Cedar Oil
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Cedar oil is a yellowish liquid derived from the wood of Juniperus virginiana, with chemical formula C10H16, specific gravity of 0.95 at 15°C, and refractive index of 1.504 at 20°C. It is used as an immersion medium for microscope objectives and as an embedding medium for microscopic specimens.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
CEDAR OIL (Lat. Cedri), obtained from the wood of Juniperus virginiana. A yellowish liquid with composition C10H16 + C16H26O; specific gravity at 15° = 0.95; refractive index at 20° = 1.504. Boiling point - 270-290°; mixes with 95% alcohol, dissolves 4-6% paraffin; does not dissolve collodion; does not extract most microscopic dyes. In a concentrated state (Lat. Cedri inspissatum) it has a refractive index of 1.515 and is used as an immersion medium for objectives. Cedar oil can serve as an intermediate medium when embedding in paraffin, as well as for mounting microscopic specimens. For the latter purpose, the following mixture is also used: 1 part concentrated cedar oil + 2 parts Canadian balsam + 1 part chloroform (Apathy). The latter medium may be useful in the case of very sensitive stains.
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“Cedar Oil.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/cedar-oil/