CASTOR OIL

The expre ed oil of the seeds of the Palma Christ i , or Ricinus communis , a native tree of the West Indies and South America; but which has been cultivated in France, Italy, and Spain. Bu y and Lecanu discovered in it 3 species of fatty matters, obtained partly by saponification, and partly by dry distillation—the margaritic, ricinic, and elaiodic acids. None of these has been separately applied to any use in the arts. The quantity of castor oil imported in 1835 into the United Kingdom, was 1,109,307 libs.; retained for home consumption, 670,205 libs. See Oils .