178 VETERINARY MATERIA MEDICA. 



myrrhse, a stimulant to wounds, etc. The powder is 

 mixed with plaster of Paris when applying the latter 

 to fractured limbs of dogs, etc., to prevent these ani- 

 mals from tearing off their bandages. 



Oleum Lini Seminis, linseed or flaxseed oil, the 

 fixed oil expressed from the seeds of Linum usitatissi- 

 mum, without heat (see also under oils and fats). A 

 yellowish, oily liquid, having a slight, peculiar odor, 

 a bland taste, and a neutral reaction. When ex- 

 posed to air it gradually thickens, acquires a strong 

 odor and taste, and finally solidifies. Specific gravity 

 about 0.936. It is soluble in 5 parts of absolute al- 

 cohol and in 1.5 parts of ether. The oil is given as 

 a cathartic to all animals, and as it acts without 

 griping is especially useful in irritable and inflamed 

 conditions of the alimentary canal and urinary ap- 

 paratus, and when the use of other and more active 

 purgatives is excluded. For cattle it is combined 

 with oleum tiglii to increase its activity. Small 

 doses are given with mashes as a food to animals 

 recovering from exhausting diseases. Laxative ene- 

 mata are composed of the oil with a small quantity 

 of turpentine. Dose: H., O ss.-i. ; D., fl. 3 i.-ij. 



Oleum Ricini, castor oil. In large doses is quite 

 active, particularly in the dog. 



The BucktJiortis include: Buckthorn berries — of 

 the Rhamnus catharticus or purging buckthorn; 

 buckthorn bark — of the Rhamnus frangula or black 

 alder ; and the dried bark of the Rhamnus purshiana, 

 Cascara sagrada (chittem or sacred bark), some- 

 times known as California buckthorn. 



