GRAINS OF PARADISE 185 



opposite extremity. The outer, dull brownish layer is easily removed, 

 disclosing a hard dark coat ; in many commercial specimens the 

 friction of the seeds against one another has been sufficient partially 

 to effect this, giving the seeds a mottled appearance. 



The kernel is yellowish and oily, and consists of a large endosperm 

 enclosing papery cotyledons and a small radicle. 



The taste of the kernel, in ascertaining which great caution is 

 necessary, is at first oily, but this is succeeded by an unpleasant acridity ; 

 the seeds have no marked odour. 



The student should compare these seeds with castor seeds and 

 observe 



(a) The dull brownish outer layer, 



(b) The prominent line separating the ventral from the dorsal 



surface. 



Constituents. Croton seeds contain about 50 per cent, of fixed oil 

 which possesses violent cathartic and vesicant properties, due to a 

 resinous constituent, croton-resin (Dunstan, 1895). 



The seeds also contain the toxic albumoses cro ton -globulin and croton -albumin, 

 which together are also known as crotin, and resemble ricin. Croton oil is 

 brownish yellow and slightly fluorescent ; it is soluble in less than its own volume 

 of absolute alcohol, but on further addition of alcohol two layers are formed, 

 the active constituent of the oil being contained in the alcoholic layer. The 

 solubility appears to depend on the proportion of free acid present and to increase 

 with the age of the oil. See also ' Croton Oil.' 



Uses. Croton oil is a powerful irritant, producing, when applied 

 to the skin, a burning sensation and redness, followed by severe pustules ; 

 it is used, diluted, as a counter-irritant. Internally it is a very rapid, 

 drastic cathartic, and is given in certain cases of apoplexy. 



GRAINS OF PARADISE 

 (Guinea Grains, Grana Paradisi) 



Source, &C. Grains of paradise are the seeds of Amomum Melegueta, 

 Roscoe (N.O. Scitaminece) , a herb attaining about 1-5 metres in height, 

 indigenous to the west coast of Africa. These seeds were much 

 esteemed as a spice in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries ; the country 

 from which they were derived being unknown, they were called ' grains 

 of paradise.' At that time they were imported from Tripoli, whither 

 they had made the land journey from West Africa. Subsequently 

 they were brought direct from the west coast of Africa to Portugal 

 by Portuguese traders. They are now imported from West Africa. 



The plant produces an ovoid pointed fruit about 10 cm. long, con- 

 taining a large number of small seeds. 



