POISONING BY SEEDS OF RICINUS COMMUNIS.
Superpurgation. Poison in seeds. Diluents, demulcents, stomach pump, laxatives if necessary.
An overdose of castor oil may kill by gastro-intestinal congestion and superpurgation. Apart from the oil however the seeds contain a very active poison, which has been fatally ingested by horses with grain or otherwise. Five and a half ounces of the seeds have proved fatal. (Pelletier. Wende).
The symptoms are those of acute colic and gastro-enteritis. The indications are to wash out the stomach by abundant demulcents and the stomach pump, and if necessary to hasten the expulsion of the offensive matters by bland laxatives (olive oil, Glauber salts).