The New International Encyclopædia/Aromatics

AR′OMATICS (Gk. ἀρωματικός, arōmatikos, aromatic). A class of medicines which owe their efficacy to oils obtained from them by distillation, and called volatile, distilled, or essential oils. They are characterized by emitting an agreeable, aromatic odor and usually have a warm, pungent, spicy taste. Aromatics include also certain other drugs and some animal substances. Among the families which yield the most important aromatics are the Labiatæ, Umbelliferæ, Lauraceæ, Myrtaceæ, Aurantiaceæ, Coniferæ, Scitamineæ, Orchideæ, etc. In some cases, the aromatic matter is diffused throughout all parts of the plant, but it is usually condensed in particular organs, such as the root, in the case of ginger; or the bark, in the case of cinnamon, canella, and cascarilla; or the flowers, as in the case of cloves; or the fruit, as in the case of anise and vanilla; or the wood, as in the case of sandal-wood and aloes-wood; or the leaves, as in the case of most of the Labiatæ, Umbelliferæ, etc.

Aromaties may be arranged in the following sub-classes: (1) Those in which the active principle is an essential oil, as the oil of thyme, lavender, cajeput, neroli, fennel, etc. (2) Those containing camphor, or an allied body, such as artificial camphor obtained from turpentine. (3) Bitter aromatics, in which there is a mixture of a bitter principle and an essential oil, as chamomile, tansy, wormwood, etc. These are tonics and vermifuges. (4) Those of which musk is the type, such as civet and amber; and certain plants with a musklike odor, such as Malva moschata, Mimulus moschatus, and Hibiscus abelmoschus. (5) Those containing a fragrant resin, as benzoin, myrrh, olibanum, storax, and the balsams of Peru and Tolu, which possess stimulant properties.

As a general rule, these substances act as diffusible stimulants of more or less power, and as antispasmodics, while those in which a bitter principle is present act as vermifuges or tonics. They are also employed internally to disguise the taste of other drugs. Locally they are used as counter-irritants, local anesthetics, and antiseptics.