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oil gland |
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oil 1. an unctuous, combustible substance that is liquid, or easily liquefiable, on warming, and is not miscible with water, but is soluble in ether. Such substances, depending on their origin, are classified as animal, mineral or vegetable oils. 2. a fat that is liquid at room temperature. automobile oil see sump oil. oil of chenopodium extracted from the plant Chenopodium ambrosioides. An old-time anthelmintic. oil-contamination the coating of spilled crude oil on waterbirds that destroys the waterproofing and insulating properties of their feathers, predisposing them to hypothermia and impairing flight and swimming abilities. It also blocks nares, causes aspiration pneumonia, and has toxic effects on kidneys, reproduction and the gastrointestinal tract. oil crop crops grown primarily for their oil production, e.g. linseed, safflower, sunflower, rapeseed. crude petroleum oil crude oil and its several distillates are all relished by cattle and can cause poisoning. The oil as it is extracted from subterranean deposits varies widely in its additional contents. These may be salt or sulfur and cause poisoning by those substances. Oil causes vomiting and death from aspiration pneumonia. Animals do not do well and oil stays in the gut, appearing in the feces for long periods. diesel and fuel oil see crude oil. essential oil called also ethereal oil; see volatile oil (below). ethereal oil see volatile oil (below). fixed oil an oil that does not evaporate on warming and occurs as a solid, semisolid or liquid. oil gland see uropygial glands. irritant oil occurs in plants; causes gastroenteritis; includes bryonin, croton and castor oils. mineral oil a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons from petroleum. Mineral oil is available in both light (light liquid petrolatum) and heavy (liquid, or heavy liquid, petrolatum) grades. Light mineral oil is used chiefly as a vehicle for drugs, though it may also be used as a cathartic and to cleanse the skin. Heavy mineral oil is used as a cathartic, solvent and oleaginous vehicle. Excessive intake over a long period results in hypovitaminosis A. oil pollution aquatic birds are worst affected because of pasting together of feathers, poisoning because of contamination of food source, blocking of nares and eyes and starvation because of unpalatability of food supply. oil products includes kerosene (or kerosine, or paraffin), gasoline (or petrol), diesoline and additives to lubricating oils, e.g. highly chlorinated naphthalenes; any of them may cause poisoning. oil spill accidental or negligent discharge of industrial oil on a body of water; effect is that the oil floats and pollutes the shore and covers aquatic birds and mammals with fatal results in most cases; salvage depends on capture of affected birds and animals and removing the oil. sump oil see sump oil. sweet birch oil see methyl salicylate. turpentine oil see turpentine oil. volatile oil an oil that evaporates readily; such oils occur in aromatic plants, to which they give odor and other characteristics. oil of Wintergreen see methyl salicylate. yew oil an irritant oil in Taxus baccata, but not the principal irritant in that plant—taxine is. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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