Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/129

LIN ling property is the following : — Mix three parts of earth with one part of slacked lime ; scatter a cer- tain number of grains over this compost, moisten it with a little water, and attentively observe whether, in the course of 1(3 or 18 hours, all the grains liave commen- ced to germinate. As lime uu- eommonly promotes the process of sprouting, it may be fairly con- cluded, that such of the seeds as evince no disposition to swell, with- in the time above stated, are unfit for being committed to the ground. —See farther, Flax. Linseed may be advantageously employed for the feeding of cattle, both when the oil is expressed, and also by boiling it into a jelly, as UireiSted p. 4>J3, of our first vo- lume. These seeds are esteemed for their emollient and anodyne vir- tues ; they are used externally in cataplasms, to mitigate the pain of inflamed tumors. Jnternallv, a weak infusion of them, by way of tea, is recommended in coughs, as an excellent pectoral, and as being very sen-iceable in pleurisies, ne- phritic complaints, and suppres- sions of nrine. — Linsced ha^ like- wise been employed in Asia, and, during times of scarc.'ty, in Eu- rope, as food 3 but it furnishes neither an agreeable nor wiiole- some aliment. LINT, in surgery, signifies linen scraped so as to form a soft woolly substance, which is employed in dressing wounds. It is made into various forms, denominated ac- cording to the shape of which they consist. Thus, if it be oval, it is Galled a pledget ; and, if cylindri- cal, it is termed a dossil. The purposes to which lint is applied, are, 1. To prevent the flow L I p fin of blood in fresh wounds, by fill- ing them with this absorbent sub- stance, before a bandage can l>e applied ; 2. To promote the heal- ing of wounds, especially when spread ^^'ith some digestive oint- ment, or balsam ; 3. For drying wounds and ulcers ; 4. To keep them open, in order that the lips may nut close before the interior part is perfectly healed ; and, last- ly, to preserve wounds trom the hurtful influence of the ain — Trilling as lint may appear, it is an ariicie of considerable utility, and with which every fainily should always be provided, to serve in case of sudden emergency. Liox's-Tail. See INIother- WOKT. LIPS, in anatomy, are the ex- terior edges or extremities of the mouth, Lii)s are subjei!:!. to few disorders desi-rving notice, excepting that called the Hare-lip, in which the upper part of the mouth is cleft, or slit, in a manner similar to that of a hare. — It the division be so large that a piece appear to be wanting, no art can supply the deficiency ; but, in slighter cases, the skin may be removed from the edges of tlie fissure, and the whole brought iii contati, by means of a needle m3d waxed tliread ; after which the ex- ternal part is dressed 'with balsam ot Peru, or some similar vulnerary unguent. With proper care, the wound heals in a few days, when the bandages may be removed, and a slia,ht scar only will remain. During the whole course of (he operation, the patient must care- fully avoid all motion of the part aft^eded ; his diet ought to be niild and nourishing, lest the wound be irritated, and an inflammation in- duced. Chapped,