344 A COMPENDIUM OF 
converted into a solid mass by the action of 
mercury, nitrate and nitrous acid. Peanut Oil 
(Oleum Arachis Hypogea) and Lard Oil are 
largely used as adulterants. Acid nitric and 
acid chromic are said to be the best tests for 
the purity of the oil. Olive Oil is nutritious, 
protective and laxative in its effects, and may 
De given in doses of 1 or 2 fluid ounces, Olive 
Oil forms an ingredient in the following prepa- 
tations : CERATUM CAMPHOR&, CERATUM CETACEI, 
EMPLASTUM AMMONIACI CUM HYDRAGYRI, EMPLA- 
STRUN CERATE SAPONIS BR., and EMPLASTUM HY- 
DRAGYRI. 
Oleum Ricini, Castor Oil. This fixed oil is 
expressed from the seeds of the castor oil 
plant, Ricinus Communis or Palma Christi.— 
Natural order Euphorbiacez. A native of In- 
dia, and cultivated in many parts of the world. 
The plant in its native place assumes the dig- 
nity of a tree, often attaining the height of 30 | 
feet, but in the cooler latitudes it rarely exceeds _ 
to feet. The stem is vigorous, erect, round, 
smooth, hollow, and of a purplish color, ex- 
panding at the top into numerous branches or 
footstalks, which are inserted into the large, al- 
ternate, and palmately cut leaves. The leaf of 
the castor oil plant is from 6 to 12 inches in di- 
ameter, having from 7 to 9 pointed, serrated 
lobes, smooth on both sides and of a bluish 
green color, inclining to purple when fully ma- 
tured. The flowers are in terminal racemes 
and pyramidal in form ;male and female flowers 
on the same plant (Moncecious), neither of 
which have any corolla. Male flowers have 2 
five-parted calyx and many stamens (polyga- 
