EUFHOBBIACE^. 283 



pr 



co^dung water as will cover the bag, and let it boil ; secondly, 

 when boiled, split the kernels in two and take a small leaf 

 from tbem, which is said to be poisonous; and thirdly, pound 

 the whole into a mass, to which add two parts of Katha 

 (catechu)^ and divide into pills of two grains each, two of 

 which are sufficient for one dose." The addition of the Katha 

 is said to correct the acrimony of the drug, and to prevent any 

 griping of the bowels. 



^n^Me [Mat, Indica^ Vol. I., p. 105) notices the use of the 

 expressed oil (nervalum unnay) h^ the Tamils as an external 

 application in rheumatic affections, but it does not appear to 

 have been used for internal administration until the year 1821. 

 [Confer, London Medical Depository for January 1822.) 



In modern European medicine, croton oil, more or less diluted, 

 is used externally as a counter-irritant, and causes an abundant 

 pustular eruption. This effect is increased by the addition of 

 an alkali to the liniment. Internally it is given in doses 

 of I to 1 minim as a purgative, and is particularly valuable 

 in those cases in which the condition of the patient prevents 

 him from swallowing ; it may be placed on the back of the 

 tongue. The oil has also been used with success as an anthel- 

 mintic. In modern pharmacy its chief consumption is in 

 the preparation of castor oil capsules. 



Description. — Croton seeds {graines de Tilly) are oblong, 



about half an inch long, and not quite f of an inch broad. 

 The dorsal and ventral surfaces are arched, the former more 

 prominently than the latter. The testa is black, but covered for 

 the most part by a thin cinnamon-coloured membrane; it is thin 

 and brittle, and contains an abundant oily albimien enclosed 

 in a delicate white membrane (endopleura). Between the two 

 halves of the albumen are two foliaceous cotyledons, and a 

 short thick radicle. The structure of these parts closely 

 resembles that of the albumen and embryo oiRicinus communis^ 



Chemical composition^ — The fats present in croton oil are 

 glycerides of stearic, palmitic, myristic, and lauric acids, and of 

 several volatile acids of the same series, like acetic, butyric, and 



