CULTURE OF THE POPPY FOK OIL. g85 



The candidates were to give an accurate statement of the 

 quantity of seed sown per acre; the time of sowing, and of 

 gathering the poppies; the quality of the soil; the manner 

 of procedure in every part of the process; the quantity of 

 oil produced, and the total of the expenses. 



In consequence of the above proposals, in the year follow- Clairaantfor 

 ing (1799) Mr. P. Haak became a claimant; sent in satis- 

 factory specimens of the oil produced, accompanied with 

 testimonies from two respectable physicians, that upon expe- 

 riments made, it fully appeared that the use of the oil was not 

 in the least prejudicial to the human constitution; and that 

 the oil-cakes were very wholesome and nutritive food for 

 cattle. 



The Committee appointed to receive this report not only 

 expressed their entire satisfaction at the attestations of the 

 physicians, but they laid before the Society at large an 

 account of the proceedings which had taken place in France, 

 upon the interesting question concerning the noxious or "sa- 

 lubrious qualities of the poppy oil, in the following Narrative, 



So early as in the beginning of the seventeenth century, Proceedings in 

 the oil of poppies was produced in such large quantities, that ^"in th 3 ^ 

 it gave rise to great and lasting contentions, which rose to good or bad 

 such a height, that the government was desired to interfere, < l ualmes °f 

 and appease the contending parties; either by authorising 

 the use of this oil, or totally to prohibit the consumption, 

 according as experiments should decide whether it contained 

 the noxious qualities ascribed to it, or not. 



The opposers urged the objections already stated : they as- Arguments 

 serted, that as the capsulum or poppy-head contained a S ainst *^ 

 juices highly narcotic, this must also be the case with its 

 seeds ; that the frequent use of the oil extracted from them 

 exposed the consumer to all the dangerous consequences 

 arising from the too liberal use of opiates; and that they 

 would finally obtund the faculties of the soul ; that the oil 

 was of a drying quality, for that it was upon this account it 

 became peculiarly useful to painters : they therefor* implored 

 government to confine its uses to this object. 



The advocates maintained that no -proofs existed of these Answered by 

 pernicious effects; but on the contrary, experience testified facts * 



that 



