BATH METAL. A species of brass having the following composition:—
1. Zinc, 3 parts; copper, 16 parts; melted together under charcoal.
2. Fine brass, 32 parts; spelter, 9 parts. See Brass and Alloys.
BATH PIPE. See Pipes.
BATH, VICHY (ARTIFICIAL). Bicarbonate of soda, 17 oz.; water, 60 galls.
BATHS and WASH′HOUSES. See Bath.
BATTER. Ingredients beaten together so as to form a semi-fluid mass. In cookery, a semi-fluid paste, which becomes hard in dressing, formed of flour, and milk or water, or a mixture of them, enriched and flavoured with eggs, butter, and (frequently) spices, currants, &c., at will. Used for frying vegetables, fillets, &c., and as a material for fritters and pancakes; also to form puddings, which are either baked alone, or under meat; and to cover various articles during the operation of cooking them. Miss Acton gives the following formulæ:—1. (For the Frying-pan.) Butter, 2 oz.; boiling water (nearly) 1⁄4 pint; mix, and stir in, gradually, of cold water, 3⁄4 pint; when quite smooth, mix it by degrees, very smoothly with fine dry flour, 3⁄4 lb.; adding (for fruit) a small pinch of salt (but more for meat or vegetables); just before use, stir in the whites of two eggs (or the white and yelk of one), and fry until light and crisp. In humble cookery the eggs may be omitted.
2. (For Puddings.) Eggs (yelk and white), about 4 in no.; flour, 1⁄2 lb.; milk, q. s.
Obs. When fruit, &c., are added, the batter must be made thicker than when none is used, to prevent it sinking. When sufficiently dressed it should cut smoothly and not stick to the knife. Eggs increase its firmness.
BATT′ERY. In frictional electricity, a series of Leyden jars so arranged as to admit of being charged and discharged together. See Electricity, &c.