People of a certain age will remember the feared remedy of the 1950s and 1960s for all juvenile aches and pains – castor oil.
This foul tasting liquid was dispensed in great quantities whenever complaints arose with the general attitude being that the kids ought to pull themselves together and toughen up and a dose of powerful laxative couldn´t do any harm. Mind you, the mere threat of castor oil did have a remarkably powerful effect in curing all sorts of juvenile ailments.
The plant itself was spotted growing in the garden of a friend, the first time we had seen one of the beasts. It has a very distinctive flower with big palm-shaped leaves. The castor oil plant probably comes from Africa though it is now found wherever there are tropical conditions. As well as the terrifying medicine the oil is also used in the manufacture of industrial lubricants.
Never mind Asbos, how about compulsory castor oil?
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©Phillip Bruce
I just saw this plant for the first time in a garden up in a residential area of SU. Had to look it up to figure out what it was. My mom never threatened us with castor oil. But she did make us take capsules of cod liver oil when we were little. :)
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