Dealer, s. A person who deals the cards; one who buys and sells horses and dogs.
A gownsman of Cambridge, anxious to purchase a particular horse in the possession of Mr. Fordham, horse-dealer of that place, called upon him to make proposals, but disagreeing as to price, the collegian waited upon him several times to see if he could possibly bring him over to his terms.—In the interim, however, Mr. Fordham was taken dangerously ill and died. Next day, the gownsman, unacquainted with the circumstance of his death, called and asked a groom for his master.—“My master is dead, sir, (said one of the stable-boys) but he left word you should have the horse.”—Sporting Anecdotes.
Decoction, s. The act of boiling any thing; a preparation made by boiling in water.
The vessel in which decoctions are made should be covered, and when the substance contains any aromatic or volatile principle, the boiling should be continued only a short time. Decoctions should be strained while hot, as some of them, Peruvian bark for example, deposit some active and useful matter in cooling. Decoctions soon ferment, and are spoiled by keeping; they should be used therefore soon after they are made.
A decoction of marsh-mallows, it is useful in fevers as a vehicle for nitre or other medicine; also as an emollient clyster and fomentation.
| CAMOMILE. | |
| Camomile flowers, dried | 1 oz. |
| Caraway seeds, bruised | 1½ oz. |
| Ginger, bruised | 1½ oz. |
| Water | 1 qt. |
Boil for ten or fifteen minutes: a good stomachic drench.
| OAK BARK. | |
| Oak Bark, bruised | 2 oz. |
| Water | 1 qt. |
Boil gently for ten minutes; a good vehicle for tonic medicine.