R 1 C 
small spines; rind herbaceous, thin ; the three component 
parts or cells (cocculj) ovate, papery, on one side convex 
with a dorsal streak, on the other angular and perforated with 
a cordate hole below the tip. Receptacle columnar, three- 
cornered, widening above, entering by a triple blunt end 
the ventral perforations of the cells. Seeds solitary, ovate, 
convex on one side, very bluntly angular on the other, 
smooth, somewhat shining, sometimes livid with cloudy 
spots, sometimes variegated like the abdomen of the spider 
with white lines, dots and stains on a testaceous or brown 
ground; on the top is a fungous thick white umbilicus or 
navel. 
Loureiro describes the stem as eight feet high, upright, 
round, of an even surface, with a few spreading branches. 
This plant, which in our gardens is annual and herbace¬ 
ous, in Africa becomes a tree. In Candia it continues 
many years, and according to Belon, requires a ladder to 
come at the seeds. Clusius relates, that he observed it in 
Spain, of the size of the human body, and the height of 
three men. And Ray saw it in Sicily, frequent in the 
hedges, as big as our common elder trees, woody, and long- 
lived. 
The several varieties are natives of the East and West 
Indies, China, Cochinchina, and Japan, about Tripoli in 
Syria ; Africa, and the South of Europe. 
It was cultivated in England in 1562, as appears from 
Turner’s herbal. It flowers here in July and August. 
The oil extracted from the seeds of this plant, and known 
by the name of oleum ricini, in frequent use, is a quick but 
gentle purgative. The London College direct this oil to be 
expressed from the seeds in the same way as that of almonds, 
and without the assistance of heat, by which method it would 
seem to be obtained in the purest state: but this method is 
seldom practised, and the oil usually employed here is 
imported from the West Indies, where it is commonly pre¬ 
pared by freeing the seeds from the husks, bruising them in 
a mortar, tying them up in a linen bag, throwing them into 
a large pot, with about, eight gallons pf water to one gallon 
of seeds, and boiling them till the oil is risen to the sur¬ 
face, when it is carefully skimmed off, strained and kept 
for use. , 
Dr. Cullen observes with justice, that castor oil, when the 
stomach can be reconciled to it, is one of the most agreea¬ 
ble purgatives we can employ. It has these advantages, 
that it commonly operates in two or three hours, seldom 
gripes, and is generally moderate in its operation: it is par¬ 
ticularly suited to cases of costiveness, and even of spasmodic 
colic ; is one of the most certain remedies in the colica pic- 
tonum. 
The ricinus is called oil-nut tree in our West Indian 
islands, and the oil is burned in the boiling-house lamps, 
by many of the sugar planters. The roots are looked upon 
as strong diuretics, and the leaves are generally used to dress 
blisters. 
In China, the oil is rendered esculent and palatable, but 
is seldom used in medicine. 
In Japan, the seeds pounded with Moxa and Touche (Japan 
ink) together, are put into a little, box or case, over which a 
piece of silk is stretched, and that is besmeared with oil, 
that the powder underneath may be moistened by it. When - 
ever a Japannese has occasion to put his seal, which is often 
curiously wrought in horn, to any thing, he flrst dips the 
seal into this box, and then impresses it upon the writing. 
Thus this powder supplies the place of printer’s ink. 
3. Ricinus tanarius. Leaves peltate, repand.—4. Ricinus 
mappa. Leaves peltate, undivided.—5. Ricinus apelta. 
Leaves petioled at the base, conical, quite entire.—6. Ri- 
ciuus dioicus. Dioecous, leaves cordate, acuminate. 
Propagation and Culture .—These plants are generally 
annuals in these countries, though in their native places of 
growth they continue longer; and in England the plants 
are often preserved through the winter, but young plants 
are much preferable to those which are thus preserved; 
therefore few persons ate at the trouble to keep them, unless 
when the seasons proye so bad as that their seeds do not 
Vol. XXII. No. I486. 
