N. 0. PAPAVERACEiE. 81 



as a laxative medicine to some pulmonary affections than other 

 diseases. The oil is serviceable in some cases in which jalap, 

 rhubarb and castor-oil are indicated, and also in some bronchial 

 and catarrhal affections. The use of the root is attended with 

 benefit in some chronic cases of skin diseases. 



"There is a great difference in opinion as to the action 

 and dose of the oil of Argemone Mexieana. Some say that 

 thirty minims of it act as an efficient cathartic, while others 

 consider it to be quite inert and incapable of producing any- 

 purgative effect in " ounce doses." I have got this oil prepared 

 three or four times in my own presence, and tried it in many 

 cases. The former opinion is quite correct, and with regard to 

 the latter, it is necessary to say that the oil, so far from being 

 inert in " ounce doses," is unsafe in more than forty minim 

 doses, and produces a dangerous hypercatharsis when the dose 

 is increased to one drachm. If the oil is fresh, its average dose 

 is twenty-five minims ; and, if old, thirty-five. It is a good 

 drastic or hydragogue cathartic in such doses, and generally 

 produces from 5 to 12 motions. Ics advantage over jalap, 

 rhubarb, castor-oil, &c, is the smallness of its doses ; and over 

 the croton oil, its freeness from unpleasant, nauseous and acrid 

 taste. Its disadvantages as a purgative are, firstly, that its 

 action is not uniform even in its average dose which produces 

 more than fifteen or sixteen motions at one time, and only 

 three or four at another ; and, secondly, that it is generally 

 accompanied by vomiting at tlie commencement of its operation. 

 Though the latter is not severe, yet it has a very unpleasant 

 effect in a purgative medicine. Hypercatharsis from the use 

 of this oil is not generally attended with great debility and 

 other dangerous symptoms, frequently observed under a similar 

 condition from croton oil and some other purgatives." (Moodeen 

 Sheriff's Materia Medica of Madras). 



In the Concan, the juice with milk is given in leprosy. * * ® 

 An extract made from the whole plant has been found to have 

 an aperient action, and the milky juice to promote the healing 

 of indolent ulcers. I have not noticed any bad effects from 

 its application to the eyes. Its use as an external application 

 to the eyelids in conjunctivitis was probably introduced into 

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