BOOK III. CHAP. Vin. 7,3 



quantity of water (about eight gallons to one gallon of the feeds) and 

 boiled till their oil is rifen to the fiirface ; this is carefully fkinuncrl, 

 ftralned, and kept for ufe [g]. Thus prepared, it is intirely free from all 

 acrimony, and will freely flay upon the flomach, when it rejeds molt 

 other medicines. This oil is conlumed on many of the plantations, ia 

 the boiling and ftill-houfes, during crop, and much preferable to the 

 filthy, (linking lamp-oil imported from North America and Britain ; 

 for it affords a clear, lively light, emits no difagreeable fmell, is ob- 

 tained at lefs than one half the expence, and may be kept many years 

 without growing fetid. When intended for medicinal ufe, the oil is 

 more frequently cold-drawn, or extradled from the bruifed feeds, by 

 means of a hand-prefs. But this is thought more acrimonious, than 

 what is prepared by codlion. 



The cold-drawn oil at Hrft is perfe£tly limpid ; but, after being 

 kept for fome time, acquires a pale tindlure, refembling Lifbon wine, 

 probably caufcd by the men)brane which covers the kernels. It is 

 adminiftered, with the greatefl; fuccefs, in the belly-ach, and all obfti- 

 nate conflipations of the bowels, given from one, to even four or five 

 ounces. It is likewife taken, with peife<^ fafety, by infants afflifled 

 with worms, which it both deflroys, and fweeps away ; and there- 

 fore much fuperior to calomel, or tin-powder. It is given to new- 

 born children, within the nine days, in a dofe of one tea fpoonfuU 

 every morning, mixed with a little melafles, or any other fyrup, to purge 

 off the meconium ; which purpofe it efleftually anfwers, and has faved 

 the lives of many thoufand Negroe children. The retention of this 

 excrement has been fatal to multitudes, by bringing on mortal convul- 

 lions, generally known here by the name of jaw-falling [r]. The 



[(/] One gallon of nuts will yield about one quart of o"l. 



[r] Some of the abltrt phyficians have concurred in preferring the oil obtained from nuts, to 

 olive-oil, in vermicular cafes ; the reafon of ^vhich is, that, as the worms have their bodies over- 

 fpread with extremely minute pipes, which are neceflhry to their refpiration; and, which being 

 plugged up or llopped, they immediately die ; fo oils are found to anfwcr this effeA ; and nut- 

 oil, much fooner, and with more certainty, than any othet ; ns its parts are lefs porous, and 

 therefore better qualified to exclude the air, the want of which deftroys them. 



It is mentioned by fome writers, that in ccitain parts ol Italy it is a common praftice, for 

 mothers, to give their inhints, once or twice a \veck tailing, pieces ot toalled bread uipp.d in 

 nut-oil: and that what they ufe tor this puipofc, is extrac'tui tiom the iiTi-f/i-;/;//, and felaom fails 

 to cle:ir their bowels of thefe dangerous animalcules; the rkiiitis oil is equally powerful, and 

 might be adminiftered after the fame manner. 



Vol. III. 4 Y leaves 



