AND MEDICINAL USES 455 



sometimes the lungs are congested, and occasionally they 

 are inflamed. 



MEDICINAL USES. Croton is used as an active hydragogue 

 cathartic for cattle suffering from gastric impaction and 

 other forms of constipation, and from indigestion associated 

 with phrenitis or other disordered state of the nervous 

 system. It is serviceable where bulky medicines are in- 

 admissible, where animals are unmanageable, or have diffi- 

 culty in swallowing, where it is requisite promptly to produce 

 copious fluid evacuations and extensive counter-irritation. 

 It is contra-indicated in young and delicate subjects, in all 

 debilitating complaints, and wherever any portion of the 

 alimentary canal is in an irritable or congested state. The 

 effects of overdoses are abated by demulcents and opium, 

 given by the mouth and rectum, by hot cloths to the 

 abdomen, and, if need be, by stimulants to counteract 

 depression. 



As a counter-irritant its effects may be regulated by 

 diluting it. When undiluted it is too irritant either for 

 horses or dogs ; but is less apt either to purge or blemish 

 cattle, to which it is occasionally applied in laryngitis, 

 chronic glandular enlargements, and articular rheumatism. 



DOSES, etc. Ten or twelve seeds, which, allowing three 

 grains for each, weigh from thirty to thirty-six grains, form 

 the dose for the horse, fifteen to twenty seeds for cattle, 

 three or four for sheep, two or three for pigs, and one or 

 two for dogs. The dose of croton oil for the horse is Tl\x. 

 to H\xx. ; for cattle, f3ss. to f3J. ; for sheep and swine, 

 ll\v. to 1\x. ; and for the dog, Tl\i. to ff\iij. The bruised 

 seeds and the oil are administered made into bolus with 

 linseed meal, or dissolved in castor or linseed oil or mucilage. 

 They are less irritating and more certain and regular when 

 conjoined with other purgatives. In obstinate constipa- 

 tion or torpidity of the bowels of cattle, half doses are given, 

 with twenty or thirty grains of calomel, a pound of salts, 

 or a pint of linseed oil ; and few purgative mixtures are more 

 effectual. The oil is sometimes dropped on the tongue, 

 but, unless freely diluted, is apt to irritate both tongue and 

 fauces. For external purposes it is dissolved in six or 

 eight parts of bland oil or soap liniment. Small quantities 



