COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF RICINUS-COMMUNIS AND JATROPHA-CURCAS IN BROWNHISEX CHICKS

Symptoms, lesions and changes in growth, haematology and clinical chem istry were investigated in Brown Hisex chicks fed diets containing 0.5 % Jatropha curcas seed or 0.5 % Ricinus communis seed. High mortality and more severe changes occured in chicks on Ricinus diet than Jatrop ha feed. The results indicated that caution should be observed in trop ical countries where people are accustomed to chewing castor bean when in need of a laxative.