NAT. ORDER. EUPHORBIACE^. 
133 
From the seeds of Jatropha glauca the Hindoos prepare, by careful 
expression, an oil which, from its stimulating quality, they recom- 
mend as an external application in cases of chronic rheumatism and 
paralytic affections. The seeds of Jatropha Carcas are purgative 
and occasionally emetic. An expressed oil is obtained from them 
which is reckoned a valuable external application in itch and herpes. 
It is also used, a little diluted, in chronic rheumatism. The varnish 
used by the Chinese for covering boxes is made by boiling this oil 
with oxide of iron. The leaves are considered as rubefacient and 
discutient ; the milky juice is supposed to have a detergent and 
healing quality, and dyes linen black. The roots of the Jatropha 
Manihot, Mandiocca, yields a flour of immense importance in South 
America. This is obtained by crushing the roots after the bark has 
been removed, and then straining off the water; after which the 
mass is gradually dried in pans over a fire. The seeds of several 
species of Jatropha are purgative, but they sometimes act so dan- 
gerously as to require extreme caution in administering them. Mer- 
curialis perennis is purgative and dangerous. It sometimes produ- 
ces violent vomiting, incessant diarrhoea, a burning heat in the head, 
a deep and long stupor, convulsions, and even death ; yet this very 
plant, when boiled, has been eaten as a pot-herb. The seeds of 
Omphalea are eaten safely if the embryo is first removed — if this is 
not done, they are cathartic. Both Pedilanthus tithymaloides and 
Padifolius are used medicinally in the West Indies. The former, 
known under the name of Ipecacuanha., is used for the same purpo- 
ses as that drug — the latter called the Jew Bush, or Milk Plant, is 
used in decoction of the recent plant as an antisyphilitic, and in cases 
of suppression of the menses. The purgative qualities of Ricinus, 
the Caster Oil plant, is well known ; the root is said to be diuretic. 
The juice of Sapium aucuparium is reputed poisonous. A case is 
mentioned by Tussac of a gardener whose nostrils became swollen 
and seized with erysipelatous phlegmasis, in consequence of the 
fumes only of this plant. The root of Tragia involucrata is reckoned 
