N. O. PAPAVERACEjE. 
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 Mexican «. Some say that 
thirty minim? 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 do3e 
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. Its 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 the 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. ® a 0 
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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