The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-29
STILL ANOTHER USE FOR
CASTOR OIL

The fabrication of airplane engines
is only one of the several uses OF cas-
tor oil. Fresh castor oil is also one
of the best oils for the scalp and hair
Fresh castor oil is an excellent
soothing application for chatting, ap-
piled on folds of linen or muslin. In
certain cases of acute diarrhea full
for it quickly sweeps out the irritat-
ing substances and its after-effect is
binding.
There are two common conditions
in which castor oil is too often given
in spite of the fact that it does only
harm. First, costiveness in infancy
or childhood; every dose of castor
oil in such condition produces
greater costiveness the next day. Sec
ond, acute inflammation in the abb
domen, whether it be appendicitis or
any other inflammatory condition;
here a dose of castor oil, or any
other cathartic, places the victim in
greater peril of peritonitis; the ex-
citation of peristalsiS or movement of
the intestine tends to spread the in
flammation which. with absolute rest,
might remain confined to the region
of the appendix. 1t is good rule
never to give castor oil if the patient
has acute bellyache. Use external
heat, particularly moist heat, and
call the doctor.
Castor Oil, 1 regret to say, has won
for iself a considerable repute as a
remedy for intractable facial neural
gia and also as remedy in certain
cases of periodic sick headache
(migraine). For several years tried
to convince myself that the benefits
ascribed to this remedy by victims of
these distressing complaints were
actually manifestations Of our old
friend John G. Coincidence. John
has taken good deal of the Joy out
of my life. But in spite of my pains
taking silence about the subject,
testimonials trickle in without ap-
parent provOcation, and now am
compelled to acknowledge that there
may be something in the treatment
that we. or at least 1 don't under
stand If any one tells me it elm
mates" toxins or poisonous wastes or
anything like that I'll do murder on
the spot.
There are various plans or methods
for taking castor oil as a remedy for
facial neuralgia or for migaine Git is
not for the relief of seizures or at
tacks, but rather corrective of the
fundamental trouble>. Some sufferers
take from five tn IN 6rOnS Of castor
oil Gin capsule or OtherwiSe) three
times day for a period of several
weeks, regulating the dosage to avoid
lOOSeneSS. but taking as much as pos
sible short of that. Others take from
half to one teaspoonful each morn
ing shortly after rising, to produce a
brisk laxative effect, for the first
week or two, and after that smaller
dose each morning. as much as pos
sible short of loosening. After eight
or 10 weeks they take it only on
alternate mornings for a few more
weeks. and finally a small dose once
or twice a week.
That the benefits from this treat
ment Of neuralgia and migraine are
not due to the laxative action of cas-
tor oil seems certain, for these suf-
fererS rarely obtain any relief by the
use of laXatives. Possibly the bene-
fit is due to ricin, an irritant prin-
ciple contained in the seeds from
which castor oil is expressed Three
castor Oil seeds have been known to
cause fatal CASTRO enteritis in a
man, according to Shoemaker.