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

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 bowels should be thoroughly opened by calomel, croton oil, or Henry's solution, and a light milk diet given.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

It was so named because formerly supposed to exist in croton oil.

From The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Section C by Project Gutenberg

There are pyrogenetic agencies, like petroleum, turpentine, and croton oil, which, introduced into the body, produce suppurative inflammation without the association of microbia.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

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