Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/298

268&#93; 26S] B I S may be kneaded with more ease. He has shewn biscuit, made after this manner, to several masters of ships, who have found it excellent, and that it stands the test of float- ing on the surface of water, with- out failing to pieces. What an expence would it save the State, and how many valuable lives would be preserved, if biscuit were marie with sufficient skill, and attention to economy ! BISMUTH, or Tin-glass, one of die semi-metals, of a reddish or light yellow colour, and a lamel- iated texture : it is moderately hard kittle, so that it breaks under the hammer, and may even be re-, duced to powder. Most metallic substances, bv an union with bismuth, become more fusible ; hence it is used in the making of solder, printers' types, pewter, &c. Bismuth reduced to powder, mixed with the white of eggs, and applied to wood, gives it the ap- pearance of being silvered — when it is gradually dried, and rubbed with a polisher. This semi-metal is commonly deposited in cobalt-ores ; which, when of a high red colour, are called lismuth bloom, oxjlowers of lismuth. To this mixture may be ascribed the property which bis- muth-ore has of making sympa- thetic ink, similar to that formed by a solution of the regulus of co- balt. — See Ink. In dyeing, a solution of Tin- glass in aqua fortis has lately been recommended by Dambourney, for fixing certain colours on wool, in preference to alum, or other neu- tral salts. — See Dyeing. In medicine, the calx and flowers of bismuth were formerly used, in cases where antinioniaj prepa- BIS rations are now employed with greater safety, and equal effect - T so that the former are, at pre- sent, chiefly converted into pig- ments and cosmetics. — Neverthe- less, we are possessed of the most convincing proofs, that die magistery of lismuth is one of the most powerful anti-spasmodics, especially in cramps of the sto- mach. When cautiously adminis- tered, in doses from half a grain to one grain, in simple water, re- peated every half hour, or oftener, according to circumstances, it af- fords speedy relief of the most ex- cruciating pain : and is, in this re- spect, of superior efficacy to the rated flowers of zinc. But we think it our duty to repeat, that both medicines require the greatest precaution. BISTORT (Great), or Snake- weed j die Polygonum bistorta, h. a native species of knot-grass, most plentiful on meadows and pastures, in the northern counties of Eng- land : it has a thick oblique root, about die size of a finger, blackish brown without, and reddish with- in ; a simple round, slender stem, nearly two feet high j oval leaves, and the stalk terminates in thick short spikes, of whitish red flowers, which appear in July, and arc pro- ductive of seeds in August. — See Withering, 3S2, and Engl. Bat. 50Q. As diis indigenous plant is sub- servient to main' Useful purposes, we have been more particular in its description, than the limits of our work will permit on future occasions. Cattle and sheep are exceedingly partial f o die herbage of the Great Bi-tort 5 but horses will not eat it. The young leaves are excellent for ary use] and a small quantity of