A MILD PURGATIVE 451 



membranes. In vitro ricin has a characteristic action on 

 blood, causing an agglutination or clumping of the red 

 corpuscles, so that they will not pass through a filter. 

 Ricin is interesting because it was by means of experiments 

 with this agent that Ehrlich discovered many facts relating 

 to immunity and serum-therapy. A decoction of the leaves 

 is applied by the women of South Africa to their breasts to 

 increase the lacteal secretion. The oil is a mild purgative, 

 closely resembling linseed and the other fixed oils. 



MEDICINAL USES. The oil, emulsified mainly by the 

 alkaline bile, is in part absorbed ; but the greater amount, 

 little changed, passes through the bowels, increases both 

 secretion and peristalsis, rarely causes griping, and imparts 

 to the dejections a glazed appearance. 



For horses it is a mild cathartic, prescribed in diarrhoea, 

 dysentery, enteritis, and peritonitis ; in hernia, advanced 

 pregnancy, affections of the kidneys and bladder ; in pur- 

 pura and bilious influenza, when more drastic purgatives 

 might unduly irritate, or where repeated doses require to be 

 given. It has no cholagogue action, nor is it a vermicide ; 

 its occasional effect as a vermifuge depends upon its pur- 

 gative action. Foals and calves, for several days after birth, 

 sometimes have no movement of the bowels, and the re- 

 moval of obstructing masses of meconium, and a natural 

 action of the intestine, are best secured by administration 

 of castor oil and enemata. 



In cattle practice it is useful in diarrhoea, and inflamma- 

 tion of the digestive organs, and, united with Epsom salt, in 

 doses of eight to twelve ounces of each, produces prompt 

 and certain effects. For young calves it is the best of 

 purgatives. 



In the dog it is more active than in man, and for delicate 

 subjects a mixture of equal quantities of castor and olive oils 

 is often used. It occasionally causes emesis, an effect which 

 results from its nauseous oleaginous taste, and not from any 

 specific emetic action. This may be obviated by giving oil 

 of good quality and mixed with an egg, mucilage, and a little 

 ether. It proves a safe and easy purge for pigs, and also for 

 poultry. 



The bruised seeds are much used by native Indian farriers 



