Croton

(krō'tn.) (Bot.) An important gen. of plants, 0. Euphorbiaceæ, distinguished by the flowers being monœcio us, with a five-parted calyx. C. tiglium (Fig. 227) is a tree, native of Coromandel, . From its seeds is extracted the Croton oil, which is a powerful purgative. One drop is usually sufficient; hence the great value of this drug in cases where smallne of doses, speedine of action, and powerful effects are required, as in mania, apoplexy, dropsy, & c. It is so acrid that it is exhibited usually in pills, in order to Fig. 227. OROTON TRIGLIUM. avoid the burning heat it occasions in the throat if swallowed by itself; on this account it is not used in any case where there is inflammation of the bowels. In large doses it acts as a frightful poison, producing symptoms like those of cholera. Externally it has been used as a counterirritant.-Many of the species have aromatic properties. Among these are C. Eleutheri a, the tree yielding Cascarilla bark, which is chiefly collected on the island of Eleuthera, one of the Bahamas. This bark is esteemed as an aromatic bitter tonic, without astringency, in cases of simple indigestion. C.pseudo-China yields the Copalche bark, which has similar properties, and is used in Mexico in place of cinchona. [s. 247] IMG:p0276_0.jpg:Gravür