THALAMIFXORa!:. 



501 



tow, which is much emplo5'ed in pharmacy, surgerj', and for other purposes. 

 The seeds of the above plant, which is commonly known as the Flax Plant, 

 are termed Linseed or Lintseed. Their seed-coats contain much mucilage, 

 and their nucleus oil. The oil may be readily obtained from the seeds by 

 expression ; the amount depends upon the mode adopted, and varies from 

 about 18 to 27 per cent. Linseed oil is especially i-emarkable for drying 

 readily when applied to the surface of any body exposed to the air, and thus 

 forming a hai-d transparent varnish. This peculiarity is much accelerated 

 if the oil be previously boiled, either alone, or with some preparations of 

 lead. The cake left after the expression of the oil is known as Uil-cake, 

 and is employed as food for cattle ; and when powdered, it is commonly 

 sold as Linseed ileal, which is much used for making poultices, and for 

 other pirrposes. Linseed Meal, however, as sometimes sold, is merely 

 Linseed powdered ; hence it contains the oil, which is not present in the 

 ordinary and officinal Linseed Meal. Linseed Meal which contains the oil 

 is to be preferred when in a fresh state. An infusion of Linseed is employed 

 medicinally for its demulcent and emollient properties. The oil is extensively 

 used in the arts, &;c. ; and is found to be a valuable aj^plication to burnt or 

 scalded parts, either alone, or combined with an equal quantity of Lime- 

 water ; this mixture is commonly known under the name of Canon-oil, a 

 name derived from its having been extensively employed in the Carron Iron- 

 foundry. Some patents have been taken out of late years for the manufacture 

 of what has been called Flax-cotton, wliich it was believed could be used in 

 manufacture in the same way as ordinary cotton, but the process (which 

 consisted essentially in reducing the common flax-fibres to a more minute 

 state of division, by first steeping them in a solution of carbonate of soda, 

 and afterwards in a weak acid solution) has not answered. Liniim cathai- 

 ticum, commonly caUed Purging-flax, is a common indigenous plant. It 

 possesses active purgative properties, and might be much more employed as 

 a medicine than is the case at present. Linum selaginoides, a Peruvian 

 species, is reputed to be bitter and aperient. 



Natural Order 66. Oxalidaceje. — The Wood-Sorrel Order 

 (Jigs. 906 — 908). — Character. — Herbs, or rarely shrubs or 

 trees, generally with an acid juice. Leaves alternate, or rarely 



Fig. 906 



Fig. 907. 



Fig. 906. Diagram of the flower of Oxalis. Fig. 90". Vertical section of 



the flower of the same. Fig. 908. Vertical section of the seed. 



opposite, usually compound, or occasionally simple ; generally 

 with stipules, or rarely exstipulate. Flowers regular and sym- 

 metrical. Sepals 5 {f-g, 906), persistent, imbricate, occasionally 



