A fixed oil expressed from flaxseed without the use of heat.
PROPERTIES.--A yellowish or yellow, oily liquid, having a slight,
peculiar odor and bland taste. Soluble in about ten parts of absolute
alcohol and in all proportions in ether, chloroform, benzine or oil of
turpentine.
Linseed oil for medicine should always be used raw.
DOSE.--Horses, 1 to 2 pints; cattle, 2 to 4 pints; sheep and pigs, 5 to
10 ozs.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 3 ozs.; cats, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.
ACTION AND USES.--Linseed oil cannot be used as a diet on account of its
being too laxative; it is laxative in small doses, but in large doses
produces copious discharges of faeces, having a distinct linseed oil
smell. The oil is also emollient, soothing and softening to inflamed and
indurated surfaces. As a laxative it usually produces tolerably full and
softened evacuations, without nausea, griping or superpurgation and with
decided odor of oil. It is the best physic to administer to pregnant
animals and in irritable conditions of the bowels; also in cases of
influenza, purpura and other debilitating diseases, where the usual
purgatives would be too severe, irritating and exhausting. It is also
used as an enema; two to four ounces of the oil or meal given daily in
mash often suffices to maintain the bowels in a relaxed condition
throughout febrile attacks, where there is a tendency to constipation.
An ounce or two of oil given daily often relieves broken wind in horses.
For burns and scalds the well known _carron oil_, composed of equal
parts of linseed oil and lime water, cannot be surpassed. This oil is
also used as a vehicle for acrid medicines and to act as a protective to
the alimentary tract in poisoning of corrosive medicines, also to sweep
them out. Carron oil in two to four ounce doses two to three times daily
will often relieve “heaves” in horses.
Linseed oil is frequently given to ruminants, although Epsom salts is
generally the best purge for them. It is indicated for these animals
when a milder operation than that obtained by a full dose of salts is
required, and for its demulcent action in irritable states of the
digestive organs.