L I N A C E jE. 207 



States, its original habitat is probably in more eastern climates. It was known 

 at a very early period, as it is mentioned in the ninth chapter, thirty-first verse 

 of Exodus, as growing in Egypt, and although there has been much differ- 

 ence of opinion among commentators, as to whether the fine linen mentioned 

 in various places in Scripture, was a cotton or flax fabric, it is now generally 

 conceded that it may mean both, as it is clear that flax was cultivated at an 

 epoch anterior to any historic record, and also that it was used for the fabri- 

 cation of cloth, as is shown by linen being found as envelopes to mummies. 

 It is true that cotton was also used for this purpose, and Forster, in a curious 

 dissertation on the subject, states that the words translated linen, in the Scrip- 

 tures and ancient histories, most frequently should be rendered cotton ; but 

 even allowing this, it is also certain that flax was used as an article of manu- 

 facture during the first ages. At present, this plant is grown far more ex- 

 tensively in northern than in southern countries, both on account of the fibres 

 of its stem in making thread, and also for the oil obtained from its seeds. 



It need scarcely be said, that the substance called flax is prepared from the 

 fibrous portions of the bark. From this flax, linen is made, which, when 

 scraped, is termed lint, in which form it is extensively used as a dressing to 

 wounds. The seeds and the oil extracted from them are officinal. These 

 seeds are small, oval, flattened at the sides, shining, of a brown colour. They 

 are devoid of smell, and have a mucilaginous taste when unbroken, which 

 becomes oily if they are chewed. The cuticle affords a peculiar gummy 

 matter when the seeds are steeped in warm water ; the viscid mucilage thus 

 obtained is inodorous, and possesses very little taste. By expression, a pecu- 

 liar oil is extracted from the bruised seeds ; this oil is bland, sweetish, and 

 has but little smell when heat has not been used in its preparation. As found 

 in commerce, however, from the seeds being roasted before they are subjected 

 to pressure, the oil is of a yellowish-brown colour, nauseous taste, and disa- 

 greeable smell. This oil, which is known under the name of Linseed oil, is 

 largely employed in the arts, especially in painting, and in the manufacture of 

 printers' ink. It becomes solid on exposure to the action of the air, or in 

 other words, is one of the drying oils ; it does not congeal except at temper- 

 atures below zero, and boils at 600° F. Flaxseed contains about one-fifth of 

 mucilage, and one-sixth to one-fourth of oil. The cake, or refuse, remaining 

 after the expression of the oil, is much used for the fattening of cattle, under 

 the name of oil-cake. 



Medical Properties, fyc. — The mucilage from the seeds made by infusing 

 half an ounce of them, unbroken, in a pint of hot water, has been found 

 highly useful as an emollient and demulcent in inflammations of the mucous 

 membranes: wjien a decoction of the seeds is made, it always contains a por- 

 tion of the oil, which renders it unpleasant to the taste, but adds to its power 

 as a laxative injection. Flaxseed meal when mixed with hot water forms an 

 admirable emollient poultice. The oil is laxative in doses of half an ounce to an 

 ounce, but is seldom given on account of its disagreeable taste. Stephenson 

 and Churchill state, that when cold expressed, it is an excellent corrector of 

 habitual costiveness, in doses of a tablespoonful, and that the addition of a 

 small quantity of tincture of rhubarb will enable it to agree with the most 

 fastidious stomach. The most general use of the oil, as a remedial agent, is 

 in combination with lime water, as a liniment to scalds and burns. 



Several analyses have been made of the mucilage, from which it is found 

 to consist of two parts, the one soluble, analogous to arabine, and constituting 

 about one half; the other not soluble in water, and not yielding mucic acid. 

 The oil is constituted of oleic acid, margaric acid, and glycerine, of which 

 the first is in the largest proportion. 



