_Arrow-root_, a white powder, obtained from the fecula or starch of several species of tuberous plants in the East and West Indies, Bermuda, and other places. That from Bermuda is most highly esteemed. It is used as an article for the table, in the form of puddings; and also as a highly-nutritive, easily-digested, and agreeable, food, for invalids. It derives its name from having been originally used by the Indians, as a remedy for the poison of their arrows, by mashing and applying it to the wound.
_Articulating process_, the protuberance, or projecting part of a bone, by which it is so joined to another bone, as to enable the two to move upon each other.
_Asceticism_, the state of an ascetic, or hermit, who flies from society and lives in retirement, or who practises a greater degree of mortification and austerity than others do, or who inflicts extraordinary severities upon himself.
_Astral lamp_, a lamp, the principle of which was invented by Benjamin Thompson, (a native of Ma.s.sachusetts, and afterwards Count Rumford,) in which the oil is contained in a large horizontal ring, having, at the centre, a burner, which communicates with the ring by tubes. The ring is placed a little below the level of the flame, and, from its large surface, affords a supply of oil for many hours.
_Astute_, shrewd.
_Auld Robin Gray_, a celebrated Scotch song, in which a young woman laments her having married an old rich man, whom she did not love, for the sake of providing for her poor parents.
_Auricles_, (from a Latin word, signifying the ear,) the name given to two appendages of the heart, from their fancied resemblance to the ear.
_Baglivi_, (George,) an eminent physician, who was born at Ragusa, in 1668, and was educated at Naples and Paris. Pope Clement XIV., on the ground of his great merit, appointed him, while a very young man, Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in the College of Sapienza, at Rome. He wrote several works, and did much to promote the cause of medical science. He died, A. D. 1706.
_Ba.s.s_, or ba.s.s wood, a large forest tree of America, sometimes called the lime-tree. The wood is white and soft, and the bark is sometimes used for bandages, as mentioned in page 343.
_Beau Nash_, see _Nash_.
_Bell, Sir Charles_, a celebrated surgeon, who was born in Edinburgh, in the year 1778. He commenced his career in London, in 1806, as a lecturer on Anatomy and Surgery. In 1830, he received the honors of knighthood, and in 1836 was appointed Professor of Surgery in the College of Edinburgh. He died near Worcester, in England, April 29, 1842. His writings are very numerous, and have been much celebrated. Among the most important of these, to general readers, are, his Ill.u.s.trations of Paley"s Natural Theology, (which work forms the second and third volumes of the larger series of "THE SCHOOL LIBRARY," issued by the Publishers of this volume,) and his treatise on "The Hand, its Mechanism, and Vital Endowments, as evincing Design."
_Bergamot_, a fruit, which was originally produced by ingrafting a branch of a citron or lemon tree, upon the stock of a peculiar kind of pear, called the bergamot pear.
_Biased_, cut diagonally from one corner to another of a square or rectangular piece of cloth. _Bias pieces_, triangular pieces cut as above mentioned.
_Bituminous_, containing _bitumen_, which is an inflammable mineral substance, resembling tar or pitch in its properties and uses. Among different bituminous substances, the names _naphtha_ and _petroleum_ have been given to those which are fluid; _maltha_, to that which has the consistence of pitch; and _asphaltum_, to that which is solid.
_Blight_, a disease in plants, by which they are blasted, or prevented from producing fruit.
_Blond lace_, lace made of silk.
_Blood heat_, the temperature which the blood is always found to maintain, or ninety-eight degrees of Fahrenheit"s thermometer.
_Blue vitriol_, sulphate of copper. See _Sulphate_.
_Blunts_, needles of a short and thick shape, distinguished from _Sharps_, which are long and slender.
_Bocking_, a kind of thin carpeting, or coa.r.s.e baize.
_Boston Academy_, see _Academy_.
_Botany_, (from a Greek word, signifying an herb,) a knowledge of plants; the science which treats of plants.
_Brazil wood_, the central part, or heart, of a large tree which grows in Brazil, called the _Caesalpinia echinata_. It produces very lively and beautiful red tints, but they are not permanent.
