568 ORD. XXXU. Gruinales. xtisum usiratissimuM. 
Linseed appears to afford but little nourishment, and when taken 
as food has beeh found to impair the stomach, and produce great 
flatulency : effects, which are noticed of these seeds by Galen,‘ 
and since amply confirmed by Tragus, who relates * that,.in conse- 
quence of a scarcity of corn in Zealand, the inhabitants were 
urged to the nécessity of eating boiled Linseed, which occasioned 
a remarkable distention of the hypochondria, swellings of the face 
and.other parts, which in several instances proved fatal. 
Infusions and decoctions of these seeds, like other vegetable 
mucilages, are used as emollients or demulcents in hoarsenesses, 
coughs, and -pleuretic symptoms, which frequently prevail in 
catarrhal affections; they are also recommended in nephritic pains 
and stranguries: for these purposes, a spoonful of the seeds 
unbruised is said to be sufficient for a quart of water.’ The seeds 
are also much used externally in emollient and maturating cata- 
plasms. The expressed oil is an officinal preparation, and is sup- 
posed to be of a more healing and balsamic nature than the other 
oils of this class ;* it has therefore been very generally employed 
in pulmonary —— also in colics," and —— = of the 
bowels.’ 
4 Simp: L. 7. de alim. fac. 1. 1. c. 32. 
‘© See'Raii List. p. 1073. 
f* Rewis, U. ¢. 
8 This subject is examined on treating of Olea europea. p. 280. 
® See Sydenham, ( a cap. de pleur. p. 265.) Haen, (Rat. Med. P.1. p. 24. 
P. iz. p. 103.) and other 
'Baeny oe Pd. #6: 904.) Ve Swieten: ore vol. tt. p. 143. Gallesky 
mentions several cases of constipation and colic, proceeding from differént causes, 
successfully treated by this oil. See Abhandl. v. Miserere u. d. Kraften d. Leind!s 
in dies. Krankh. p. 75. seq. Also Lentin, Beob. einig. Krankh. p. 149. Vide 
Murray, App. Med. vol. iii. p. 485. seq.—It is used in common with other oils as 
a vermifuge. 
