SANDAL-WOOD AND OIL OF SAN DAL-WOOD. — Sandal-wood (red saun ders; Santahim rubrum, U. S. P.) is the wood of Pterocarpus santalinus (nat. ord., Leguminosw). It occurs in the form of raspings. It contains a red coloring matter of a resinous character, known as santalic acid, or santalin, which occurs as a red, crystalline powder; soluble in alcohol, ether, and in acetic acid, but insoluble in water. It is not employed for any individual virtue, but is used in pharmacy for imparting a red color to alcoholic solutions and tinctures. It is the coloring principle of the compound spirit (or tincture) of lavender.
Oil of sandal-wood (oil of santal; oleum santali, U. S. P.) is a volatile oil distilled from the wood of Santalum album (nat. ord., Santalacece), indigenous to India. The oil has a yellowish, or pale-straw, color; a spicy taste; and an aromatic odor.
Physiological Action and Dose.—It is a stimulant in small doses, and an irri tant in large doses, to the various mucous membranes. It checks the secretions of the mucous membranes and causes dry ness of the throat and thirst. S. Rosen berg has noticed, after doses of 60 drops a day, irritation of the alimentary canal, burning in the urethra during micturi tion, and an eruption of small red promi nences upon the entire surface of the body, involving even the conjunctiva?.
Its general action upon the system is unknown. It seems to be more stimulat ing than oil of eucalyptus, and rather less so than terebene. When taken internally, it is eliminated by the urinary and re spiratory mucous membranes; the odor is sometimes perceptible in the perspira tion. Unlike copaiba, it causes no en taneous eruptions, and is less likely to produce gastric or intestinal disturbance. Absorption and elimination are very rapid; it may be detected, by its odor, in the urine half an hour after its in gestion. It may be given in doses of from 5 to 30 minims, in capsules or dis solved in alcohol and flavored with cin namon, in emulsion, or on sugar.
Therapeutics.—Oil of sandal-wood is an efficient remedy in asthma, chronic bronchitis, in the advanced stages of acute bronchitis, and in the advanced stages of gonorrhoea. It is also used as an ingredient of perfumes.