_Bronze_, a metallic composition, consisting of copper and tin.
_Brlure_, a French term, denoting a burning or scalding; a blasting of plants.
_Brussels_, (carpet,) a kind of carpeting, so called from the city of Brussels, in Europe. Its basis is composed of a warp and woof of strong linen threads, with the warp of which are intermixed about five times the quant.i.ty of woollen threads, of different colors.
_Bulb_, a root with a round body, like the onion, turnip, or hyacinth.
_Bulbous_, having a bulb.
_Byron_, (George Gordon,) _Lord_, a celebrated Poet, who was born in London, January 22, 1788, and died in Missolonghi, in Greece, April 18, 1824.
_Calisthenics_, see page 56, note.
_Camwood_, a dyewood, procured from a leguminous (or pod-bearing) tree, growing on the Western Coast of Africa, and called _Baphia nitida_.
_Cankerworm_, a worm which is very destructive to trees and plants. It springs from an egg deposited by a miller that issues from the ground, and in some years destroys the leaves and fruit of apple and other trees.
_Carbon_, a simple inflammable body, forming the princ.i.p.al part of wood and coal, and the whole of the diamond.
_Carbonic acid_, a compound gas, consisting of carbon and oxygen. It has lately been obtained in a solid form.
_Carmine_, a crimson color, the most beautiful of all the reds. It is prepared from a decoction of the powdered cochineal insect, to which alum and other substances are added.
_Caster_, a small phial or vessel for the table, in which to put vinegar, mustard, pepper, &c.
_Chancellor of the Exchequer_, the highest judge of the law; the princ.i.p.al financial minister of a government, and the one who manages its revenue.
_Chateau_, a castle, a mansion.
_Chemistry_, the science which treats of the elementary const.i.tuents of bodies.
_Chinese belle_, deformities of. In China, it is the fashion to compress the feet of female infants, to prevent their growth; in consequence of which, the feet of all the females of China are distorted, and so small, that the individuals cannot walk with ease.
_Chloride_, a compound of chlorine and some other substance. _Chlorine_ is a simple substance, formerly called oxymuriatic acid. In its pure state, it is a gas, of green color, (hence its name, from a Greek word, signifying green.) Like oxygen, it supports the combustion of some inflammable substances. _Chloride of lime_ is a compound of chlorine and lime.
_Cholera infantum_, a bowel complaint, to which infants are subject.
_Chyle_, a white juice, formed from the chyme, and consisting of the finer and more nutritious parts of the food. It is afterwards converted into blood.
_Chyme_, the result of the first process which food undergoes in the stomach, previously to its being converted into chyle.
_Cicuta_, the common American Hemlock, an annual plant of four or five feet in height, and found commonly along walls and fences, and about old ruins and buildings. It is a virulent poison, as well as one of the most important and valuable medicinal vegetables. It is a very different plant from the Hemlock tree, or _Pinus Canadensis_.
_Clarke_, (Sir Charles Mansfield,) _Dr._, a distinguished English physician and surgeon, who was born in London, May 28, 1782. He was appointed Physician to Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV., in 1830, and in 1831, he was created a baronet. He is the author of several valuable medical works.
_Cobalt_, a brittle metal, of a reddish-gray color and weak metallic l.u.s.tre, used in coloring gla.s.s. It is not easily melted nor oxidized in the air.
_Cochineal_, a color procured from the cochineal insect, (or _Coccus cacti_,) which feeds upon the leaves of several species of the plant called cactus, and which is supposed to derive its coloring matter from its food. Its natural color is crimson; but by the addition of a preparation of potash, it yields a rich scarlet dye.
_Cologne water_, a fragrant perfume, which derives its name from having been originally made in the city of Cologne, which is situated on the River Rhine, in Germany. The best kind is still procured from that city.
_Comparative anatomy_, the science which has for its object a comparison of the anatomy, structure, and functions, of the various organs of animals, plants, &c., with those of the human body.
_Confection_, a sweetmeat; a preparation of fruit with sugar; also a preparation of medicine with honey, sirup, or similar saccharine substance, for the purpose of disguising the unpleasant taste of the medicine.