Castor oil

“ When agitated with it, the mixture becomes turbid, but if it be allowed to settle the oil collects by itself upon the surface. This method of washing is often employed to purify oils. Oils are little soluble in alcohol, except at high temperatures. Castor oil is the only one which dissolves in cold alcohol. Ether, however, is an excellent solvent of oils, and is therefore employed to extract them from other bodies in analysis; after which it is withdrawn by distillation.
Fat oils may be exposed to a considerably high temperature, without undergoing much alteration ”

“ In my opinion says a writer in ‘Autocar’ castor oil can only be used in fixed cylinders with impunity for short distances and then with repeated cleanings between runs, but on rotary engines of the Gnome type cleaning is almost unnecessary. The reason is that one cannot consistently use castor oil over and over again, for the fact is indisputable that it has a far greater tendency than mineral oils to absorb oxygen, and so gradually to increase in body and finally to gum. ”

“ The sick man is struck with horror at the thought of castor oil—he can never endure it; but he will swallow, without reluctance, one-fiftieth of a grain of elaterin which is ten times more powerful than an ordinary dose of castor oil. ”

“ Other vegetable oils may be employed besides castor oil, and the quantity of unsaponified oil present may be increased by stirring the prepared liquid with a fresh quantity of castor or other vegetable oil. The product is slightly alkaline, but wool fiber is not injured, as the oiling may be done in the cold. The solution is clear and limpid, and will not separate out on standing like an emulsion. This product in spinning gives a 10 per cent better utilization of the raw material owing to the greater evenness and regularity with which the fibers are oiled; in weaving less oiling is required. ”

“ L. E. D.—The oil, commonly called nut or castor oil, is got by expression, retains somewhat of the mawkishness and acrimony of the nut; but is, in general, a safe and mild laxative in cases where we wish to avoid irritation, as in those of colic, calculus, gonorrhoea, &c. and some likewise use it as a purgative in worm-cases. Half an ounce or an ounce commonly answers with an adult, and a dram or two with an infant. The castor oil which is imported is not so good as the expressed oil from the nut made in this country. The disagreeable taste is from the coats of the seeds ”

“ In most cases, the tænia is expelled in the course of the day, but if this does not occur, the same doses of the oil are given in the same way, and followed by a similar quantity of the castor oil. The fatty oil of fern, has an æthereal and empyreumatic smell; its colour is brown, and its consistence rather greater than that of castor oil; it is, however, easier to separate in drops. ”

“ Castor-oil, when good, is of a light amber or straw colour, inclining to a greenish cast. That which has the least smell, taste, and colour, is considered the mildest. The necessity of some attention to these signs may appear, when I state that I once took seven ounces of this oil in successive doses, and do verily believe that I might have continued to this present hour taking, daily, the usual dose furnished from the same quarter, with as little effect, had not my good genius directed me to send for an ounce from Apothecaries’ Hall. ”

“ Oils for medical purposes, as CASTOR OIL, COD-LIVER OIL &c., must not be subjected to any process beyond mere clarification by subsidence, filtration through Canton flannel or porous paper, or, at the utmost, washing with warm water, as otherwise their active and valuable properties, if not wholly removed, will be considerably lessened. ”

“ The chief uses of castor-oil in the arts are, according to the Shoe and Leather Reporter, as a lubricator for coach and carriage axles, in the manufacture of the best shoe-blacking, as a dressing for calf-skins, for treeing boots, as a substitute for neat's-foot oil, and keeping leather soft, mellow, and pliable. Crude castor-oil is used largely in the manufacture of morocco. ”

“ The only oil which is said to have no action on rubber, or practically none, is castor oil; all the same, I do not advise its use as a lubricant.
There are three only which we need consider:—
1. Soda and water. 2. French chalk. 3. Pure redistilled glycerine. ”

