RICINUS COMN1UNIS. Linn. Palma christi. Dhun-ul-kerwa, . ARAB. Brandi, . . . .
Tebsha, Zmjt, . . „ Sit Avanaka, . MALEAL.
Bharenda, . . . BENG. Avanak, MaLEAL, Tom. Kyet lesu, . . . BURR. Bed-i-anjir, . .
liarolu, . . . CAN. Malan', . . . SINGH.
Amor; . . . . CHEN. Chittamindialu, . . TEL. P'-i-ma, . . . . CIIIN.
A Sanskrit proverb, in the first book of the Hitopadesa, says that where there aro no tree's, even the enstor-oil plant ranks aa a forest tree.' Nevertheless it grows sufficiently large to produce wood, but it is chiefly remarkable for the beauty of its large spreading leaves, and the value of ita seeds, which yield castor-oil. Two varieties, one bearing small and the other largo ;coda, are pro duced all over India. The small-seeded variety yields the better product, and is employed in pre paring the oil exported for medicinal purposes.
Castor-oil of smaller fruit.
Borik . HIND. . Sestns, MAD.
Jarak , Mstor. Sitti-amunaku, . . TAW.
Tangan tangan, PHIL. Chittamindialu, . TEL.
The fresh seeds of the castor-oil plant, after having been sifted and cleaned from dust, stones, and all extraneous matters, slightly crushed be tween two rollers, and freed by hand from husk and coloured grains, are enclosed in clean gunny. They then receive a slight pres.sure in an oblong mould, which gives a uniform shape and density to the packet of seed. The bricks, as they are technically called, aro then placed alternately with plates of sheet-iron in water in an ordinary screw or hydraulic press. The oil thus procured is received in clean tin pans ; and water, in the pro portion of a pint to a. gallon of oil, being added, the whole is boiled until the water has evaporated ; the mucilage will be found to have subsided and encrusted the bottom of the pan, whilst the albumen, solidified by tho heat, forms a white layer between the oil and the water. Great care must be taken to remove the pan front the fire the instant the whole of the water has evaporated; which may be known by the bubbles Imving ceased ; for if allowed to remain longer, the oil, which has hitherto been of the temperature of boiling water, or 212°, suddenly rises to that of oil, or nearly GOO°, thereby heightening the colour and communicating an empyreumatie taste and odour. The oil is then filtered through blanket, flannel, or American drill, and put into cans for exportation. It is usually of a light straw-colour, sometimes approaching to a greenish tinge. The cleaned see& yield from 47 tc, 50 per cent. of oil, worth in England from 4d. to 5d. per lb.
This oil is chiefly used as a mild purgative. Soap of good quality may be made of it, but the cost and disagreeable smell which it communi cates preclude its general use. The clearness,
limpidness, and absence of any offensive amell are qualities that do not arise from any superiority of the seed or e,are in extraction, but from re peated decolorization with animal clutrcoa1,. and exposure to the sun's rays, which, in the opinion of many eminent medical men, considerably detracts front its strength and efficacy. When manufactured in the ordinary native mill. this pure oil is soinetimes used by the richer classes in Lumps. Castor-oil extracted hot differs from the preceding only in the mode of preparation. The seeds are boiled for two hours in water, dried for three days in the sun, freed from the shells, pounded, and then boiled in fresh water, until the whole of the oil has risen to the surface. Five seers of the seeds, or 13i lbs., should by this pro cess yield a quart of oil. This is the sort generally used in medicine by native practitioners ; it, is straw-coloured, and free from any unpleasant taste or smell. • Castor-oil or lamp-oil, larger fruit.
Chiragh-ka-tel, • HIND. I red amidum, . . . TEL. Vullak ennai,. . TAM. I ThiS is obtained from the large-seeded variety. It is sometimes drawn cold, and is then scarcely distinguishable in quality from the oil of the small seeded variety. It is, however, more usually extracted by heat, and forrns the common lamp oil of the bazar of S. India. Tho seeds having been partially roasted over a charcoal fire, both to coagulate the albumen and to liquify the oil, are then pounded and boiled in water until the oil rises to the surface. The roasting process, how ever, gives it a deep red colour and an. empyren matic odour. The price of this oil varies in different parts of the country from Rs. 1.10 to Rs. 3.13.6 per maund of 25 lbs. The average of 19 large stations in all parts of the Madras Presidency for the quarter ending 31st October 1854, was Rs. 2.3.6 per maund.
Besides the value of the castor-oil for internal use, the oil applied externally over the glands of the body, or dropped into the ear, largely increases their natural secretions. The leaves are applied to awellings as a discutient reniedy. A decoction of the leaves, and the expressed juice of the leaves, administered interu ally, have decided galactagogue properties ; and for increasing the breasts' secretion, the application of the warmed leaves, fomentation with the decoction of the leaves and poultices of the fresh leaves, are of decided value.—Lt. Ilawkes; M. B. J. 1?.; Cleg horn ; Powell's Handbook. See Castor-Oil.