LINSEED OIL LAXATIVE AND EMOLLIENT 661 



of horses in a sufficiently relaxed state throughout catarrhal 

 and other febrile attacks. This treatment is also specially 

 suitable in inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, when 

 it is 'desirable to rest these organs, and promote excretion 

 by the bowels and skin. An ounce or two of oil combined 

 with lime-water given daily to broken- winded subjects 

 often advantageously relieves the distressing breathing. 



In cattle and canine practice linseed oil is much used as 

 a purgative, especially for young and weakly patients, in 

 advanced pregnancy, in gastro-intestinal derangements, in 

 irritant poisoning, where saline or other active purgatives 

 have been given, and their repetition is inexpedient, and as 

 a convenient menstruum for the administration of croton 

 oil and oil of turpentine. For calves and lambs it is milder 

 and safer than salts. For dogs, especially when young, 

 when the digestive organs are in an irritable state, and 

 exhausting disease has reduced strength, it is a suitable 

 laxative, and more effectual when mixed with an equal 

 amount of castor oil. As a lubricant and emollient linseed 

 oil is useful in choking ; mixed with well-boiled starch 

 gruel, and injected into the rectum, it allays irritation ; 

 softening the hard, cracked, or scaly skin, it is applied, 

 with an alkaline solution, in psoriasis, impetigo, and eczema. 

 Its soothing effects are increased by admixture with lead 

 acetate solution. For emollient dressings, to be used for 

 a considerable time, vaseline and benzoated almond, or 

 cocoa-nut oil are, however, preferable, as they are not 

 drying or prone to rancidity. The drying properties, pos- 

 sessed in common with poppy and cod-liver oils, render 

 linseed oil less suitable than lard, or olive, almond, rape, 

 or colza oil, for making ointments and liniments. Friction 

 with oil often reduces swollen joints and bursse. Flannel, 

 soaked in hot linseed oil, is sometimes applied for the relief 

 of rheumatism. 



DOSES, etc. As a cathartic, horses take Oss. to Oj. ; 

 cattle, Oj. to Oij. ; sheep and pigs, f gvi. to f x. ; dogs, f i. 

 to f ij. ; cats, f3i. to 3J V - ; administered shaken up with 

 linseed gruel, mucilage, milk, treacle, lime-water, or spirit 

 and water. For horses or cattle it is sometimes mixed with 

 a well-made bran mash. 



