Toddy is much in demand as a beverage in the neighbourhood of villages, especially where European troops are stationed. When it is drunk before sunrise, it is a cool, delicious, and particularly wholesome beverage; but by eight or nine o’clock fermentation has made some progress, and it is then highly intoxicating.[68]
[68] Contributions to the History of the Coco-nut Tree. By Henry Marshall, Esq., Deputy Inspector of Hospitals.
TOLU, is a brownish-red balsam, extracted from the stem of the Myroxilon toluiferum, a tree which grows in South America. It is composed of resin, oil, and benzoic acid. Having an agreeable odour, it is sometimes used in perfumery. It has a place in the Materia Medica, but for what good reason I know not.
TOMBAC, is a white alloy of copper.
TONKA BEAN, the fruit of the Dipterix odorata, affords a concrete crystalline volatile oil (stearoptène), called coumarine by the French. It is extracted by digestion with alcohol, which dissolves the stearoptène, and leaves a fat oil. It has an agreeable smell, and a warm taste. It is fusible at 122° Fahrenheit, and volatile at higher heats.
TOPAZ. See [Lapidary].
TORTOISE-SHELL, or rather scales, a horny substance, that covers the hard strong covering of a bony contexture, which encloses the Testudo imbricata, Linn. The lamellæ or plates of this tortoise are 13 in number, and may be readily separated from the bony part by placing fire beneath the shell, whereby they start asunder. They vary in thickness from one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch, according to the age and size of the animal, and weigh from 5 to 25 pounds. The larger the animal, the better is the shell. This substance may be softened by the heat of boiling water; and if compressed in this state by screws in iron or brass moulds, it may be bent into any shape. The moulds being then plunged in cold water, the shell becomes fixed in the form imparted by the mould. If the turnings or filings of tortoise-shell be subjected skilfully to gradually increased compression between moulds immersed in boiling water, compact objects of any desired ornamental figure or device may be produced. The soldering of two pieces of scale is easily effected, by placing their edges together, after they are nicely filed to one bevel, and then squeezing them strongly between the long flat jaws of hot iron pincers, made somewhat like a hairdresser’s curling-tongs. The pincers should be strong, thick, and just hot enough to brown paper slightly, without burning it. They may be soldered also by the heat of boiling water, applied along with skilful pressure. But in whatever way this process is attempted, the surfaces to be united should be made very smooth, level, and clean; the least foulness, even the touch of a finger, or breathing upon them, would prevent their coalescence. See [Horn].
TOUCH-NEEDLES, and TOUCH-STONE, are means of ascertaining the quality of gold trinkets. See [Assay].
TOW. See [Flax].
TRAGACANTH, GUM. (Gomme adracante, Fr.; Traganth, Germ.) See [Gum].