413 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



and will occasion catharsis in sucklings after administration to their 

 mothers, and after intravenous injection. The urine tnay be colored red 

 or yellow by its elimination. It is extremely doubtful if senna exerts 

 any influence on biliary secretion. 



Uses. — Senna is but rarely employed in veterinary medicine. It may 

 be used where a simple, vigorous cathartic is indicated in constipation, 

 or in cases of slight fecal accumulation. 



The drug acts more effectively when given in conjunction with salts. 

 The fluidextract, or an infusion made by pouring boiling water over the 

 leaves and allowing them to macerate until the water becomes cold, is 

 added to solutions of magnesium sulphate. This combination is more 

 suitable for cattle or sheep. The syrup or compound liquorice powder 

 may be given to dogs as a simple purgative in occasional or habitual con- 

 stipation. 



Class 2. — Drastic Purgatives 



Oleum Tiglii. Croton Oil. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Oleum crotonis, B. P.; huile de croton tiglium, Fr.; krotonol, G. 



A fixed oil expressed from the seed of Croton Tiglium Linne (nat. ord. 

 Euphorbiaceas) . 



Habitat. — India, Indian Archipelago, and Philippine Islands. Also cultivated. 



Properties. — A pale yellow or brownish-yellow, somewhat viscid, and some- 

 what fluorescent liquid, having a slight characteristic odor, and a mild, oily, after- 

 wards burning and acrid taste (great caution is necessary in tasting). Spec. gr. 

 0.935 to 0.950. When fresh it is soluble in about 60 parts of alcohol, the solubility 

 increasing by age. It is freely soluble in ether, chloroform, carbon disulphide, 

 and in fixed and volatile oils. 



Constituents. — 1, crotonoleic acid (CjHsOz), the purgative principle. A slight 

 amount is free in the oil but it is mostly formed in the bowels. It resembles 

 ricinoleic acid in its chemistry; 2, crotonol (CisHjjOi), a non-purgative body 

 causing irritation of the skin; 3, tiglinic acid (CbHsOj), and many volatile acids 

 existing as glycerides and accounting for the odor of croton oil; 4, free and com- 

 bined fatty acids. 



Dose.~H., nixv-xxx, (1-2); C, 3ss-i, (2-4); Sh. & Sw., ntv-x, (.3-.6); 

 D., Tn.ss-iii (.03-.18). 



Croton seeds resemble castor seeds in size, but are not mottled or shiny. They 

 are 13 mm. long by 8 mm. wide; oval in shape; white within, and possessing a 

 mild, mucilaginous taste at first, but soon becoming hot and sharp. They con- 

 tain from 50 to 60 per cent, of croton oil and a toxalbumin, crotin, which is, 

 however, less poisonous than the toxalbumin of castor oil seeds, ricin. 



Action External. — Croton oil is a most powerful irritant, causing 

 pain, redness and swelling of the skin, soon followed by vesicles and 

 pustules. Permanent destruction of the hair follicles succeeds with loss 

 of hair and cicatrices. When applied to the skin, injected into the blood 

 or under the skin, it is eliminated to some extent by the bowels, producing 

 purging; and sometimes by the kidneys, creating diuresis, irritation of 

 these organs and strangury. 



Action Internal. — The acrid, irritant, purgative principle of croton 

 oil is crotonoleic acid. Some already exists free in the oil while more is 

 formed by saponification or decomposition of the oil in the bile and alka- 

 line juices of the bowels into crotonoleic acid and glycerin. Croton oil 

 is an intense internal irritant. It increases the vascularity of the stomach 

 and bowels and in large doses creates gastro-enteritis. Medicinal doses 



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