FLAX. 3t3 



boiled in water or milk, form poultices which are applied with 

 the best effects to wounds and ulcers attended with pain and 

 inflammation, and to all kinds of inflammatory swellings. 



The oil is not so much used internally as it might be, on 

 account of its unpleasant flavour, which is occasioned by the 

 seeds being considerably heated previous to expression. When 

 good it is a valuable demulcent and laxative. Sydenham *, 

 Baglivi -|-, Gessner;};, Tournefort§, frequently administered it 

 in cases of pleurisy ; Michel |( in spitting of blood ; Dodonseus^, 

 De Haen**, and Van Swieten -\"f in ileus or twisting of the in- 

 testines ; and Heberden J;J; and Murray §§ speak of its efficacy in 

 expelling worms. It is a valuable application externally to burns 

 and scalds, mixed with lime water or oil of turpentine. By the 

 speedy application of this remedy much pain is prevented, and 

 the subsequent vesication greatly diminished. If turpentine be 

 not at hand, any other spirit may be substituted Frictions made 

 with the oil upon hard tumours and sprains are often of service. 

 The infusion of the seeds is given in the dose of half an 

 ounce to half a pint of boiling water, which may be previously 

 sweetened with liquorice-root. The oil, taken in the dose of 

 a table-spoonful at short intervals, gently purges ; if likely to 

 oflPend the stomach, a drachm of tincture of rhubarb may be 

 added, or the following preparation may be used ||||. 

 Take of cold-drawn oil of linseed, half an ounce ; 

 Yolk of one egg ; 

 Mix them gradually, constantly stirring till the oil is well incorporated 

 then add by degrees, 



Syrup of buckthorn, . . three drachms ; 

 Tincture of ginger, . . . one drachm ; 

 Peppermint water, .... one ounce. 

 This is a useful draught to be taken at bed time or early in 

 the morning, by those who are subject to habitual costiveness. 



* Opera cap. De Pleur. p. 265. 



f Opera, p. 38. 



+ Epist. lib. i. p. 39. 



§ Voyage du Ivevant, torn. ii. p. 140. 



II In Journ. de Med. vol. x^ii. p. 43. 



^ Prax. Med. p. 459. 



•• Mat. Med. P. ii. p. 204. 



i"j- Comment, vol. ii. p. 147. 



Jt In Med. Trans, vol. i. p. 49. 



§§ App. Med. torn. iii. p. 448. 



nil J. A. WaUer, Drit. Bom. Herb. p. 158. 



