The hydrate of the diatomic alcohol Terpin.
DERIVATION.--Rectified oil of turpentine, alcohol and nitric acid are
mixed together in a shallow porcelain dish, and after three or four days
terpin hydrate crystallizes out. The crystals are collected, drained,
dried on absorbent paper and purified by recrystallization in alcohol.
PROPERTIES.--Colorless, crystals, odorless, having a somewhat bitter
taste. Soluble in 200 parts of water, 10 parts of alcohol.
ACTIONS.--Externally--Oil of turpentine is rubefacient, irritant and
counter-irritant; vesicant if rubbed in or confined, also a powerful
antiseptic and disinfectant; is absorbed by the unbroken skin.
Internally--Is diuretic, stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic,
hemostatic and anthelmintic; it is irritant, and large undiluted doses
may cause gastro-enteritis and paralysis of nerve centers.
USES.--In colic, both spasmodic and flatulent; for worms, give full
doses, septic fevers; gangrene of the lungs; catarrhal conditions,
pneumonia and bronchitis; as a diuretic, but others not as irritant are
better.
For local gangrene remove the dead tissue and then apply the turpentine
direct to the affected parts by means of absorbent cotton or cloth
saturated with it; the offensive odor is removed and sloughing arrested.
For tape worm it is given with oleo-resin of aspidium, in oil. As an
inhalation in pulmonary diseases one-half ounce is added to three quarts
of boiling water. In two drachm doses every three hours, if frequently,
aborts suppuration in parotiditis of horses. In purpura haemorrhagica,
turpentine is a valuable medicine as a vaso-motor stimulant and
diuretic, given in two drachm doses every four hours with tincture
chloride of iron and linseed oil.