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

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

However, after these had been carefully dressed with lint and croton oil, she felt fairly like herself again.

From Sarah's First Start in Life. by Campbell, Adelaide M. G.

Applied to the skin, croton oil acts as a powerful irritant, inducing so much inflammation that definite pustules are formed.

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

This draught may be administered once and sometimes twice a day, the croton oil being omitted after the first dose; after the first day, 2 drachms of powdered gentian may be added.

From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Young, Daniel