44 
REVIEW OF MOIROUD S 
ties, as a fomentation, from its property of uniting with the flo- 
culent or greasy matter often found on the skin. 
Barley used in the form of the grain deprived of its husk, or 
of meal. In the former making a refreshing drink when boilea 
in water, and sweetened with honey or oxymel; used likewise 
as a lotion or emollient fomentation; and in the form of meal, 
boiled in water, constituting a bland nourishing drink. 
Bran treated with boiling water making a refreshing drink, or 
a convenient liquid for injections ; sulphate of soda or magnesia, 
being frequently added to it, both as a drink and an injection. 
The water in which bran has been boiled forming a useful fo¬ 
mentation, and the bran itself with hot water constituting an 
excellent fumigation for the nose, and an emollient poultice. 
Bread yielding to boiling water its starch and mucilage, and 
therefore constituting an emollient and useful drink, and with 
water or milk forming a very good poultice. 
Dog’s Grass ( triticum repens). The stalk is used for food 
for horses in some parts of the south of Europe. It is used in the 
preparation of cooling and refreshing drinks for the human being, 
and may be thus employed for domestic animals; but yielding 
only a small proportion of its properties to the w ater, other sub¬ 
stances containing’ more mucilage are preferred. 
Linseed contains a thick drying oil, and a great quantity of 
mucilage with a small quantity of free acetic acid, and many 
salts w hose base is potash or lime. When boiled, the decoction 
is viscid arid emollient, and is given internally in cases of acute 
inflammation, and particularly of the digestive passages, or the 
urinary or genital organs. It is slightly diuretic, ow mg to the 
combinations of potash which it contains. In cases of suspected 
poisoning’with acrid or corrosive substances, its viscidity renders 
it highly useful. It makes a valuable relaxing bath or fomenta¬ 
tion. The powder is used alone, or with other medicaments, for 
emollient poultices. 
Hempseed. —This possesses properties similar to the linseed, 
and is used instead of it either in the form of decoction, or, what 
is preferable, infusion. The seeds of gourds, cucumbers, and 
melons, may be employed for the same purpose. 
Mallow.— The common and dwarf mallow {malvia sylvestris 
fy rotundifolid) contain so great a quantity of mucilage, that 
they are in daily requisition as emollients. The decoction is 
used externally, or as an injection, and poultices are prepared 
from the pulpy residue. Linseed meal is added to it for a poul¬ 
tice, to render it more viscid, and prevent it from drying. The 
flow ers are even more emollient, and are administered in infusion 
in inflammatory affections of the respiratory organs. 
