JUNIPERUS (-nip'-), a genus of plants, order Pinacem. The European species, J. communis, the common juni per, is a bushy shrub with evergreen sharp-pointed leaves. It grows in all the N. parts of Europe, in fertile or in bar ren soils, on hills or in valleys, on open sandy plains, or in moist and close woods. It abounds in the Alpine region of Swit zerland. All parts of the plant, when bruised, exhale a more or less agree able terebinthinate odor. The fruits and fo.ung tops are used in medicine, having stimulant and diuretic properties. The volatile oil (oleum juniperi), obtained from.the fruits and other parts by dis tillation with water, is officinal in our pharmacopceias. The fruits or berries are used to flavor gin and Hollands. Turpen. tine is frequently substituted for them in the preparation of gin. Juni per wood has a reddish color, and is used occasionally for veneers. The species J.
Oxycedrus yields, by dry distillation, the tarry oil known in France as huile de cade; it is principally used in veterinary medicine. The timber of this species is very durable. J. Bermudiana is the red or pencil cedar, and J. Virginiana, the Virginian red cedar. The wood of these species is used for pencils; that of the former is considered the best. J. Sabina, the common savin, is a native of the mid land parts of Europe, and forms a small bushy shrub. The young branches, which are completely enveloped in the small imbricated leaves, are officinal in our .pharmacopceias. They, and the oil obtamed from them, have acrid, stimu lant? diuretic, emmenagogue properties. Savin ointment is a useful acrid appli cation to keep open blistered surfaces.