120 PHARMACOPEIAL DRUGS 



"Macerate an orange or lemon in oil of tilli (croton 

 oil) for one month. Remove it, hold to the nostrils 

 and inhale the breath; soon afterwards the bowels will 

 move." 



About 1750, CoKausen, according to several author- 

 ities, employed croton oil with success in cases of tsenia. 



Although during the 17th and 18th centuries the 

 remedy had been frequently used, it seems that toward 

 the end of the 18th century it fell into oblivion, probably 

 on account of its energetic action. However, its use 

 was revived when in 1812 several English physicians, 

 among them Drs. White and Marshall, observed the 

 action of -the seed hi medical practice in India, and 

 brought the drug again to the notice of the profession 

 in Europe. (209). Ainslie in 1813, and Conwell in 

 1819, by their publications, gave it further prominence. 

 In connection with its reintroduction, we note the inter- 

 esting fact that a Mr. Short then brought the drug to 

 Europe, and was so fortunate as to secure the right 

 (license) to its exclusive sale in England. That it at 

 once became an important drug is shown by the atten- 

 tion then given it hi medical literature. An extensive 

 list of references to the literature of Croton Tiglium, 

 covering the period from 1820 to 1835 alone, may be 

 found hi Hirschheydt's dissertation (318a). According 

 to this authority, (1890), the seeds and the oil are sel- 

 dom used in Europe, other than in veterinary practice, 

 as he states, on account of the uncontrollable influence 

 exerted by the presence of the powerfully toxic ritin 

 (an albuminoid body), in the oil. 1 



As already stated, the genus croton was established 



1 In the opinion of the historian, this valuable cathartic is discredited because alone it 

 ia in even moderate doses very aggressive. With proper condiments, and other laxative 

 , a different i 



