119 



478. CROTON SUBEROSUM, continued. 



b. Bark in corky quills. (Corky Copalchi Bark, Chiquiqui 



Bark, Natri Bark, Quina Blanca of Mexico.) 

 Note. This specimen has no history attached to it, but is probably that 

 described by Stark in the P. J. [1], vol. ix., p. 463, since the label ascribes 

 it to the species to which he refers it, and gives the synonyms mentioned 

 by him. It is identical in taste and appearance with specimen a, and 

 not with the bark of Croton pseudo-China, Schlecht, to which Stark 

 refers it. 



479. CROTON SPECIES. 



a. Bark. 



Note. This specimen was presented by Mr. J. Collins. It was im- 

 ported from San Juan in Mexico, and offered for sale in London in 1869. 

 It is not bitter, and has a taste resembling that of Turkish oil of geranium 

 (oil of ginger grass). Its botanical source is unknown. 



b. Bark said to contain quinine. Presented by Mr. J. E. 



Howard. 



480. CROTON TIGLIUM, L. 



a. Seed. See Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plant*, tab. 239. 



b. Fixed oil, obtained from the seeds in England. {Croton 



Oil.) 



c. Ditto, imported. 



d. Croton cake, from which the oil has been expressed. 



e. Husks of the seed. 



Note. The oil expressed in England is more esteemed than that im- 

 ported from India. Pharmacographia, p. 509. The English oil is darker 

 in colour than the Indian. Hypercatharsis produced by croton oil may 

 be controlled by copious draughts of diluted lemon or lime juice or 

 vinegar. Ind. Pharm., p. 201. East Indian oil forms a milky mixture 

 with its own weight of alcohol (0-796), which ultimately separates ; but 

 English oil dissolves, and forms a clear solution under the same circum- 

 stances. Pereira suggests that the East Indian oil may be adulterated 

 with jatropha oil, which is not soluble in twenty-four parts of alcohol. 

 See Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 411. 







481. CURCAS PURGANS, L. (English Physic Nuts.) 



a. Seeds. (Physic Nuts, Polga Nuts, Pinlmro de Purga, 



Pinhao Paraguay.) Presented by Mr. Morson. 



b. Oil expressed from the seeds. (Oil of Wild Castor 



Seeds, Jatropha Oil.) 



Note. These seeds are in size and shape like those of the castor oil 

 plant, but have a dull, black, cracked surface. Christison states that 

 twelve to fifteen drops of the oil are equal to one ounce of castor oil, but 

 the action of the drug is uncertain. The oil is only sparingly soluble 

 in alcohol. See Ind. Pharm. , p. 203. The leaves have been used as a 

 cataplasm to produce lactagogue effects. For fig. of seed see Hut. dei Drag., 

 vol.ii., p. 355. See also Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 427 ; P. J. [1], 

 vol. v., p. 25 ; vol. vii., p. 210 ; [2] , vol. vii., p. 554. 



