Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/76

52]  of this important operation: soon after the injury has been committed, the vein which immediately communicates with the wounded artery, begins to swell, and gradually to enlarge. Upon pressure, the tumor disappears, because the blood contained in it is pushed forwards in its circulation to the heart; and when large, there is a singular tremulous motion, attended with a hissing noise, as if air were passing through a small aperture.

The causes which generally produce aneurisms, are a peculiar predisposition of the arteries, when they are in a relaxed state; a partial debifity of their coats; excessive bodily exertions; stooping, and lifting great weights; acrid matter contained in a neighbouring sore; intemperance, &c. Where they arise from any external accident, an operation may be attended with success; but, in all other cases, art can afford but little assistance.

In a complaint of this nature, it is presumed that the earliest application will be made to professional men; and as the narrow limits of this work do not permit us to enter into a more minute investigation, we shall close this article with describing a new method of treating an aneurism, recommended by Mr., surgeon at Newcastle upon Tyne, in a letter to Dr. . This was successfully practised, by passing a steel pin, one-fourth of an inch in length, through the lips of the wounded artery, and then securing it in the same manner as in the operation for the hare-lip, by twisting a thread round it. It was performed on the 15th of June, 1763, and on the 19th of the following month, the patient was dismissed, perfectly well; the pulsation of that arm remaining nearly as strong as in the former.  Anethum Fœniculum, L. See.  ANGELICA, is a plant of which there are seven species, though only two of them may be ranked among the indigenous.

1. Angelica Archangelica, L. or the Garden Angelica, is a large umbelliferous plant, scarcely a native of Britain; for, according to the late Dr., the only place where it grows without culture is, Broadmoore, about seven miles N. W. from Birmingham.—An accurate botanical description and delineation of it may be seen in Dr. 's Medical Botany; vol. i. p. 138. pl. 50. The stalk of this magnificent plant, when properly cultivated in a moist soil, rises to the height of seven or eight feet; its flowers are of a greenish white colour, or sometimes yellow.

Every part of this useful vegetable, the root, stalk, leaves, and seeds, partake of the aromatic properties; whence the Germans denominate it angel-root, or breast-root, being one of the most spicy plants of European growth. Its resinous root, and the seeds, are chiefly esteemed in medicine, and the former, when fresh, affords by distillation a strongly fragrant spirit, and an essential oil, in the proportion of a whole drachm, and upwards, from one pound. A tincture made of one ounce digested in twelve ounces of proof spirits, yields, on evaporation, two drachms ef a very pungent and spicy extract. This is generally preferred by the Medical College of Berlin; a valuable member of which, the late Dr., gives the following account of its effects:  Fifteen