Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/208

184]  in the dressing of wounds and ulcers, for digesting and cleansing them, as well as for promoting their cicatrization. Modern surgeons, however, are not willing to attribute any considerable effect to external applications; for they are well convinced, that the healing of wounds depends more on the spontaneous efforts of Nature, especially in a sound and healthy constitution, than upon any artificial aid by liniments, unguents or plasters; and that little benefit can be derived from them, unless the diseased part be properly dressed and cleansed; while the internal state of the body should also be duly attended to. Yet, there are instances on record, in which the basilicon, combined either with a small proportion of the red precipitate of mercury, or, which is still better, the juice of the burdock-root, has proved efficacious in healing scrophulous ulcers, especially those situated near the articulations of bones.  BASKET, a well known utensil, made of twigs interwoven together. Considered as a measure in commerce, it denotes an uncertain quantity, as a basket of medlars is two bushels; of asafœtida from 20 to 50 pounds weight, &c. The Ancient Britons were celebrated for their ingenuity in manufacturing baskets of very elegant workmanship, which they exported in large quantities.  Basket-salt is made from the water of the salt springs in Cheshire, and other places. It differs from the common brine-salt, in the fineness of the grain, as well as on account of its whiteness and purity. In preparing the former kind, some persons use resin and other ingredients, for separating the crystals, and reducing them to a smaller grain; others effect this by keeping up a brisk fire under the pans, and constantly stirring the salt; but the most approved method of manufacturing basket-salt is, to take out for this purpose, the third draught of every pan which is working for the common brine-salt; and to do this before the granules or crystals are perfectly formed. Thus the salt will become very fine; and it is then hard pressed into small wicker-baskets, dried at the stove and kept for sale.

As there prevails, in many families, a prejudice against this species of salt, from an idea that some pernicious articles are used in the chemical process of preparing it, we advise those who are under the influence of such apprehension, to reduce common salt to powder, in a marble or iron mortar: but it requires to be previously cleaned or purified, by dissolving, and again evaporating it to dryness; in which state it may easily be pounded.  BAT, or Vespertilio, an animal which seems to fill up the chasm between quadrupeds and birds; with the latter, however, it has in common only the power of flying, as Nature has provided it with a smooth gauze-like web, serving the purpose of wings.

There are twenty-eight species of this animal, of which only four are natives of Britain. The common bat is nearly the size of a mouse, and flies about, in quest of moths and other insects, in fine summer evenings, with a rapid and irregular motion, resembling that of a butterfly. When it alights on the ground, it is unable to fly again, till it has crawled to some height.