BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 339 
uses; that selected generally is roasting the 
seeds before the pressure is placed upon them. 
This is done to destroy the gum which exists 
in the coating. When intended for medicinal 
purposes, heat is not used to extract the oil, 
The oil boils at about 600° F., does not congeal 
at zero, and has a specific gravity of about 0.93 
and contains a large per cent. of /inolein, palmt- 
tin and myristin. Flaxseed oil is of a brown- 
ish yellow color, with a feeble, unpleasant odor 
and a nauseous taste. The reaction is neutral. 
It is slightly soluble in alcohol, but more freely 
soinether. The oil is divided into the drying 
and non-drying. The drying property is said 
to be due to the linolein, the antipode of the 
olein found in the non-drying oils. The latter 
oil is used only in the arts and in the manufac- 
ture of printer’s ink. Itis rarely usedasan adul- 
terant, nor is it often adulterated. The oil is 
laxative in doses of a fluid ounce. It is not 
often employed as a remedy, but enters into the 
the following officinal preparations: Linimen- 
TUM CALCIS, and the CERATUM RESIN COMPOSI- 
TUM. 
Oleum Gossypii Seminis, Cottonseed Oi].— 
This fixed oil is obtained from the seeds of Gos- 
sypium Herbaceum by expression, and occurs 
in commerce in three conditions, viz. : clarified, 
refined and winter-bleached, the last mentioned 
closely resembling almond oil in appearance and 
tase. After having been put through the vari- 
ous processes, it occurs in the stores as a pale 
yellow, oily liquid, inodorous, with a bland, nut- 
like taste; of neutral reaction, having a specific 
gravity of about 0.92 congealing at 3° below the 
