Crotchety

Having crotchets in the brain; whimsical; capricious; as, a crotchety genius. Croth'ersville, in Indiana, a P. O. of Jackson co. Cro'ton, n. [Gr. kroton, the dog-tick, in reference to the resemblance of the seeds to that vermin.] ( Bot. ) A genus of plants, order Euphorbiacea. The seeds of the species C. tiglium, and probably also those of C. pavan a, constitute the croton or tiglium seeds, of the Materia Medica. They yield, by expre ion, an oil called croton oil, which, in minute doses of a single drop, is a powerful drastic cathartic, and, when applied externally, acts as a rubefacient and counter-irritant. The seeds are used without preparation, in India, as purgative pills. C. eleuteria and case trill a, natives of the Bahama Islands and Jamaica, yield the aromatic tonic bark commonly known as cascarilla or eleutheri a bark. C. pseudo-China yields the quilled copalche bark of Pereira, and C. suberosum the corky copalche bark of the same author. In their medicinal properties the copalche barks resemble cascarilla. The aromatic bark known as Malambo bark is the produce of C. malambo. It is used as a remedy in diarrhoea and as a vermifuge; also externally, in the form of an alcoholic tincture, in rheumatism. Cro'ton, in low a, a post-village of Lee co., abt. 25 m. N. W. of Keokuk. Croton, in Michigan , a post-village and township of Newtygo.co. Croton, in New Jersey, a post-village of Hunter don co. Croton, in New York , a former P. O. of Delaware co. Croton, or Croton Landing, in New York , a post- village of West chester co., abt. 36 m. N. of New York city. Croton, in Ohio , a post-office of Licking co. Croton, in Pennsylvania , a village of Lawrence co. Croton. (Anc. Geog.) See CROTON A.