328 MATER i A MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



Internally. Castor oil is perfectly non-irritant if pure, 

 until it reaches the duodenum, where it is decomposed by the 

 pancreatic juice, and the ricinoleic acid at once comes into 

 action. If the oil be rancid, irritation of the stomach will 

 cause nausea and vomiting. 



Castor oil is a simple purgative, at once rapid and certain, 

 mild and painless, producing one or more liquid but not 

 watery stools in four to six hours, followed by a sedative 

 effect. It is believed to stimulate the muscular coat and in- 

 testinal glands, but not the liver. It also purges when given 

 as enema. 



Castor oil is used as the best of all simple purgatives 

 when a free evacuation of the bowels only is desired. It can 

 be given in all conditions where a laxative is permissible, and 

 is therefore specially employed in the treatment of diarrhoea 

 due to the presence of indigestible or undigested food in the 

 bowels, in the constipation of typhoid fever, after abdominal 

 operations, in pregnancy, and post-partum. It is a valuable 

 purgative for children and for the old and infirm. In some 

 forms of indigestion in infants, and of chronic obstruction of 

 the bowels, small doses (5 min. for an infant), may be given 

 three or four times a day for days or even weeks, as an emul- 

 sion, with the best result. Small doses of tincture of opium are 

 sometimes combined with castor oil. 



2. ACTION ON THE BLOOD ; SPECIFIC, AND REMOTE LOCAL ACTION. 



Ricinoleic acid enters the blood and tissues, and leaves the 

 body in the excretions, including the milk, which purges the 

 infant at the breast. 



The Leaves of the Castor Oil Tree, applied locally to the 

 mamma as a poultice, are said to be galactagogue. 



Kmimla KAMALA. A powder which consists of 

 the minute glands that cover the capsules of Rottlera 

 tinctoria. Imported from India. 



Characters. A fine granular mobile brick-red powder, with 

 little odour or taste ; difficult to mix with water ; mainly solu- 

 ble in alcohol and ether, the residue consisting principally of 

 tufted hairs. 



Impurities. Sand or earth. Resembles Oxide and Iodide of 

 Mercury, but is not heavy. 



Composition. Kamala contains an active resin, rottlerin, 

 allied to coussin (see Cusso\ tannin, red colouring matter, etc. 



Dose. 30 gr. to oz., as an electuary with tamarinds. 



