nieal uses, irrespective of the value of its oil for medicinal 
purposes. The seeds contain about 50 per cent. oil. To 
obtain the best medicinal oil, hydraulic pressure should be 
employed, and the seeds not be subjected to heat ; the seed- 
coat should also be removed prior to the extracting process 
being proceeded with. A screw-press suffices however for 
ordinary supply to obtain the oil. By decantation and some 
process of filtration it is purified. Tor obtaining oil to be 
used for lubrication of machinery or other technologic pur- 
poses, the seeds may be pressed and prepared by various 
methods under application of heat and access of water. 
Castoroil is usually bleached simply by exposure to solar 
light, but this procedure lessens to some extent the laxative 
properties of the oil. It dissolves completely in waterless 
alcohol and in ether, and will become dissolved also in spirit 
of high strength, to the extent of three-fifths of the weight 
of the latter. Solutions of this kind may become valuable 
for various technic purposes, and afford some tests for the 
pureness of the oil. If pressed under heat it will depose 
margaritin. Heated in a retort about one-third of the oil 
will distil over, and a substance resembling india-rubber 
remains, which saponizes with alkalies. Other educts are 
at the same time obtained, which will likely become of indus- 
trial value. These facts are briefly mentioned here merely 
to explain, that the value of this easily produced oil is far 
more varied than is generally supposed, and this remark 
applies with equal force to many other chemical compounds 
from vegetable sources, briefly alluded to in this present 
enumerative treatise. The seeds contain also a peculiar 
alkaloid ; Eicinin. The solid chemic compound of Castor- 
oil is the crystalline Isocetin-Acid (a Glycerid). The oil 
contains also a non-crystalline acid peculiar to it (Eicin-acid). 
Tor the production of a particular kind of silk the Eicinus- 
plant is also important, inasmuch as the hardy Bombyx 
Cynthia requires for food the leaves of this bush. The 
value of Castoroil imported last year into Victoria was 
according to the Custom-returns not less than £23,755. 
Even a few of the seeds if swallowed, will produce poisonous 
effect. 
