297 
NOTES ON THE MEDICINAL PKOPERTIES OF THE THISTLE-OIL, OR OIL 
EXTRACTED FROM THE SEED OF THE ARGEMONE MEXICAN A. 
BY E. BONA VIA, M.D., CIVIL ASSISTANT-SURGEON, LUCKNOW. 
Baboo Ivanny Loll Dey, in his paper about indigenous drugs, published in the ‘ Indian 
Medical Gazette’ (No. 7, of 1st July last, page 197), has given a faint idea of the medi¬ 
cinal properties of the oil of Argemone Mexicana, Linn, (called in Bengal She-cd Kanta, 
and in Upper India Kariuali). He was not aware that a number of experiments have 
been made in Oudb, which prove it to be a much more useful oil than for the mere pur¬ 
poses of burning. 
Some time ago I read in Simmouds’s ‘ Commercial Products of the Vegetable King¬ 
dom,’page G26, that “in Nevis (one of the Caribbean Islands), the oil of Argemone 
Mexicana, called ‘ ihisile-oil,’ is sold in one-ounce phials at a quarter of a dollar each 
(that is, about 8 annas an ounce). The usual dose for dry belly-ache is 30 drops upon a 
lump of sugar, and its effect is perfectly magical, relieving pain instantaneously, throw¬ 
ing the patient into a profound and refreshing sleep, and in a few hours relieving the 
bowels gently of their contents. This oil seems fitted to compete in utility with the far 
more costly and less agreeable oil of croton.” Mr. Simmonds further states that “Dr. 
Hamilton, of Plymouth, recently brought under the notice of the profession the medical 
properties of the prickly poppy, or Mexican thistle (^Argemone Mexicana).” 
Knowing that this plant grows plentifully all about Lucknow, and in fact in most 
parts of India, I determined to make some experiments with the oil of its seed, in order 
to ascertain whether the oil from the East Indian plant had the same effects as that of 
the West Indies. I got a quantity of seed collected, and had the oil extracted. I tried 
it in various cases of colic accompanied with constipation. It often gave relief and 
moved the bowels, but these effects are not always produced. Sometimes, too, a second 
dose is required. I understood that in LTpper India natives were in the habit of using it 
for an affection of the skin wLich they call dad. I tried the oil externally in all the 
dilds Avhich came under my notice, and I cannot remember one in which the itchincss 
was not removed, and the affection cured. The dad is a skin affection which appears 
about the waist where the “ dhotoe is tightly bound, and occurs mostly among Hin¬ 
doos. The oil is rubbed twice or thrice a clay on the affected part. A short time ago a 
patient came into my hospital with a pustular eruption all around his waist, and patches 
of it on his right thigh. It was very painful and troublesome. I got the seed of this 
plant pounded and mixed with a little flour and vrater, and made into a soft paste. This 
was plastered all over the pustular eruption ; it had a very good effect. In about a week 
the man was quite well, and all the pustules had healed and left a clean skin. 
In May, 1865, I addressed the Chief Cojnmissioner of Oudh, suggesting that this oil 
should be tried in the various dispensaries of Oudh. I furnished them with the oil, and 
the following is the result of some of the experiments:— 
Dr. "Whishaw, of Fyzabad, and Dr. Jamieson, of Hurdui, reported that it acted as a 
mild purgative. The former stated that it would be a useful addition to the Pharma¬ 
copoeia ; the latter stated that he used it instead of castor oil, and it had the advantage 
of not being half so nasty to swalloiv. 
From Pertabgurh it was reported that the thistle-oil had been tried in the dispensary 
of that district on 90 patients, said to have been suffering from colic. In 73 of the 
number it was successful, in 17 cases it was not. 
From Roy Bareilly Dr. Baines Reid reported that “ it had been given in cases of colic, 
in doses varying from 30 drops to 2 drachms, repeated if necessary. The smaller dose 
was generally successful, quickly relieving the pain and acting mildly on the bowels ; 
but it sometimes causes purging and vomiting.” “In my own practice,” he says, 
“ among Europeans, I have not been successful in its use. On three occasiouG, when 
given as a purgative in doses of 20 drops, it caused violent vomiting with long-continued 
nausea. The native doctor has used it successfully in cases of itch, but unfortunately 
not by itself. The oil made in the jail at Roy Bareilly appears similar in its properties, 
and has been given with the like results. 
# 
Cotton cloth with which ufitives cover the middle part of their bodies. 
VOL. viir. 
X 
