222 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



ovary, 3 locules each with 1 ovule, covered like the leaves with 

 hairs and yellow, granular glands. Seed vessel globose, 3- 

 celled, like ovary covered with hairs and glands. 



Habitat. — Mountains of Morong, San Mateo, Tarlak, 

 Bosoboso, Ilocos Norte, Albay and Batangas. 



Ricinus communis, L. (Variety microcarpus, Mull.) 



Nom. Yulg. — Tagantagan, Ligasina, Tag.; Tagantagan, 

 Tawatawasiga, Hoc; Castor Oil Plant, Eng. 



Uses. — A purgative oil is expressed from the seeds, called 

 " Aceite de Ilicino " (castor oil). It operates mechanically in 

 the intestinal tract and its action is rapid and is indicated 

 whenever it is desired simply to empty the intestines without 

 producing any irritating effect ; it is, therefore, a purgative 

 indicated in diseases of children, in pregnancy, and in hemor- 

 rhoidal congestions where a non-irritating evacuation of the 

 rectum is desired. It is an anthelmintic, though not ordinarily 

 given alone, but in combination with other drugs of a purely 

 anthelmintic action, the object being to expel the worms which 

 have been attacked by the specific. 



Oil extracted simply by expression is less purgative than 

 that obtained by treating the seeds with bisulphide of carbon 

 and absolute alcohol ; also less purgative than the seeds them- 

 selves, because it contains only a very small proportion of a dras- 

 tic principle existing exclusively in the seeds ; this principle 

 is completely dissolved in the oil extracted by chemical process. 



It is pale yellow in color, very viscid, with a characteristic 

 mouldy odor. The purgative dose is 10-30 grams. A small 

 dose may purge as actively as a larger one provided that 

 the patient drink abundantly after the administration of the 

 drug. The best method of disguising its taste is by giving it 

 in half a cup of very strong, hot coffee. Just before the dose, 

 take a swallow of coffee to disguise the taste even more effec- 

 tually. 



