Oliveri Cortex, I.C.A. Oliver Bark.
Related entries: Cassia bark - Cinnamon bark - Canella bark - Camphor - Oliver bark
Synonym.—Black Sassafras.
Oliver bark is obtained from Cinnamomum Oliveri, Bailey (N.O. Laurineae), a tree indigenous to New South Wales and Queensland. It occurs in flat strips, usually about 20 centimetres long, 4 wide, and 1 thick. Outer surface brownish in colour with patches of whitish cork, very coarsely granular or warty, inner surface umber-brown, finely striated, and satiny. Fracture, short and somewhat fibrous. The section exhibits a somewhat thick periderm, often separated from the inner part of the secondary bast by a paler line of cork tissue in which numerous bast fibres can be discerned. Odour, agreeable, recalling sassafras; taste, aromatic, slightly bitter and pungent.
Constituents.—The chief constituent of the bark is about 1 per cent. of a yellow volatile oil, which contains safrol, eugenol, cineol, and cinnamic aldehyde. The bark also contains tannin.
Action and Uses.—Oliver bark is official in the Australian Colonies, where it is used as a substitute for cinnamon. A tincture of the bark is prepared.
PREPARATION.
- Tinctura Oliveri Corticis, I.C.A.—TINCTURE OF OLIVER BARK.
- Oliver bark, in No. 40 powder, 10; alcohol (60 percent.), sufficient to produce 100. Add 5 of the alcohol to the drug to moisten it, and complete the percolation process. Tincture of oliver bark is official in the Australian Colonies, where it is used for similar purposes to tincture of cinnamon. Dose.—2 to 4 mils (½ to 1 fluid drachm).
