HISTORY OF MEDICIXE EXHIBITS WHITEBREAD. 



27 



Flaxseed. — The seed of Linuni Ksitatissimidii. eoniiiKni lliix. The seed was 

 used for food by the Egyptians. Greeks, Konians. an:l otlier ancient peoples. 

 Cat. No. 51,380, U.S.N.M. 



Sesame. — The seeds of Sesamum indleum, native of India, cultivated in 

 all warm countries. Tlie Egyptian name, " Semsent," occurs in tlie I'apyrus 

 Ebers, from which name is derived the Coptic " Semsem," the Arabic " Simsim," 

 and the modern " Sesamum." Largely consumed as food ; the oil is u.sed for 

 the same purposes as olive oil. The leaves are mucilaginous. Cat. No. .")12.162, 

 U.S.N.M. 



Lign-aloes. — The fragrant resinous wood of the eagle tree of India, .\<milaria 

 agalloclHi. Used as iucen.se, and iu embalming the dead. "All thy garments 

 smell of myrrh, and aloes and cassia." I'salms, xlv, 8. " How goodly are thy 

 tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel. As the valleys are they spread 

 forth, * * * as the trees of lign-aloes which the Lord hath planted 

 * * *." Numbers, xxiv, .")-6. Cat. No. r)2.173, U.S.N.M. 



l^i;vi-riAX Medicine (.'iikst and Simne Case. 



Castor-oil seeds. — The seeds of Rieinus cowmtiiiis. native of India, early 

 cultivated in Egypt. The seeds have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. 

 The plant is believed by some to be the same mentioned in the book of Jonah, 

 iv, 6, under the name of " gourd." The plant was introduced from Egypt 

 into Greece where the oil of the seeds was used extensively in medicine, as 

 well as for burning in lamp.s. Cat. No. 52,177. U.S.N.M. 



Barley. — The seeds of Hordeum he.va.^tielwn. indigenous to western Asia ; 

 cultivated everywhere. It is mentioned in the Bible as a cultivated grain in 

 Egypt and Syria. Cat. No. 52,393, U.S.N.M. 



Ci/perus. — The root of various species of Ciipenis. Used by the Egyptians 

 for snake bites and for the retention of urine ; bruised or mixed with wine 

 or vinegar it was applied as a poultice. Cat. No. 52,521, U.S.N.M. 



Pomegranate. — The rind of the fruit of Punica granatum, a low tree grown 

 in India. Palestine, and neighboring countries. Tliere are many reiiresenta- 

 tions of the fruit on the ancient monuments of lOgypt. and it is frequently 

 45554— 25— Proc.N.M.vol.Go 29 



