LINEA: ae 
‘LINE, 
LINUM USITATISSIMUM, Linn. 
Fig:—Bentl. and Trim., t. 39. Common Flax (Eng.), Lin 
usuel Chr.) 
Hab. —Egypt. , Cultivated in India. The seeds and oil. 
Vernacular. —Als', Tist (Hind. ), Alishi-virai (Tam. ), Mosina 
(Beng.), Alashi, Javas (Mar.), Atasi, Madana-gingelu (Zel.), 
Alashi (Can.). 
History, Uses, &c —Linseed, called in Sanskrit Atasi, 
appears to have been but little used as a medicine bythe © 
Hindus. The Mahometans have paid more attention to the — 
plant; they consider it to be cold and dry, and that clothes - 
' made with the fibre cool the body and lessen perspiration ; ; 
‘they recommend fumigation with the smoke for colds in the 
head and hysteria, and use the tinder to staunch hemorrhages. 
Sherriff says if you wish to become thin wear washed linen 
clothes-in the summer but not in winter. The’ flowers are 
‘Said to be cardiacal, the seeds aphrodisiacal, and hot and dry. 
Linseed poultice is recommended for gouty and rheumatic - 
swellings ; as an emollient ‘the mucilage is dropped into the 
eye; with honey it is prescribed in coughs and colds. 
roasted seeds are said to be astringent. In Western India, 
the unripe fruit is used as a vegetable. Flickiger and 
Hanbury in their Phar macegraphia (p. 89) give a summary of - 
the history of the plant i in the West, and trace its use back to 
the 23rd century, B. C. , It is the Awov of Dioscorides and the - 
Linum of Pliny.* Gallesky (1767) strongly advocated the 
use of Linseed oil in painter’s colic and other spasmodic _ 
_.affectious of the bowels. In modern medicine Linseed tea Bes 
much used as a demulcent drink i in | cough sepeee up Ee 
© Digit, 94. Plin. 19; 1. 20; 92 3 
