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DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



CROTON, L. Flowers monoecious ; calyx of the staminate flowers 

 4;-5-parted, cylindric, and valvate in the bud; corolla, with petals cor-, 

 responding to the division of the calyx, small ; stamens 5 to 20 ; calyx 

 of the pistillate flower 5-, sometimes 8-parted ; corolla minute, some- 

 times wanting; styles 3-forked, sometimes compound-forked; seed- 

 vessel 3-lobed, with 3 cells; cells 1-seeded. Plant downy and 

 aromatic. 



C. tiglium, L. (Croton-oil Plant.) 

 Leaves alternate, acuminate, serrate. 



Stem 15 to 20 feet in height, erect. 



smooth, with 2 glands at the base ; 

 petioles shorter than the 

 blade. Flowers in terminal 

 racemes. Fruit 3-celled ; 

 cells 1-seeded. 



There are about 500 

 species. 



Geography. — The C. ti- 

 glium has a narrow geo- 

 graphical range ; it is tropi- 

 cal and subtropical. It is 

 under cultivation in south- 

 ern Hindustan and the East 

 India islands. 



Etymology. — Croton is 

 from the Greek word Kponiv, 

 a tick, — because the seed 

 in shape resembles the 

 sheep-tick. Tiglium, the 

 specific name, is of obscure 

 signification. 



History. — The Croton 

 tiglium was described by 

 Acosta in 1 578, and the seeds 

 came in use as a purgative 

 medicine under the name of 

 grana tiglii in the seven- 

 teenth century, but fell into 

 disuse. In 1812 the Enghsh physicians in India revived its use, and a 

 few years afterwards the expressed oil was brought to the notice of medical 

 men. 



Chemistry. — The oil is about the consistency of castor oil,^ and is ob- 

 tained from the seeds by pressure. Chemists have thus far failed to obtain 

 the substance which gives efficacy to the oil. Its chemical formula is 

 C9H14O2. 



Use. — Croton oil is used sparingly, and administered with great caution in 

 very small doses as a purgative after other remedies have proved ineffective. 

 One drop mixed with olive or some other sweet oil is a full dose; a drop 

 placed upon the tongue produces irritation throughout the entire intestinal 

 canal ; a few drops mixed with olive oil applied to the surface of the body 

 cause an almost immediate eruption of the cuticle. It is used for a counter- 

 irritant. 



Croton tiglium (Croton-oil). 



