546 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



oil is a galactagogue and is said to stimulate the secretion of 

 milk wlien the castor leaves are applied to the mammary- 

 glands. Castor oil is specially applicable in canine practice, 

 to unload the bowels, and in irritated conditions of the 

 digestive tract. It is useful in constipation only as an 

 occasional remedy, since it is followed by greater tendency 

 in this direction; also in overloaded bowels, indigestion, 

 diarrhoea, and pregnancy ; after the ingestion of foreign or 

 putrid matters; and to assist the action of anthelmintics. 

 Castor oil is inferior to linseed oil for horses, as a simple 

 laxative, because it is more prone to cause colicky pains, and 

 because it is more expensive. Castor oil is thought to be 

 notably useful in irritation and inflammation of the intestines 

 in these animals, however, as in diarrhoea, dysentery, and 

 enteritis ; and can be combined with anodynes and anti- 

 spasmodics to prevent griping. Two or three ounces of castor 

 oil are suitable for calves or foals with gastro-intestinal 

 disorders. One or two teaspoonfuls are suitable for poultry. 

 Administration. — Castor oil is given to dogs with syrupus 

 rhamni cathartici in the proportion of 1 ounce of the former 

 to 1 drachm of the latter ; or with glycerin (equal parts) and 

 a few drops of oil of wintergreen. It is administered to 

 puppies ( 3 i.-ii.) with an equal volume of sweet oil. Castor 

 oil may be exhibited to horses with oil of peppermint 

 (TTLxx); or in digestive irritation, in warm cooked flour 

 gruel with laudanum ( § ss.) and fluid extract belladonna 

 ( 3 i-) j to foals and calves with mucilage or gruel and 5 

 drops of oil of peppermint. 



Rhamnus Purshiana. (U. S. P.) Cascara Sagrada. (B. P.) 



Synonym. — California buckthorn, sacred bark, chittem 

 bark. 



The bark of Ehamnus Purshiana de Candolle (nat. ord. 

 Rhamnaceae). 



Habitat. — United States from northern Idaho west to 

 Pacific Ocean. 



