Most species of Pinus[664] may be made to yield (and many of them
produce spontaneously) a remarkable resinous juice, usually called
_Turpentine:_ an appellation, however, which more properly belongs to
the product of a different genus, called by Linnæus _Pistachia_, which
contains the true _Terebinthus_[665] of the ancients.
QUALITIES. _Consistence_, semifluid and tenacious, but becoming more or
less concrete by age; _Odour_, aromatic; _Taste_, pungent, austere, and
astringent. It is inflammable. SOLUBILITY. It is entirely soluble in
rectified spirit, but not at all in water; although it becomes miscible
with that fluid, by the mediation of the yelk or the white of an egg,
but more elegantly by that of vegetable mucilage, and forms a milky
liquor. It is capable of entering into union with fixed oils. CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION. Resin, and an essential oil, the proportions of which vary
according to the species of Pine from which it is obtained. They all,
however, possess the same general chemical, as well as medicinal
properties, viz. When internally taken, says Dr. Maton, they seem to
warm the _viscera_, raise the pulse, and impart additional excitement to
the vascular system; applied externally, they increase the tone of the
part, counteract indolence of action, and deterge, as it were,
ill-conditioned ulcers. _Internal_ ulcerations indeed, especially of the
urinary passages, as well as laxities of the seminal and uterine
vessels, are supposed to be diminished by the exhibition of preparations
of this nature. They certainly appear to act in a peculiar manner on the
urinary organs, impregnating the water with a violet smell, and there
are strong grounds for believing that its volatile element, developed by
the powers of digestion, passes into the circulation, and is eliminated
by the kidneys, whose secreting vessels are thus stimulated _by its
contact_. (_Page 93._) Pulmonary complaints, as obstinate coughs and
asthmatic affections, have been said to give way to medicines of this
class; yet, in modern practice, recourse is rarely had to them in such
cases, and their exhibition is even considered hazardous. The ancients
were accustomed to medicate their wines with various Terebinthinate
substances, for the effect of which, see _Vinum_.
The particular preparations of Turpentine most employed in medicine,
will be noticed under the different species.
1. TEREBINTHINA CANADENSIS. L. (Pinus Balsamea. _Resina Liquida._)
_Canada Turpentine_, or _Canada Balsam_.[666] This is a transparent
whitish juice, brought to this country from Canada, and apparently, says
Dr. Maton, not very different in its qualities from the celebrated _Balm
of Gilead_,[667] so high in esteem among the eastern nations, and so
strongly recommended in a variety of complaints. Hitherto, however, it
has not been much employed in England. Its odour is agreeable, and its
taste strong and pungent.
2. TEREBINTHINA CHIA. L. (Pistachia Terebinthus.) _Chio_, or _Cyprus
Turpentine_. The superiority of this species to all the products of the
pine tribe, was well known to, and described by, most of the ancient
writers on the materia medica. It is pellucid, with a bluish-green cast.
3. TEREBINTHINA VULGARIS. L. (Pinus Sylvestris. _Scotch Fir._) _Common
Turpentine._ _Horse Turpentine._ This species is more coarse and dense
than any other kind, and has an opaque light brown colour; its
consistence may be compared to that of honey; the taste is very acrid,
hot, and disagreeable, and the smell much less pleasant than either the
_Venice_ or the _Strasburg_ turpentine. It is the kind which, as its
name implies, is most commonly employed, and although inferior in
quality to that of the turpentine tree, _Pistachia Terebinthus_ (Chio or
Cyprus), the Larch, _Pinus Larix_ (Venice Turpentine), and the Silver
Fir, _Pinus Picea_ (Strasburgh Turpentine), especially for internal use,
yet it is too often substituted for them in the shops of the druggist.
The Colleges of London and Edinburgh direct the common turpentine to be
used chiefly in external applications, for which it was also much
employed by the ancients. Celsus mentions, “_Resina liquida pinea_,” as
entering into the composition of many of his “_Malagmata_,” and the
“_Resina liquida_,” of other writers would appear to be of the same
kind. The _Unguentum Elemi compositum_ contains this resinous juice as a
principal ingredient.
4. TEREBINTHINA VENETA. (Pinus Larix.)[668] _The Larch._ _Venice
Turpentine._ The resin is by most writers, and in the shops, esteemed
the best, after that of _Pistachia Terebinthus_, of those juices
commonly called _Turpentines_. It is usually thinner than any other
kind, of a pale yellowish colour, and of a hot, pungent, bitterish
taste; the smell is strong, and far from being agreeable. Although it
bears the name of _Venice Turpentine_, very little of it is exported
from the Venetian territories; but it is probable that the merchants of
that country were the first who substituted it for the genuine
Turpentine of Cyprus. The resinous juice of the Larch is said to remain
always, or at least a very long time, in a state of liquidity; a
property which is particularly adverted to by Pliny.[669] As a Diuretic,
the _Venice_ Turpentine has been generally preferred to all the other
kinds; and it is said to relax the bowels more, for which reason
_Riverius_[670] considers it as being safer than other irritating
diuretics.
5. TEREBINTHINA ARGENTORATENSIS. (Pinus Picea.) _Strasburg Turpentine._
This resin is generally of a middle consistence between that of the
_Terebinthus_ and the _Larix_; more transparent and less tenacious than
either; in colour yellowish brown; in smell more agreeable than any
other turpentine, except the Cyprian; in taste the bitterest, yet the
least acrid.
_Form of Exhibition._ The Turpentines may be either made into Pills with
powdered liquorice root, or suspended in water by the intervention of
egg or mucilage; for which purpose, ℥j requires the yelk of one egg, or
ʒiss of gum arabic. _Dose_, gr. x to ʒj.