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CHAP. 92.—LINSEED: THIRTY REMEDIES.

Linseed1 is not only used in combination with other substances, but, employed by itself, it disperses spots on the face in women: its juice, too, is very beneficial to the sight. Combined with incense and water, or else with myrrh and wine, it is a cure for defluxions of the eyes, and employed with honey, grease, or wax, for imposthumes of the parotid glands. Prepared2 like polenta, it is good for fluxes of the stomach; and a decoction of it in water and oil, applied topi- cally with anise, is prescribed for quinsy. It is sometimes used parched, also, to arrest looseness of the bowels, and ap- plications of it are used, with vinegar, for cœliac affections and dysentery. It is eaten with raisins, also, for pains in the liver, and excellent electuaries are made of it for the treatment of phthisis.

Linseed-meal, with the addition of nitre, salt, or ashes, softens rigidities of the muscles, sinews, joints, and vertebræ, as well as of the membranous tissues of the brain. Employed with figs, linseed-meal ripens abscesses and brings them to a head: mixed with the root of wild cucumber, it extracts3 all foreign bodies from the flesh, as well as splinters of broken bones. A decoction of linseed-meal in wine prevents ulcers from spreading, and mixed with honey, it is remedial for pituitous eruptions. Used with nasturtium, in equal quantities, it rectifies4 malformed nails; mixed with resin and myrrh, it cures affections of the testes and hernia,5 and with water, gangrenous sores. A decoction of linseed-meal with fenugreek, in the proportion of one sextarius of each, in hydromel, is recommended for pains in the stomach; and employed as an injection, with oil or honey, it is beneficial for dangerous affections of the chest and intestines.

1 See B. xix. c. 1. The rich mucilage of linseed makes it extremely valuable, in a medicinal point of view, for poultices. This mucilage is found in the perisperm more particularly; the kernel containing a fixed oil, which is extremely valuable for numerous purposes. The account given by Pliny and the other ancient writers of the medicinal uses of linseed, is, in general, correct.

2 "Inspersum," sprinkled with boiling water; like oatmeal for porridge, probably.

3 It would be of no use whatever for such a purpose, Fée says.

4 "Emendat." By bringing them off probably.

5 It would be of no utility for hernia, Fée says, or for the cure of gan- grenous sores.

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