Algaroba or Algarovil′la. The astringent pods of prosopis pallida, p. siliquastrum, and Inga Marthæ (South American trees), bruised and more or less agglutinated by the extractive exudation of the seed and husks. They are used in tanning, for which purpose they have been strongly recommended; indeed that of Chili, and of Santa Martha (New Carthagena), is said to possess “four times the power of good oak bark” (Ure); and in dyeing are only inferior to oak-galls.
ALGONTINE. A mouth and tooth wash. An aqueous solution of nitrate of potassium, aromatised with oil of peppermint, tincture of myrrh, and tincture of cinnamon.
ALGOPHON (Bernhard, Salzburg). For pains in decayed teeth. A solution of ethereal oil of mustard (2 grms.) in spirit of cochlearia (30 grms.), coloured green by saffron and litmus. (Wittstein.)
AL′IMENT. [Eng., Fr.] Syn. Alimen′tum, L.; Nahrung, Speise, Ger. Food; nutriment; anything which nourishes or supports life.
ALIMENT′ARY Syn. Alimenta′′rius, L.; Alimentaire, Fr.; zur Nahrung gehörig, Ger. Pertaining to food or aliment; nutrimental; nourishing.
Alimentary Canal′. Syn. Alimentary duct; Cana′lis Alimenta′′rius, L. In anatomy, the cavity in the bodies of animals into which the food is taken for the purpose of being digested; the whole passage or conduit extending from the mouth to the anus. In some of the lower animals this is a simple cavity, with only one opening; when the same aperture which admits the food also gives egress to the excrementitious matter. In others it is a true canal, with both a mouth and an outlet. Another step, and we find this canal is divided into a stomach and intestines. In the higher grades, a mouth, pharynx, and œsophagus precede the stomach. Birds have one or two sacculi or crops added to the œsophagus. The stomach of the ruminants consists of four sacs or parts, each of which may be regarded as a separate stomach; that of the bottle-nose whale contains no less than seven of such sacs. The part below the stomach, forming the intestines, is also variously subdivided, complicated, and connected. In man, these subdivisions are termed—DUODENUM, JEJU′NUM, IL′EUM, CÆ′CUM, CO′LON, and REC′TUM; the lower end or orifice of the last being called the A′NUS. The existence of an alimentary canal is said to be the only true characteristic of an animal. Plants have no common receptacle for their food, nor canal for carrying away effete matter; but every animal, however low in the scale of being, possesses an internal cavity which serves it as a stomach.
Alimentary Sub′stances. Syn. Aliments; Mate′′ria alimenta′′ria, L. Substances employed as food.
ALIMENTA′TION. [Eng., Fr.] Syn. Alimenta′tio, L.; Nahrhaftigkeit, Ger. The act, process, power, or state of nourishing, or being nourished.
AL′IZARI. [Tur., ali-zari.] The commercial name of madder in the Levant.
ALIZARIN. C10H6O3 . 2H2O. Syn. Lazaric Acid. A red colouring matter obtained from madder.