R I C 89; 
ripen, whereby the species might be lost, if the plants are 
not preserved through the winter. > 
These 'plants are propagated by seeds, which must be 
sown upon a hot-bed in the spring, and when the plants are 
come up, they should be each planted into a separate pot, 
filled with light fresh earth, and plunged into a fresh hot-bed, 
observing to water and shade them until they have taken 
root; after which they must have a great share of free air 
when the season is mild. 
These plants deserve a place in every curious garden for 
the singular beauty of their leaves (notwithstanding their 
flowers make no great appearance), especially those which 
may be propagated every year from seeds; because those 
persons who have no green house to place them into in 
winter, may cultivate them as other annual plants, amongst 
which these being placed either in pots or on borders, afford 
an agreeable variety; but it must be observed, as these are 
large growing plants, never to place them too near others of 
less growth, because they will overbear and destroy them; 
and those which are planted in pots, should be allowed room 
for their roots to spread, and must be frequently watered, 
otherwise they will not grow very large. 
RICIUS (Paul), a celebrated converted Jew, who flou¬ 
rished in the 16th century, was a native of Germany, con¬ 
cerning the date of whose birth or death we have no infor¬ 
mation. He became professor of philosophy at the Uni¬ 
versity of Pavia, and conducted himself with such abilty in 
that department, that he acquired great reputation, and 
secured the esteem of many learned men. He appears 
to have graduated in medicine, and was so powerfully 
recommended to the Emperor Maximilian, that he was sent 
for by that prince, and appointed his physician. He engaged 
in a controversy with the famous Eckius concerning the philo¬ 
sophical question, whether the heavens are animated, or 
have a soul ? the affirmative of which he defended. He also 
published several books against the Jews, which reflected 
great honour on his 'learning, moderation, and candour. 
On his merits as a scholar and a man, Erasmus has passed a 
high encomium. Ricius was the author of “ Lib. iv. de. 
Cselesti agricultura“ De Talmudseorum Codice excerpta 
Farrago “De Novenario Doctrinse ordine, etde Aristo- 
tolici Dogmatis Cohaerentia et Nexu“ De Modo inda- 
gandi statuendique cujuslibet Scientiae Subjectum with 
many others, which were collected together and printed 
in a folio volume.at Augsburg, in the year 1541. Bayle. 
RICK, s. [usually reck in our old books, picj hpic. Sax. 
a heap; hr auk, Icel. from hreilca, to pile a heap, according 
to Serenius ; from the Goth, rikjan, to rake together, accor¬ 
ding to Mr. H. Tooke. See also Reek.] A pile of corn or hay 
regularly heaped up in the open field, and sheltered from wet. 
An inundation 
O’erflowed a farmer’s barn and stable; 
Whole ricks of hay and stacks of corn 
Were down the sudden current borne. Swift. 
A heap of corn or hay piled by the gatherer.—In the 
North they bind them up in small bundles, and make small 
ricks of them in the field. Mortimer. 
RICKEllBY, a hamlet of England, in Cumberland, in 
the vicinity of Carlisle. 
RI'CKETS, s. [ rachitis , Lat ] A disease of children. 
Its nature and cure are expounded in the article Patho¬ 
logy. 
O were my pupil fairly knocked o’ th’ head, 
I should possess th’ estate, if he were dead; 
He’s so far gone with rickets and th’ evil, 
That one small dose will send him to the devil. Dryden. 
RI'CKETY, adj. Diseased with the rickets —In a young 
animal, when the solids are too lax, the case of rickety chil¬ 
dren, the diet should be gently astringent. Arbuthnot.- 
RICKINGHALL INFERIOR, a parish of England, in 
Suffolk; 13-j miles north-east-by-east of Bury St. Edmund’s. 
Population 400. 
RICKINGHALL SUPERIOR, a parish of England, in 
Suffolk; miles west-by-north of Eye. Population 568. 
2 A RICKLING, 
