CROTON OIL. 87 



excellent cathartic ; it contains colocynth, aloes, scammony, soap, 

 and cardamoms ; — dose, 10 to 15 grs. 



Black Hellebore. — (Helleborus, U. S.) 



Root of the IMleborus niger, §^rowmg in the southeast part of Eu- 

 rope. Sometimes called the Chrisl?nas rose. The root as found in the 

 shops, consists of a knotted caudex, from which proceed numerous 

 black fibres, smooth and brittle : odour, slight ; taste, bitter and 

 nauseous ; becomes much feebler by being kept ; virtues to alcohol 

 and water. 



Effects. — A drastic hydragogue, also emmenagogue ; much used 

 by the ancients in mania ; not so much employed at present. It is 

 sometimes named Melampodium. Dose, 10 to 20 grs. ; — of the 

 tincture^ f^j. 



Gamboge. — (Gambogia, U. S.) 



Inspissated juice of the Hebradendron camhogioides, a native of 

 Ceylon and Siam. The juice is procured by breaking ofF the leaves 

 and young shoots ; at first it is of a yellow colour, but becomes a 

 dark orange by hardening. Usually found in cylindrical pieces, 

 many of which are hollow. Fracture glossy ; colour of powder, 

 bright yellow ,• no odour, and but slight taste ; forms with alcohol a 

 golden-coloured tincture, and with water a yellow turbid emulsion. 



Effects.— K powerful drastic cathartic ; overdoses dangerous. Dose, 

 3 to 6 grs., usually given in dropsy, combined with cream of tartar; 

 also in tape worm. 



Compound Cathartic Pill. — [PilhdcB catharticce composites, U. S.) 

 An admirable compound cathartic, containing calomel, scammony, 

 gamboge, colocynth, aloes, and jalap ; dose for an adult, three pills. 



Croton Oil. — (Oleum Tiglii, U. S.) 



Derived from the seeds of the Croton tiglii, a small tree growing 

 in the East Indies. The oil is procured by first roasting the seeds 

 and then subjecting them to pressure. As first obtained it is nearly 

 colourless ; but as found in the shops it has a yellowish-red hue ; 

 odour, faint and peculiar ; taste, acrid and burning ; partially soluble 

 in alcohol, which separates it into its constituent portions ; of these, 

 the acrid principle, called crotonic acid, is soluble, while the true oil, 

 which is a mild fixed oil, is not soluble. Most liable to be adulterated 

 with castor oil ; fraud detected by the solubility of the latter in alcohol. 



Effects.— One of the most powerful drastic cathartics ; overdoses 

 very dangerous ; applicable in obstinate constipation, and in coma ; 

 advantage from the smallness of the dose. ' Dose, 1 to 3 drops, best 

 given in form of pill made up with crumbs of bread, each containing 

 half a drop. Applied externally, it produces a pustular eruption, 

 and may be used as a revulsive, in diseases of the chest, &c. ; it 



