. It is reputed to make the hair grow, and to prevent baldness.

OIL OF ON'IONS. From the bulbs of _Allium cepa_, or common onion.

Contains sulphur, and smells strongly of the herb.

=Oil of Or'ange.= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF O.; OLEUM AURANTII, O. AURANTIORUM, O.

A. CORTICIS, L. From the yellow portion of the rind of either the Seville or sweet orange, preferably of the last; as oil of bergamot or lemons.

Closely resembles oil of lemons, but is more agreeably fragrant. The expressed oil is very apt to become opaque, and deposit a stearopten, especially in cold weather, unless well kept from the air. Sp. gr. 875.

_Prod._ 100 fruits yield 4 to 5 oz. (See _below_.)

=Oil of Orange Berries.= _Syn._ OLEUM AURANTII BACCae, L. From the small unripe fruit of the orange-tree. Does not keep well. (See _below_.)

=Oil of Orange Flowers.= _Syn._ NEROLI, OIL OF N., ESSENCE OF N.; OLEUM NAPHae, O. AURANTII FLORUM, AURANTII OLEUM (Ph. E. and D.), L. From the flowers of either the bitter (Seville)or sweet orange (_Citrus vulgaris_ or _C. aurantium_), by distillation with water. That from the fruit is said to be preferred, but there does not appear any actual difference between the two. Very fluid; lighter than water, in which it is slightly soluble; it is delightfully aromatic and fragrant, but the odour differs slightly from that of the flowers. _Prod._ 100 lbs. of flowers gathered in May or December yield 3 to 6 oz. of oil; 6 cwt. of the fresh flowers yield 1 lb. of oil.

_Pur._ Neroli is commonly adulterated with alcohol or essence de pet.i.t grain, and generally with both of them. The presence of the first is easily determined (see _above_): that of the second can only be discovered by comparing the odour evolved during the evaporation of a drop of the suspected oil, placed on a piece of white paper, with a like drop of pure neroli similarly treated. (See _above_ and _below_.)

=Oil of Orange-leaf.= _Syn._ OLEUM AURANTII FOLII, L.; ESSENCE DE PEt.i.t GRAIN, Fr. From the leaves of either the bitter or sweet orange; that from the first being preferred. Delightfully fragrant. Extensively used to adulterate oil of neroli, and is itself commonly sophisticated with both alcohol and oil of orange-berries. (See _above_.)

=Oil of Orig'anum.= _Syn._ OLEUM ORIGANI, O. O. ESSENTIALE, L. From the flowering herb of _Origanum vulgare_, or common or winter marjoram. Pale yellow colour; fragrant; acrid, pungent, and rubefacient. Sp. gr. 927 (940--Baume). _Prod._ 5% to 75%. The dark-coloured oil of origanum of the shops is obtained from _Thymus vulgare_. The oil of origanum (Ph. E.) is oil of _Origanum marjorana_. See OILS OF MARJORAM, THYME, and LEMON THYME.

=Oil of Or'ris.= _Syn._ ESSENCE OF VIOLET; OLEUM IRIDIS, L. From the dried rhizomes of _Iris Florentina_, or Florentine orris-root. Fragrant. Sold for oil and essence of violets.

=Oil of Par'sley.= _Syn._ OLEUM PETROSELINI, L. From the fresh herb or dried fruit (seed) of _Apium petroselinum_, or garden parsley. Yellowish; smells strongly of the plant. It consists of two oils, separable by agitation with water, one of which is concrete, and melts at 80 Fahr.; the other, liquid. _Prod._ Herb, 50 to 1% (nearly).

=Oil of Par'tridge-berry.= _Syn._ OIL OF WINTER-GREEN, METHYLO-SALYCILIC ETHER, SALICYLATE OF OXIDE OF METHYL; OLEUM GAUL-THERIae (Ph. U. S.), L.

From the leaves or the whole plant of _Gaultheria proc.u.mbens_, a herb common in North America, and otherwise known by the names--Box-berry, chequer-berry, partridge-berry, mountain tea, winter-green, &c. Pale yellow, growing brown by exposure and age; aromatic; sweet; highly pungent; when diluted, agreeably fragrant; mixed with a dilute solution of pota.s.sa, it solidifies to a crystalline ma.s.s (salicylate of methyl and pota.s.sa), from which the oil may be again separated by the addition of an acid. It is the heaviest of all the essential oils. Sp. gr. 1173. Boils at 412, and, when purified, at 435 Fahr.

Oil of partridge-berry, dissolved in rectified spirit, is in common use in the United States of America as an antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, and stimulant; chiefly as an adjunct to mixtures, &c.; and also with the view of increasing the flow of milk during lactation. It is likewise extensively used in perfumery, and is an object of great interest to the organic chemist, on account of its peculiar const.i.tution and reaction.

=Oil of Partridge-berry (Facti"tious).= See SALICYLIC ACID.

=Oil, Pearl.= See AMYLE (Acetate of), and ESSENCE OF JARGONELLE PEAR.

=Oil of Pennyroy'al.= _Syn._ OLEUM PULEGII (Ph. L.), O. MENTHae P. (B. P., Ph. E. & D.), O. P. ESSENTIALE, L. From the flowering herb of _Mentha Pulegium_, or the common pennyroyal of our gardens. Pale yellow, growing reddish yellow by age and exposure; antispasmodic, carminative, and emmenagogue. Boils at 395 Fahr. Sp. gr. 925 to 931. _Prod._ 3/4 to 1%.

(See _below_.)