Title
Humco Castor Oil
Author
Humco Laboratories, Texarkana, Texas.
Image
Description
This is a vintage Humco Castor Oil bottle, a common over-the-counter cathartic used well into the late 20th century. Labeled “U.S.P., Tasteless–Odorless”, this 2-fluid ounce bottle was manufactured by Humco Laboratories, Texarkana, Texas.
Castor oil is derived from the seeds of the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis). For centuries it has been used as a purgative, laxative, and cathartic, valued for its strong effect on the digestive tract. Beyond medicine, castor oil was used in industrial lubricants, soaps, and even as an ingredient in early plastics.
The Humco version reflects an era when pharmaceutical companies worked to market castor oil as more palatable, with “tasteless–odorless” varieties for easier consumption.
Condition
Clear glass bottle with metal screw cap intact.
Label mostly intact, though aged and slightly worn.
Original price sticker partially visible.
Overall, in good display condition, representing a late-century continuation of a much older medical tradition.
Historical context
Castor oil has been used medicinally since ancient Egypt, India, and Rome.
In 19th and early 20th century America, it was a staple in every household medicine cabinet, often given to children for constipation.
During WWII, castor oil was also used in aircraft lubricants due to its stability under extreme conditions.
Though largely replaced by gentler laxatives in modern medicine, it still remains available in pharmacies and alternative medicine.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
Castor oil has been famously remembered as a punishment medicine: children dreaded its taste, and it became a trope in American culture.
In Fascist Italy under Mussolini, castor oil was reportedly forced on political opponents as a method of intimidation and humiliation.
Despite its harshness, castor oil is still used today in cosmetics and hair products.
Excerpt
“Tasteless—Odorless—Effective.”
Why it is in the Cabinet
This bottle represents one of the longest-standing remedies in medical history. Castor oil links modern pharmacy to ancient healing traditions, while also carrying deep cultural associations — from household staple to political weapon. Its presence in a mid-century Humco bottle shows the persistence of old remedies in the modern drugstore era.
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