LINUM USITATISSIMUM, Medical Properties of. The seeds of this plant yield several articles useful in medicine and surgery. The testa, or husk of the seeds, is very mucilaginous, the kernel contains much oil, and the farina or meal, procured by grinding or bruising the seeds, after the oil has been expressed, furnishes an excellent material for poultices, but now greatly superseded by Spongiopiline. [Cara rtasms.] The seeds are oblong-ovate, acute, compressed, brown, shining, very smooth, the skin thin, the kernel white and oily. They are devoid of odour, but have an unpleasant mucilaginous oily taste. Old, rancid, and corroded seeds should be rejected. One part of seeds and two parts of water yield a strong mucilage. It is much better to obtain the mucilage by merely pouring cold water en the entire seeds, than to bruise them Anil pour boiling water on them, as generally directed. The mucilage is analogous to that of the quince seed
[Crnosts in NAT. HIST. Div.], and differ. in its chemical habitudes, in several respects, from common gum. The compound infusion of linseed is demulcent, and the unpleasant taste may be much lessened by using cold water to form it, as stated above. The farina of the seeds, ground before the oil has been expressed, furnishes the best material for poultices, but dem not keep well. The cake remaining after the expression of the oil is much used to fatten cattle, but gives a peculiar taste to the mmt.
The lint, or charpie, used by surgeons to dress ulcers, &c., should always be prepared irom linen.cloth and never from cotton, as an amential difference. exists in the nature of their fibres, which causes that of cotton to prove extremely irritating.