Ricinus Communis

{OmtoT Oil.)

Pharmacoloot. — This oil ia obtained from the castor oil bean, by ex- pression. (i'V'r description of the plant, see Sicinus Communis.)

Officinal Pbeparatiobb, — Trituration with fine sugar of mill;. 3 L to Si.

AHAL0aUB8.~ {?).

{Fragmentavy proving^.)

* Diarrhcea of children or adults, yellow, semi-fluid, papeseent,

of a peculiar ftetid odor, with some griping (primary).

* Dysentery, in first stage, with frequent desire and ineffectual

urging or evacuations of hard, small balls, with a little mucus and blood. " Summer complaints of children.

* Diarrhcea from indigestion or teething, catching cold, etc.

" Chronic, obstinate diarrhfeas, which have resisted all other remedies.

(See Therwpeuiics, YcL II.)

{Oaelor Oil Plant.)

Botanical Description Ricinus Communis, the Castor Oil huh, in the United States, is a herbaeeoas annaal, with a white, frosted or glaucous hollow, smooth stem, of a purplish-red color npward. The leaitea are large, alternate, deeply divided intoseven or ninelanceolate segments, peltate, pal- mate, serrate, from four to twelve lines in diameter, and ou long, tapering, purplish petioles, The.^ow^»'«mlong,greeii,andglaucous spikes, springiug from the divisions of the branches; the males from tJio lower part of the spike, the females from the upper.

The eapmiXe is prickly, three celled, three seeded. The aeds are ovate, shining black, dotted with gray.

HiSTQKT. — Ricinus Communis, or Palma Olmsti. is an East Indiau plant; In which country It attains the size of a tree. In the United States, where it has become naturalized, it seldom grows higher than eight or ten feet ; flowers in July and August, and matures its seeds in August and Septem- ber- The fixed oil of the seeds is the Castor Oil of the shops.

Offigimal Prepabatioms. — Tincture of the leaves; FI. Extract of the eaves.

AiJALOauEH. — Cale.carb(f) Coriandsr(?) Urtieai,?) PvUatilla{!) {JTo proving^.)

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KOBINIA PSEtTDO-ACAOIA, 551

The application of b, poultice of Hie leaves of tlie plant to tlie hreasta of women, even thoae who have never borne children, eautes a seeretioji of

° Scanty, or suppressed secretion of milk, in nureiiig women. {See Tkerapmlice.)