Botanic Remedies 285 



versally so. Castor oil is the glycerine ester of ricin- 

 oleic acid; its purgative properties are due to the 

 liberation of the acid. It increases the rate of 

 peristalsis in the small intestine. For a discussion 

 of ricin, the toxic agent of the bean s see "Pollen 

 Extracts." No ricin is found in the oil, the unpleas- 

 antness of which is due more to the odor than to 

 the taste. Castor oil is inert in the acid stomach 

 and does not become purgative until it reaches the 

 intestine. It is absorbed from the intestine, like 

 the nutritive oils. The oil is not toxic, even in 

 large quantity; the beans may give rise to a fatal 

 gastro-enteritis marked by collapse. The leaves, 

 applied to the breasts, are said to be galactagogue. 



THERAPEUTICS. A mild and much esteemed 

 laxative without side-action. It is THE post-partum 

 laxative, is very slightly irritating to hemorrhoids, 

 and is much valued as a laxative for children. With 

 Peruvian balsam, it is used as a surgical dressing. 

 Do not give with teniafuges soluble in oils. 



Average dose of the oil, 4 fluidrachms. 



RUBUS 



BLACKBERRY (bark of the rhizome), Rubus villosus 

 and other species. The fruit of the EUROPEAN 

 BLACKBERRY, R. fruticosus, is official in Italy and 

 Mexico, that of the RED RASPBERRY, R. Idaeus, in 

 three countries, and the R. villosus was official in 

 the U. S. P. VIII. 



Raspberry fruit is used to make a syrup for 

 flavoring purposes. Blackberry bark is tonic and 

 astringent and used in the treatment of diarrhea. 

 Fl. 15 minims, syrup 1 fluidrachm. 



