Synonym – Tiglium officinala. Natural order – Euphorbiaceae. Common name – Croton Oil. Habitat – A small tree indigenous to India, and cultivated in many parts of the East. Preparation – One part of pure Croton Oil is dissolved in ninety-nine parts of alcohol, corresponding to the 2x dilution.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Acts especially upon the mucous lining of the intestinal tract and upon the skin; in the former producing a transudation of the watery portions of the blood, causing a copious watery diarrhoea, and on the latter developing a true eczema.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Eyes. Copious lachrymation (Euphr.)
Ears Spasmodic, twinging pains, deep within the left ear.
Stomach Sensation of emptiness in the stomach (Sepia). Sinking in stomach, and sensation of weakness (Ign).
Abdomen. Abdomen full and distended, with griping pain about the navel (Coloc). Unpleasant sensation of emptiness and hunger; rumbling in the abdomen. Gurgling in the intestines, as though only water were in them (Hell); mostly on left side. Swashing in the intestines, as from water.
Stool and Anus. Flatulence, soon followed by urgent desire for stool (Aloe). Evacuation sudden, and with much flatus (Aloe.). Upon pressure at the umbilicus a painful sensation is felt down to the anus, where there is a constant pressure outward. Dragging in the anus, as if diarrhoea would easily ensue. Pain in the anus, as if a plug were forcing outward. Constant urging to stool, followed by sudden pasty, offensive evacuation of a dirty-green color, which is forcibly shot out of the rectum (Natr. carb., Grat). Stool very thin, like yellowish water, forcibly evacuated. (Gratiola, Thuja., Senega.). Painless, watery diarrhoea (Arsenicum, Cinchona, Podophyllum).
Male Organs. Frequent corrosive itching in the glans and scrotum. Scrotum shriveled, itching severely, disturbing the sleep; better from scratching, which, however, causes a voluptuous sensation. Corrosive itching pain in the scrotum; worse while walking; redness of the part. Vesicular eruption of the scrotum and penis (Rhus tox.).
Female Organs. Intense itching of the genitals; relieved by very gentle scratching. Breasts hard and swollen, with pain from nipple to scapula. Nipple very sore to touch; excruciating pain running from nipple through to scapula of same side when child nurses.
Respiratory Organs. Feels as though he could not expand the lungs (Asaf). Feeling of fullness in both sides of chest, with burning stitches in left thorax, and toward both scapulae.
Generalities. Great weakness, especially of the arms and legs.
Skin. Red, moist, spot, exuding an offensive moisture, on left thigh, opposite the scrotum, painfully sore to touch, and on walking. Itching and painful burning, with redness of the skin, formation of vesicles and pustules; desiccation of the pustules; desquamation and falling off of the pustule (Ant. tart., Cicuta, Rhus tox., Sulphur). Itching pustules.
Fever. Coldness of the feet, extending as far as the calves.
Compare Anacardium, Apis., Colchicum, Gambogia, Gratiola, Jatropha., Mez., Rhus tox., Thuja., Veratrum
Croton Tiglium Antidotes. Rhus tox poisoning.
THERAPEUTICS.
A valuable remedy in eczema; vesicular and pustular eruptions, as above described. Especially eczema of scrotum and penis. Pustules and vesicles on the eyeball, accompanied by eruptions about the lids, and ciliary neuralgia. Diarrhoea with characteristic stool, forcibly evacuated, flatulence, occurring after eating or drinking, and other symptoms already given. Summer complaint of children. The clinical symptoms of the female breast as above given are of characteristic importance.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).