rectified | spirits, though St ie shoe Mlinksiecs eisen We 
Saccter it 
Castor On: From the Palma Christi tree. 
_ The palma christi is a native of the West Indies, and flourishes 
extremely well in most parts of the United States, particularly in the 
south. ‘The seeds are about the size of small beans, which, in their 
brittle shells, contain white kernels, of a sweet, oily, but somewhat 
nauseous taste. ‘The skin is extremely acrid, and one or two o} the 
seeds swallowed entire, operate as a drastic purgative or emetic, _ 
The kernels yield almost a fourth part of their weight of a bland 
fixed oil, commonly called castor oil. It isobtained from them either 
by expression or decoction with water. ‘The former method is prac- 
tised in Europe; the latter in Jamaica. To increase the roduct, it 
is Common to parch the seeds over the fire, before the oil i extract- 
ed from them; but the oil thus obtained is greatly inferior to that _ 
prepared by cold expression, or simple decoction, and is apt to be- 
come rancid. The most eligible method is, to shell the seeds and 
boil them in water ; and as the oil rises, skim it off. This oil is sw 
without bad taste or smell, and as clear as olive oil; andn 
much longer than that obtained by expression, becau: 
a 
the taste, and without smell, _ Sage 
Castor oil is a gentle and useful purgative; it in general pr 
its effects without griping, and may be given with safety where 
purgatives are improper, as in colic, calculus, gonorrhea, &c. It is 
also a vermifuge, and a most efficacious remedy for the dry bellyach 
and iliac passion, when administered in proper doses, to children — 
and adults; viz. : the dose for the former, from one to two tea spoons- 
ful; and the latter, a table nful, repeated every two or th 
hours. As patients in general have a great aversion to this oil 
pure state, it may be taken swimming either in a glass of } 
mint, or simple water, or in form of an emulsion, with mu 
with the addition ofa small quantity of rum. ie, oe 
ae 
Cayenne Perrer. Capsicum Annum. The fruit. 
_ This species of pepper is a native of South America, and is culti- 
vated extensively in the West India islands. The pods are long, 
ointed, and pendulous, at first ofa green color, and afterwards ofa 
fright orange red. The taste of capsicum is extremely punge : 
acrimonious ; setting the mouth, as it were, on fire. Its. 
completely extracted by alcohol, and partly by water. 
fenhe pepper is an indiscriminate mixture of the powder of 
Ss of many species of capsicum. These p 
ely used as condiment. They prevent f 
food, and have a warm and kindly effec 
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