“ If the added oil was castor oil, the contents of the test-tube will show a peculiar odor due to œnanthylic acid formed by the action of nitric acid upon castor oil.
Another method of establishing the presence of fat oil consists in mixing the suspected oil with eight times its quantity of 90 per cent. alcohol (specific gravity 0.823) . If the oil is unadulterated a clear solution is formed; if it contains fat oil, the latter remains undissolved. ”

“ When the oil is expressed by heating the plates of the press, or by previously roasting the seeds, it is more disposed to become rancid; cold drawn oils are on this account to be preferred for the purposes of pharmacy. Solubility. They are insoluble in water, and, except castor oil, nearly so in alcohol and æther; with caustic alkalies they combine and form soaps; when aided by heat they readily unite with oxide of lead, forming the solid compound well known by the term plaister. They unite also very readily with each other, and with volatile oils. Solvent Powers. ”

“ Theophrastus and Nicander give the castor oil plant the name of Κρότων. Dioscorides, who calls it Κίκι or Κρότων, describes it as of the stature of a small fig-tree, with leaves like a plane, and seeds in a prickly pericarp, observing that the name Κρότων is applied to the seed on account of its resemblance to an insect [Ixodes Ricinus Latr.] , known by that appellation. He also gives an account of the process for extracting castor oil (Κίκινον ἔλαιον) , which he says is not fit for food, but is used externally in medicine; he represents [Pg 568] the seeds as extremely purgative. ”

“ Castor oil is distinctly of advantage in many chronic diseases of the intestines because of its healing properties. In chronic colitis, for example, when the child is suffering with malnutrition, irregular bowel action with an odor, and mucous or bloody stools, a combination of castor oil and salol, in emulsion, in small doses,—to which a small quantity of opium may be added or withheld according to the frequency of the movements,—with an occasional colon irrigation, is sometimes invaluable. ”

“ Fixed Oils may be detected by moistening writing paper with the suspected article and holding it before the fire: if the oil be entirely essential, no stain of grease will remain; as castor oil is more soluble in spirit than the others, it is the one generally selected for this fraudulent purpose, and the addition of alcohol restores the sophisticated oil to its proper degree of consistency. Alcohol is discovered by adding water, which, if it be present, occasions a milkiness, and at the same time, an increase of temperature ”

“ Castor oil forms an exception in this respect, it being miscible also in other proportions.
Petroleum-ether is an excellent testing agent. Bring into a test-tube about 2.5 grammes of Peru balsam, and 6 to 7 centimeters of petroleum-ether, close the tube with the finger and shake vigorously; a brown, thickly-fluid mass adheres in unequal layers to the sides of the tube, and before running together remains in this position 1 to 2 minutes after the petroleum-ether has been poured into a porcelain saucer. ”

“ No good reason has been given for the preference for castor-oil, and the troubles which have arisen after using ordinary paint may be explained partly on the very probable assumption that the oil was not genuine linseed, and so did not dry, and partly on the fact that almost entire reliance was placed on the paint for keeping the joint sound. Joints for acetylene, like those for steam and high-pressure water, must be made tight by using well-threaded fittings, so as to secure metallic contact between pipe and socket, &c.; the paint or spun-yarn is only an additional safeguard. ”

“ There is however a peculiarity in castor oil which serves to distinguish it from every other fixed oil, viz. its great solubility in rectified spirit; for instance, f℥iv of alcohol of ·820 will mix uniformly with any proportion of castor oil, whereas it will not dissolve more than fʒj of Linseed Oil; and a still less proportion of the expressed oils of almonds and of olives; when the spirit is diluted, its action on all these oils is equally diminished, so that common spirit of wine has but little power even over castor oil ”

“ Another great advantage of the external application of castor oil is, it does not afterward produce constipation as the internal administration of castor oil is apt to do. If the external application of castor oil in the manner advised at page 144 should not have the desired effect, then an enema—a clyster of warm water, a pint—ought, in the morning, two or three times a week to be administered.
412. Gentle walking exercise daily is desirable: long walks and horseback exercise ought to be sedulously avoided. ”

