Myristica. Nutmeg. The kernel of the seed of Myristica

Officinalis. [The kernel of the fruit of Myristica Fragrans, U.S.] Lin. Syst., Diascia monodelphia; imported from Sumatra and the Molucca Islands.

Myristicae Adeps. Concrete Oil of Nutmeg. [Not officinal in U. S. P.] A concrete oil obtained from nutmegs by expression and heat.

Myristicae Oleum. Volatile Oil of Nutmeg. The oil distilled in England from the nutmeg.

Description. The nutmeg is of a spheroidal shape, resembling that of a small bird's egg, about an inch in length, externally marked with reticulated furrows, greyish red internally, with dark brownish veins; it has a peculiar odour and a bitter aromatic taste. The cut surface presents a mottled appearance, produced by numerous veins in which the oil is situated. The concrete oil, or fat, is of a firm consistence, an orange colour, and has the odour of the nutmeg. The volatile oil, obtained by distillation, is colourless or of a straw yellow colour, with the odour and taste of the nutmeg.

Prop. & Comp. By expression nutmegs yield about 30 per cent. of the concrete oil, soluble in four times its weight of boiling alcohol, and half that quantity of ether, consisting of a fixed oil or fat, united with a volatile oil, which last has a sp. gr. 0.95, and is the same as that obtained by distillation. The fixed fat yields a peculiar acid, myristic acid (HO, C28, H27, O3), crystallizing in silky needles. Nutmeg contains, besides these principles, woody fibre, and the ordinary constituents of seeds.

Off. Prep. - Of Nutmeg. Nutmeg is one of the ingredients of the aromatic powder, and the compound tincture of lavender.

Of the Concrete. Oil. This is used in the preparation of the pitch plaster.

Of the Volatile OH. Spiritus Myristcae. Spirit of Nutmeg. (Volatile oil of nutmeg, one fluid ounce; rectified spirit, nine fluid ounces.) [Nutmeg, bruised, two troy ounces; diluted alcohol, eight pints; water, a pint. Distil eight pints. U. S.]

Volatile oil of nutmeg also forms one of the ingredients of aromatic spirit of ammonia.

Therapeutics. Nutmeg is an aromatic and gentle stimulant. In very large doses it is said to possess narcotic properties.. It is perhaps more frequently used for giving flavour to farinaceous and other articles of food, than for its medicinal properties. Applied externally, it acts as a topical stimulant.

Dose. Of nutmeg in powder, 5 gr. to 15 gr.; of the volatile oil, 1 min. to 5 min.; of the spiritus myristicae, 10 min. to 50 min.