CULTURE OF THE POPPf FO* OIL. g85 



Aliment from analogy may be considered as a very proper mo- 

 tive for caution; but if it advances farther, it degenerates 

 into a pernicious prejudice. 



There have been, however, many incidental circumstances The oil has 

 which have had a partial influence in removing these preju- J? eeri used 

 dices. It is well known, that compounders of medicine have injury, 

 made a very liberal use of the seeds of poppies, as substi- 

 tutes for tjie oil of sweet almonds, without the least detri- 

 ment to the patient. They have sometimes imputed to it 

 additional virtues, from its being supposed to possess narcotic 

 properties. But that they have erred in their hypothesis is 

 plain, from the practice of many individuals, who have made and the seeflg 

 the seeds of poppies a common article of food*. also. 



But it will be the principal object of the following paper 

 to inform the inhabitants of this country, through the me- 

 dium of your publication, that the above objection has been 

 repeatedly advanced and repeatedly confuted; that experi- Cultivated ex- 

 ments, first made with a degree of caution, have finally re- Pensively 

 moved prejudices long and inveterate; and that the white Q \\ % 

 poppy (papaver hortense scmine albo) is cultivated to a very 

 great extent in Dance, Brabant r and Germany, and more re- 

 cently in Holland, chiefly to extract the oil from its seeds; 

 which is found not only to be salubrious, but to be peculiarly 

 delicate in its flavour. It is now become a considerable ar- 

 ticle of commerce : the oil of a superior quality, for the use 

 of the table, and the inferior for manufactories and various 

 other purposes. It is produced not only with considerable 

 profit to the cultivator, but also to the merchant and con- 

 sumer. 



As it is natural to imagine, that the prejudices against the Prejudice* 

 common use of poppy oil for culinary purposes will be very against it, 

 general, since they are apparently sanctioned by prudent cau- 

 tion, it is not expected that the most positive assertions, 

 founded upon the experience of strangers on the continent, 

 would be sufficient to remove them. But a circumstantial 

 narrative of a contest which has already taken place; and s ucceS sfuUr 

 the final triumph of experience over the opposition lounded combated. 



* See Prosper Alpinus, lib. iv, cap. i. Geofrey Mat. Med. torn, ii, p . 

 715. Lewis's Materia Medica, Article Papaver Album. 



on 



