LINSEED
—is a well-known article, and of so much general utility, that the house of a SPORTSMAN (in the country) should never be without it: its properties, either in its state as SEED, or sold in the shops as powdered, become equally applicable to the stable wants of the winter season. A DECOCTION of the seeds, one handful boiled for a quarter of an hour in two quarts of water, and strained, is the best mucilaginous wash for sore or cracked heels during frost or snow that can be brought into use; as well as an excellent article (in such weather) to prevent their appearance. In FEVERS, or an inflammation of the lungs, an INFUSION of the seed made with boiling water (standing covered for an hour) and then strained, being afterwards incorporated with a moderate quantity of honey, will be found useful in allaying the severity of disease.
Poultices made of linseed powder and milk, with the addition of a small quantity of olive oil, is the leading step to a cure of CRACKED HEELS of the worst description: they are also, from their EMOLLIENT property, the best possible external application to legs affected with GREASE, either in an early or more advanced stage; in which disorder it is too much the custom to rely implicitly upon the medicinal power and effect of internals, without considering that, by striking industriously at the very root of disease, it might often be completely cured in half the time by the assisting effects of both.