American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

RICINUS. Ricinus communis.
Synonym—Castor Oil.
Part Employed—A fixed oil from the beans of the Ricinus Communis.
CONSTITUENTS—
The fixed oil, ricinoleic or ricinic acid, ricinolein, palmitin, starch,
mucilage, sugar.
PREPARATION—
In the preparation of castor oil the seeds are crushed, kiln-dried, and
subjected to a powerful pressure to remove the oil, which is heated in
water to remove albuminous matters and drawn off into barrels.
Cold-pressed castor oil, Oleum Ricini, is viscid, nearly or quite
transparent, with a mawkish odor and an offensive taste. Dose, from one
to eight drams.
Administration—The taste of castor oil is disgusting to many and
unpalatable to all. It is partially disguised when the dose is added to a
teacupful of hot milk and well stirred. Hot lemonade or hot coffee
disguises its taste to a certain extent. Wine, ale and beer are suggested,
probably because of a love for such auxiliaries.
Therapy—As a cathartic in domestic practice this agent has long taken
first rank. Children are susceptible to its action. An inunction of the oil
over the abdomen is usually sufficient to produce a full laxative effect
in babes. It may be continued from day to day for the cure of chronic
constipation in young children. A kneading or rubbing of the bowels
will stimulate peristaltic action and increase the influence of the oil.
When nervous irritation in children occurs with fever, from undigested
food or irritating substances in the stomach or bowels, a dose of castor oil
sufficient to produce free evacuation without pain may given at once. Its
action will usually remove the irritating causes, and the fever and nerve
irritation will quickly subside. Diarrheas induced from such causes are
at once controlled after its operation. It has a secondary action like
rhubarb, and constipation usually follows its use or a day or two.
In the treatment of dysentery it is good practice to thoroughly evacuate
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 381