Poisons, Their Effects and Detection: A Manual for the Use of Analytical Chemists and ExpertsBlyth, Alexander Wynter
Science
Poisons, Their Effects and Detection: A Manual for the Use of Analytical Chemists and Experts
Blyth, Alexander Wynter
Poisons
1. =The true terpenes=, _formula_ (C₁₀H₁₆)--a large number of
essential oils, such as those of turpentine, orange peel, nutmeg,
caraway, anise, thyme, &c., are mainly composed of terpenes.
2. =The cedrenes=, _formula_ (C₁₅H₂₄)--the essential oil of cloves,
rosewood, cubebs, calamus, cascarilla, and patchouli belong to this
class.
3. =The colophene hydrocarbons=, _formula_ (C₂₀H₃₂), represented by
colophony.
Of all these, oil of turpentine alone has any toxicological
significance; it is, however, true that all the essential oils, if
taken in considerable doses, are poisonous, and cause, for the most
part, vascular excitement and complex nervous phenomena, but their
action has not been very completely studied. They may all be
separated by distillation, but a more convenient process for
recovering an essential oil from a liquid is to shake it up with
petroleum ether, separating the petroleum and evaporating
spontaneously; by this means the oil is left in a fair state of
purity.
4. OIL OF TURPENTINE--SPIRIT OF TURPENTINE--“TURPS.”
§ 151. Various species of pine yield a crude turpentine, holding in
solution more or less resin. The turpentine may be obtained from
this exudation by distillation, and when the first portion of the
distillate is treated with alkali, and then redistilled, the final
product is known under the name of “rectified oil of turpentine,”
and is sometimes called “camphene.” It mainly consists of
terebenthene. Terebenthene obtained from French turpentine differs
in some respects from that obtained from English or American
turpentine. They are both mobile, colourless liquids, having the
well-known odour of turpentine and highly refractive; but the French
terebenthene turns a ray of polarised light to the left -40·3° for
the sodium ray, and the English to the right +21·5°; the latter
terebenthene is known scientifically as austra-terebenthene. This
action on polarised light is retained in the various compounds and
polymers of the two turpentine oils.
The specific gravity of turpentine oil is ·864; its boiling point,
when consisting of pure terebenthene, 156°, but impurities may raise
it up to 160°; it is combustible and burns with a smoky flame. Oil
of turpentine is very soluble in ether, petroleum ether, carbon
disulphide, chloroform, benzene, fixed and essential oils, and by
the use of these solvents it is conveniently separated from the
contents of the stomach. It is insoluble in water, glycerin, and
dilute alkaline and acid solutions; and very soluble in absolute
alcohol, from which it may be precipitated by the addition of water.
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