croton oil

American  

noun

1. a brownish-yellow oil, expressed from the seeds of the croton, Croton tiglium, that is a drastic purgative and counterirritant.

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croton oil British  

noun

1. a yellowish-brown oil obtained from the plant Croton tiglium, formerly used as a drastic purgative See also croton

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Etymology

Origin of croton oil

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

croton oil

This was a hardy sexagenarian named George Heis, for whom the only consequences of a late evening snack of beer, pancakes, spinach, arsenic and croton oil, prepared by Mrs. Hahn, was partial paralysis and indigestion.

From Time Magazine Archive

As a purgative, indeed, it is far less active than the croton oil, and requires to be given in much larger doses; as much as six or ten drops.

From North American Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3, July, 1826 by Bache, Franklin

The maximum dose of croton oil is two minims, one-fourth of that quantity being usually ample.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

The destruction of the true skin gives rise to ugly scars which constitute, together with the pain caused by this application, abundant reason why croton oil should never be employed externally.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

He examined Germinie, and ordered the application of croton oil.

From Germinie Lacerteux by Goncourt, Jules de