“ The best is to dissolve one ounce of castor oil in one quart of 95 alcohol, and add one ounce of tincture of cantharides, two ounces of tincture of catechu, two ounces of lemon juice, two ounces of tincture of cinchona; and to scent it, add oil of cinnamon, or oil of rosemary, or both.
To Make the Hair Soft and Glossy.—Put one ounce of castor oil in one pint of bay rum or alcohol, and color it with a little of the tincture of alkanet root. Apply a little every morning. ”

“ Castor Oil,” in which he warmly recommended the oil as a gentle purgative, particularly in cases of “dry belly ache.” His advocacy soon took effect, for in the second edition of his treatise published in 1769, he says it had become officinal, by which he meant was sold in the shops, “at Apothecaries Hall and several other shops in London and Bath.” Dr. Odier, of Geneva, who visited England in 1776, became then acquainted with the medicine, and subsequently brought it to the notice of Continental physicians. It was admitted into the London Pharmacopœia in 1788. ”

“ Production and Commerce—Castor oil is most extensively produced in India, where two varieties of the seeds, the large and the small, are distinguished, the latter being considered to yield the better product. In manufacturing the oil, the seeds are gentry crushed between rollers, and freed by hand from husks and unsound grains. At Calcutta, 100 parts of seed yield on an average 70 parts of cleaned kernels, which by the hydraulic press afford 46 to 51 per cent. ”

“ Castor oil taken with an equal quantity of warm water acts as a purgative upon the bowels. It is said, too, that as a purgative it acts particularly upon the regions of the diaphragm (precordia) . It is useful for diseases of the joints, all kinds of indurations, affections of the uterus and ears, and for burns, employed with the ashes of the murex; it heals itch, scabs, and inflammations of the fundament. It improves the complexion also, and by its fertilising tendencies promotes the growth of the hair. ”

“ You see I have never had the pleasure of giving anybody a dose of castor oil, and I'd simply love to do it. It must be delightful to be the one to do the giving. When the Bible says it is more blessed to give than receive, maybe it means castor oil."
"Maybe!" assented Philip.
"I believe we are to keep house together for the journey. Mrs. O'Shea told me someone would occupy the apartment with me, but she was sure it would be a lady. Mrs. O'Shea is most particular. She is the most ladyfiedish person in the world. ”

“ The oil and the table article of commerce are made by grinding the seeds in mills constructed for the purpose. The castor-oil plant is a green and succulent shoot about six feet in height, with white flowers hanging in bunches like hops. ”

“ Granulated animal charcoal is used according to the first method, to decolour syrups, oils, &c.; and filtering powder by the second and third, to remove a portion of the colour, and to clarify castor and other oils. The common plan of mixing large quantities of filtering powder with castor oil, and throwing the whole into the filter, as adopted by the druggists, is injudicious. When simple filtration is required, it is better to use little or no powder, and to continue returning the oil that ‘runs’ through, until, by the swelling of the fibres of the filter bags, it flows quite clear. ”

“ In tapeworm a little castor-oil may be advantageously combined with the second and subsequent doses. Oil of turpentine imparts a violent odour to the urine. To prevent loss by evaporation and resinification, this oil should be kept in tin cans or glass bottles. For store vessels, closely covered tin cisterns are the best. To prevent accidents it is proper to caution the operator of the extremely penetrating and inflammable nature of the vapour of this oil, even in the cold. During the process of its distillation, without the greatest precautions are taken, an explosion is almost inevitable. ”

“ The oil must be put in a copper vessel with an equal quantity of water. Now boil for 3 hours, then extinguish the fire. When cold draw off the water. Let the mixture settle for a few weeks.
Mineral Oil:
See also Petroleum.
Production of Consistent Mineral Oils.—
Mixing Castor Oil With Mineral Oils.—Castor oil is heated for 6 hours in an autoclave at a temperature of 500° to 575° F., and under a pressure of 4 to 6 atmospheres. ”