Treatment for Animals. Remove clots from parts, raise the hind-quarters. Give clysters of linseed tea, lukewarm, and laudanum or
belladonna extract. Syringe out parts with Condy’s fluid considerably diluted. Give internally belladonna, opium, or chloroform. Draw away milk.
AFT′ER-WASH (wŏsh). In the art of the distiller, the liquor in the still after the spirit has been drawn over.
AG′ARIC. [Eng., Fr.] Syn. Agar′icum, Agar′icus, L.; Blätterschwamm, Pilz, Schwamm, Ger. In botany, a genus of fungi, of numerous species, embracing the mushrooms and champignons. Of these plants, some are edible; others poisonous. The term is also commonly applied to the boletus found on oaks (TOUCHWOOD), and on larches (MALE AGARIC). See Mushrooms.
Fly-agaric. Syn. Fly mush′room; Agar′icus musca′′ria, Linn.; Amani′ta m. One of the most narcotic and poisonous of our fungi, producing, in small doses, intoxication and a pleasing species of delirium; for which purpose it is commonly employed in Kamschatka. (Hooker.) It possesses the singular property of imparting an intoxicating quality to the urine, which continues for a long time after taking it. This secretion is, therefore, commonly saved by the natives during a scarcity of the fungus. “Thus, with a few amanitæ, a party of drunkards may keep up their debauch for a week;” and the intoxication so produced is capable of “being propagated through five or six individuals.” (Langsdorff.) Water in which it has been boiled is poisonous; but the boiled fungus itself is inert. The liquid from it is used as a fly-poison; whence the name mushroom is derived. It may be known by its rich orange-red colour in autumn.
AG′ATE (-āte, -ĕt‡). [Eng., Fr.] Syn. Acha′tes (-kā′-tēz), L. A semi-pellucid uncrystallised species of quartz, remarkable for its hardness, variety of colour, and susceptibility of receiving a high polish. It is an aggregate of various siliceous minerals, of which chalcedony appears generally to be the base. Carnelian, jasper, amethyst, and other similar minerals, often enter into its composition. The colours are often delicately arranged in stripes, bands, or clouds. Those which take an angular form, as the Scotch pebble, are called FORTIFICATION AGATES. It is the least valuable of the precious stones, and is chiefly made into rings, seals, beads, burnishers, &c., on account of its hardness. Its powder is used for cleansing and polishing iron, brass, &c., and to sharpen edge-tools.
AGEING LIQUOR. Dissolve 3 lbs. of chlorate of potash in 4 galls. of boiling water. Add 20 lbs. of powdered white arsenic to 20 lbs. of solution of caustic soda at 60° Tw., and boil until the arsenic is completely dissolved. Add the latter solution to the former, with stirring, until the mixture stands at 28° Tw.
AG′NAIL. See Whitlow.
AGRYPNOT′ICS (-grĭp-). Syn. Anthypnot′ics (-hĭp-); Agrypnot′ica, Anthypnot′ica, L. In medicine and pharmacology, agents or substances which prevent sleep; as tea, coffee, digitalis, vinegar, &c.
A′GUE (-gŭ). Ague may be defined as febrile phenomena occurring in paroxysms, and observing a certain regular succession, characterised by chill, abnormal heat, and unnatural cutaneous discharge, which prove to be a temporary crisis and usher in a remission. These phenomena are developed in an uninterrupted series or succession more or less regular, which pass into each other by insensible stages. Ague is paludal fever, and has always been observed to prevail in marshy moist districts, and in low, swampy humid countries, in which seasons of considerable heat occur.