RICINUS COMMUNIS. ORD. XXXIX. Tricocce. 627 
way as that of almonds, and without the assistance of heat, by 
‘which the oil would seem to be obtained in the purest state: 
however, we have some reason to believe that this method is 
seldom practised, and that the oil usually employed here’ is 
-imported from the West Indies, where it is commonly prepared 
-in the, following manner: “ The seeds being freed from the husks, 
or pods, which:are gathered upon their turning brown, and when .~ 
beginning to burst open, are first bruised in a mortar, afterwards 
tied up-in a linen bag, and then thrown into a large pot, with 
a sufficient quantity of water, (about eight gallons to one gallon 
of the'seeds) and boiled till the oil is risen to the surface, when 
it is carefully skimmed off, strained, and kept for use. -Thus 
prepared, the oil is entirely free from acrimony, and will stay. 
upon the stomach when it rejects: all other medicines.” And 
Mr. Long remarks, that “ the oil intended for medicinal use ts 
more frequently cold-drawn, or extracted from the bruised seeds 
by means of a hand-press. But this is thought more acrimonious 
than: what is prepared by coction.”‘ Dr. Browne is also of this 
opinion, and prefers the oil. procured by coction to that by 
eapression; he attributes its greater mildness to the action of the 
fire, observing that the. <apsgmel oil, as wellas the mixed juices. 
© Some objection has been made to this manner of obtaining the oil, as stated in 
our pharmacopeeia, which we shall here ‘mention in the words of Murray: Ex. 
press si eliceatur oleum, quidam’ suadent decorticati seminis 
ua m in mortario, (Canvane Diss..on the. @ Uhristé. §e. p. 20,) 
sed Bi ob m lutionem, qi simul contingit,crassum & turbidum 
evadit oleum (quod bene, adjecit Bon ielli_in versione libri cl. Canvane. p. 68. 
Glenderberg 1. c. p. 32), nec nisi ‘difficulter eruitur..  Prestat igitur nucleos 
integros premere. > Facilius) quoque: evocatur oleum ex seminibus, que moram 
aliquam traxerunt, quam cx recentibus;. mucilago enim’ sensim siccior, evadere 
videtur, tumgue connubium suum cum oleo relaxare.”’ (Heyer in Crelis Entd. 
Pr; 3. p. 74. 
£ Long’s Jamaica, p. 713. It is well known however, that the oil obtained by 
boiling becomes much sooner rancid ‘than that by expression. ‘The best best oil is 
“limpid, and destitute of taste or smell. In the West Indies-it is: usually consumed 
in ee and for other domestic purposes. 
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