On the Cultivation of the Poppy: 333 
lubrious qualities of the poppy oil, in the fellowing narra- 
tive: } 
So early as the beginning of the 17th century the oil of 
poppies was produced in such large quantities that 1t gave 
rise to great and lasting contentions, which, rose to such a 
height that the government was desired to interfere and ap- 
pease the contending parties, either by authorising the use 
of this oil, or totally to prohibit the consumption, according 
as experiments should decide whether it contained the nox- 
ious qualities ascribed to it, or not. 
The opposers urged the objections already stated: they 
asserted, that as the capsulum or poppy-head contained 
Juices highly narcotic, this must also be the case with its 
seeds; that the frequent use of the oil extracted from them 
exposed the consumer to all the dangerous consequences 
arising from the too liberal use of opiates; and that they 
would finally obtend the faculties of the soul; that the oil 
was of a drving quality, for that it was upon this account it 
became peculiarly useful to painters: they therefore implored 
government to confine its uses to this object. 
The advocates maintained that no proofs existed of these 
pernicious effects; on the contrary, experience testified that 
the seeds were peculiarly nutritive both to men and cattle; 
they asserted that the antient Romans, conecrning whose 
mental powers there could be no doubt, were accustomed to 
mix the oil and meal of the poppy seed with honey, and 
have it served up as a second course at their tables; and that 
it-was on account of its nutritrious qualities, so well known 
to the Romans, that Virgil gives it the title of vescum, food, 
by way of pre-eminence ; and that the peculiar qualities of 
this oil rendered it a desirable object of cultivation ; that its 
taste was delicate and pleasant, somewhat resembling that 
of the hazel nut; that it continued in a fluid state, exposed 
to a much greater degree of cold than was required to con- 
geal the olive oil; that it contained a larger quantity of fixt 
air, which preserved it a longer time from being rancid; 
that in these particulars it not only approached to the ae 
oil of Provence, but it mitigated the disagreeable taste which 
that oil acquired by kengshn of time ; and. that the poppy oil 
decidedly 
