Dippel's Animal Oil

Dippel's Animal Oil, a panacea invented by Johann Konrad Dippel (1673–1734), a German chemist and alchemist. It was obtained in the manufacture of ammoniacal products by the distillation of bones. A mixture of oils passes over, and these, after being repeatedly distilled, eventually yield an aromatic liquid, free from fetid odour. This obtained a great reputation as an antispasmodic, and being present in the old spirit of hartshorn, gave it properties somewhat different from those of the modern sal volatile. Owing to the careless way in which it was usually manufactured, and the consequent disgusting odour and taste which it possessed, it has been quite discarded and is no longer used in medicine.