American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

colorless, nearly odorless; slightly soluble in water, soluble in alcohol.
Dose, from one to three grains.
Terebene is obtained by the action of sulphuric acid on the rectified oil.
The product is distilled. A colorless, thin, aromatic liquid is the result. It
is soluble in alcohol, only slightly so in water. Dose, from three to fifteen
minims.
Physiological Action—The oil of turpentine is an irritant when applied to
the skin or mucous membranes in any considerable quantity. It causes
burning, a vesicular eruption, and deep, stubborn ulcerations. In the
stomach it produces warmth, increased from an overdose to a burning
pain, nausea, vomiting, purging, eructations of the oil, great gastrointestinal
irritation, amounting to gastro-enteritis. In toxic doses it
causes renal hyperemia, great irritation of the urinary tract, violent
hematuria and strangury, with suppression of urine and albuminuria.
It stimulates the heart, increases the arterial tension for a time, increases
the temperature and exalts the mental faculties. Ultimately there is a
reduction of physical strength, muscular insecurity, tremblings,
incoordination, great nervous irritation, wandering of the mind,
incoherence, insensibility and coma, breathing stertorous and labored,
from paralysis of respiration; face cyanosed or flushed, pupils dilated. All
exudations contain its odor.
While violent symptoms have often been produced by full medicinal
doses of turpentine, fatal results have seldom. occurred. Five ounces
have been taken by adults with recovery. Children have died from
overdoses in a few instances. The agent is eliminated through the
kidneys and mucous membrane, and this fact explains its immediate
influence upon these organs and structures.
Specific Symptomatology—In two marked conditions apparently
diametrically opposite in their character, this agent is specific.
First. In excessive secretion of mucus—catarrhal discharges from
whatever cause, especially if there be relaxed, enfeebled, atonic mucous
membranes. It may be given with confidence.
Second; in gastric or intestinal inflammation, or in persistent fevers, with
dry, red, glazed tongue, dry mucous membranes—tympanites, with
suppression of the secretions of all gastric and of intestinal glands.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 442