Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/54

30&#93; 3o] A L TC pure alkali, or in proportioH of eight ounces and three arachras to a pound. M. Jacobson, the editor of the German Technological Dictionary, asserts, that the dry or withered leaves of the beech-tree, or the Fagtis sylvatica L. afford the vege- table alkali in great abundance, in- somuch that ten pounds weight of the ashes thence obtained, are equal to thirty pounds of common wood- . — We have purposely men- tioned the results of these experi- ments, as the vegetables alluded to may be readily procured, and sub- stituted for the very expensive arti- cles of pearl-ashes and soap. A far- ther account of useful substitutes will appear under the different heads of Soap, Soda, and Washing. It is affirmed, that pestilential fluids are rendered harmless and inactive by alkaline substances; and Dr. Mitchill, of New- York, in two letters written to a young lady, has ingeniously and humorously de- scribed dieir good effects. As these refer to many articles of domestic economy, which are more or less Composed of alkaline productions, we shall present our readers with an extract, nearly in the author's own words : — It is a stale and indelicate subject of jesting among men, how much time and labour are consumed by women in scrubbing, scowering, whitening, and washing'. These operations, however, are not per- formed for mere pleasure, but to prevent the conversion of impuri- ties to infection; or to destroy it, if already produced. For this pur- pose, they employ pot-ash and its ley, soap, lime, calcareous earth, &c. to seower the porous materials o£ their floors and stair-cases ; to purify garments that have become soiled or contaminated by long use., AL K yf bearing; and with good reason, as feh< are capa- ble of drawing forth and rendering harmless, those animal exhale. tions which- are ready to be converted into pestilential poison. — The ladies have indeed proved from long esta- blished experience, that f< infeSiion is u>/i form [7/ prevented and exiin- i d by the use vfalkalies" Dr. Mitchill also recommends the u^e of pot-ash cakes for chil- dren, to prevent the injurious ef- ii an acid upon their sto- mach, and mitigate the disorders to which their bowels are liable. He observes, that those infants who have been accustomed to eat cakes a little tinctured with this excellent ingredient, grow fat and healthy ; and concludes with advising alka- line washes and powders as denti- frices ; which, in his opinion, have been beneficial only in proportion to the alkali, of which they are partly composed; ALKANET, Evergreen, or Bugloss; the Arichusa sempervirens, L. of eight species, the only c:ie which is indigenous : if is repre- sented in Sowerby's E/igl.But. 45, p. 5 — 7. The Anchusa officinalis, or great- er garden-bugloss, is a native of the warmer pans of Europe ; but will also thrive in Britain. The flowers of this species, which blow dining the whole summer, have ob- tained the name of cordial flowers', the palate and siomach. They are much visited by bees ; — die young- leaves afford a good substitute early garden vegetables, and the whole plant is an excellent fi for cattle. — If the juice of die fresh flowers be boiled with a solution of allum, it yields a green colour, which is used for dying. The
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