TURPENTINE (OF. turbentine, terebentine, terebintina, turpentine. from Lat. terebin thinus, relating to the terebinth, from terelan thus, from Gk. rep,) /1900s, terebinth). The resinous exudations of various species of co niferous trees. When the viscid exudation is dis tilled, oil or spirit of turpentine passes over, leaving behind a residue of common colophony. The distillation is carried out in copper stills. The mass is gradually heated to 316° F. (15S° C.), which is approximately the boiling tempera ture of oil of turpentine. The resin remain ing in the still is drawn off while hot. French turpentine is distilled by means of a current of steam. The oil or spirit of turpentine dissolves camphor, resins, and other organic substances and mixes freely with alcohol, ether, and glacial acetic acid. It does not mix with water. It is a thin colorless liquid readily recognized by its characteristic odor. Chemically it is a mixture of several isomeric hydrocarbons (terpenes) rep resented by the formula COI. and con
verted by oxidation into a camphor having the composition Oil of turpentine is largely used in medicine as an irritant and calm ter-irritant in chronic inflammations. It is an excellent remedy for ringworm, and is given in ternally also to stop hemorrhages. and as a remedy for gonorrhoea. The administration of turpentine is attended with some danger. as it is likely to produce inflammation of the kidneys. In the arts oil of turpentine is used for the preparation of varnishes and for similar pur poses. American turpentine is derived from the Pinus aust•alis and the Pinus tieda: French turpentine from the Pinus maritima ; Russian and Swedish turpentine from the Pinus syl vestris and the Finns Lederhourii. Canada tur pentine, or Canada balsam, is obtained from the Abies balsamea, growing in Canada and the Northern United States.