Croton oil facts for kids
Croton oil is a special oil made from the seeds of the Croton tiglium plant. This plant is a tree found in India and the Malay Archipelago. In the past, people used croton oil for different purposes.
It was known to cause a strong reaction if taken internally, like upset stomach. On the skin, it could cause irritation. Scientists have studied croton oil to understand how it affects the body. They also use it in research to learn about certain diseases. This is because croton oil contains a chemical called phorbol.
Contents
The Story of Croton Oil
Croton Oil in History
During World War II, the United States Navy added a tiny bit of croton oil to the alcohol used to power torpedoes. This was done to stop sailors from trying to drink the fuel. However, some sailors found ways to separate the alcohol from the oil.
In Norway, during the war, some workers were told to send sardines to the German government. These workers secretly arranged with the British to add croton oil to the sardines. The strong taste of the fish was meant to hide the oil.
An old poem from 1845 also mentions croton oil. A doctor in the poem suggests using croton oil on the skin to help with a sore throat. This shows how croton oil was sometimes used in old medical practices, even though it could be painful.
Croton Oil in Books and Movies
Croton Oil in Stories
Croton oil has appeared in several famous books and movies.
In Thomas Wolfe's 1929 book Look Homeward Angel, two young friends drink from a bottle they find. The owner of the bottle later refills it with croton oil as a trick. When the friends drink it again, they get very sick.
In John Steinbeck's book East of Eden from 1952, a character named Kate uses croton oil. She uses it to harm someone, and then she takes a different substance to make herself sick too, so no one suspects her. Steinbeck also mentions croton oil in another book, In Dubious Battle.
The 1954 movie They Rode West features an Army doctor who was not well-liked. This was because he often gave croton oil to the soldiers as medicine.
In the 1966 movie El Dorado, a group of characters mix croton oil with other strong ingredients. They give this mixture to a sheriff who has been drinking too much. The goal is to make him sober up and stop him from drinking in the future.
Finally, in Bernard Cornwell's 1994 book Copperhead, a character named Nate Starbuck is forced to take croton oil. This happens while he is being questioned by authorities.
