JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS, Medical Properties of. The wood of the root and stem, the twigs or tops, with the leaves attached, and the fruits (golhodi, incorrectly termed berries), of the common juniper, all possess a peculiar aromatic flavour and odour, due to two peculiar oils, differing in their degree of volatility, which In chemical composi tion resemble French oil of turpentine, being destitute of oxygen, and therefore only carburete of hydrogen. In Britain the twigs and fruits, and oils thence obtained are officinal; on the continent the wood of the root and stem is used. From both, but especially the roots and thick branches, more oil can be extracted than from the wood of the trunk. This last is used to burn as incense and for pastiles. Articles of funsituro made of it are not eaten by insects, as is the case also with cedar. The fruits are imported both from the north and south of Europa Those from the latter are richest in volatile oil. The che mical analysis of Trommsdorff gives of volatile oil P0, wax resin 10'0, a peculiar kind of sugar with acetate and malate of lime gum with mita of potash and lime 7.0, lignin 35.0, water 12'9. The
fruits require two years to ripen, but at the end of the first year, while yet green, they are richest in volatile oil; and they should be collected at that time. Much of the volatile oil in converted into resin during the second year. [OrNsva] The fruits are seldom given, but may be rubbed up with sugar. The oil is, however, one of the most power ful of diuretics, four drops acting strongly on the kidneys. But the compound spirit of juniper is the form mostly employed for its exhi bition. The preparation, according to the ' London Pharmaeopcein,' is made by digesting tho ingredients, consisting of the oil of juniper, with oils of caraway and fennel ; but, according to the Edinburgh and ; Dublin Pharmacopreiss, by distilling the fruits : the last is a more ' potent preparation.