Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/227

Rh  degree of heat, with other symptoms of fever. On such occasions, however, medical men ought to be consulted; that they may determine, whether these effects are to be ascribed to a favourable effort of Nature, by which she endeavours to expel something from the body, that is incompatible with its healthy state. And as there is an essential difference between a spontaneous fever, and one occasioned by accident, or intemperance, it will next be necessary to consider, how far the latter be accompanied with inflammatory symptoms, which ought tobe counteracted by the aid of Art; or whether the whole should be attributed to a beneficial crisis, effected by the use of the waters, and in the progress of which Nature should be assisted, rather than interrupted.  BAY-SALT, a kind of brownish impure salt, manufactured in France, Italy, and other countries, by evaporating sea-water in clay-pits; which is effected at a small expence, and with little trouble.

This salt is more or less adapted to all domestic uses, and forms a profitable article of commerce, as it is exported in large quantities. According to the clay employed in making the pits, it acquires different shades of colour; and, in favourable seasons, the French manufacture not only what is wanted for home consumption, but likewise considerable quantities for exportation. The greatest difficulty which attends the making of bay-salt in England, arises from a deficiency of heat in summer; because here the rays of the sun are not powerful enough to evaporate a large mass of sea-water in a certain time. However, the practicability of imitating the French, in the preparation of this article, has been clearly proved by Dr. . Such of our readers as are desirous of information on this subject, we refer to his pamphlet; from which copious extracts, together with remarks, have been inserted in the first volume of the "Museum Rusticum et Commerciale," p. 272; a work published in the year 1764, and well known to rural economists.  BAY-TREE, or Laurus, L. is an elegant tree, of which there are ten species; but none of these being indigenous, we shall in this place give an account of those only, which may perhaps in this country be cultivated with advantage; namely,

1. The Laurus nolilis, L. or Evergreen Bay, is a native of Italy, with an upright trunk, branching out on every side. It may be propagated, either by layers, or by the berries. When the former are transplanted, in a dry srason, they require to be constantly watered. To raise this tree from the berries, they ought to hang till about January, before they are gathered, and to be sown shortly afterwards, in a fine mould. They should be guarded from black frosts while young, by placing furze bushes between the drills. asserts, that this species thrives exceedingly well on the hottest gravelly lands; and, after having overcome the hardships of transplanting, it will grow in such situations remarkably fast, and attain a considerable size.

The dark-green leaves of this tree afford, by distillation, a very useful oil, which is employed, both in medicine, and as a culinary spice. The fragrant, but bitter berries, also yield an essential oil, and in a much greater proportion: it has