32 
.CROTOI4 TIGLIUM. 
Where patients are incapable of swallowing, a drop or two let fall 
upon the tongue will, in general, operate powerfully ; and a few 
drops rubbed round the umbflicus, have produced a purgative 
eftect.* 
The experiments of Mr. Frost and Dr. Nimmo go to ascertain the 
quantum of active matter, in a given quantity of the seeds ; and 
also the purity of the oil, commonly sold as croton oil ; and, from 
their experiments, it appears that the oil of commerce is usually very 
much adulterated, and differing in strength nearly ten-fold : the 
consequence of prescribing a medicine of such unequal powers must 
be obvious. 
Chemical Properties and Analysis. According to the 
experiments of Mr. Frost, one hundred grains of the seeds consist of 
.32 shell, 68 kernel. " One hundred grains of the seed were digested 
" in three drachms of sulphuric aether, sp. grav. 71, and afforded 
*' 25 grains of fixed oil. Thirty-two grains of the oil were put into 
a Florence cask, containing some alcohol previously digested on 
" olive oil, to prevent the spirit from dissolving any of the oil of the 
" Croton Tiglium seed. The mixture was now agitated, and then 
" passed through a filter containing carbonate of ammonia 3 the 
" filtered solution was then evaporated without heat, and yielded — 
*' Active matter (soluble in alcohol and aether) combined with a 
" very small portion of fixed oil grs. 
" Inert fixed oil 23.5 
32 grs."t 
Dr. Nimmo, of Glasgow, has found 100 parts of this oil to con- 
sist of 45 per cent, of an acrid purgative principle, soluble in 
volatile and fixed oils, alcohol and sulphuric aether ; and 55 per 
cent, of a bland oil, (resembhng oil of olives,) insoluble in alcohol. 
The croton oil of commerce being very generally adulterated 
with some of the cheaper fixed oils. Dr. Nimmo has made some 
experiments for the purpose of detecting this fraud. Dr. Nimmo 
digested the suspected oil in alcohol, which will dissolve a less pro- 
portion, if mixed with olive oil, and a larger proportion if adulterated 
with castor oil; but it is evident, the test must fail, if the adultera- 
tion were with a combination of both oils. 
Off. The oil expressed from seeds. 
* Ainslie's Materia Medica. 
t Vide Jjancet, vol. is. 
