Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/294

264&#93; 264] FES is eaten by horses, cows, sheep, and goats 1. 'I here is a variety of this grass, called by Mr. Curtis the Festuca pratensis, or meadow fescue-grass, which will thrive not only in very wet, but also in dry soils. This variety possesses a property, on account of which it deserves to be more generally cultivated, namely, that of producing abundance of seeds, which speedily grow, and are easily collected. It bears a close resemblance to ray-grass, though it is in many respeels greatly superior to the latter, at least for the pur- pose of making and improving meadows } as it is perennial, larger, more productive of foliage, and very hardy. 5. The ' fluitans, or Flote-fescue grass, which is common in wet ditches, ponds, and marshy places ; it flowers from June to September. This plant is remarkable tor its small but very sweet and nutritious seeds : they are collected in seve- ral parts of Germany and Poland, under the name of manna seeds ; and used in soups, gruels and pud- dings, both for their excellent ali- ment, and agreeable flavour. "When ground into meal, the seeds may be converted into bread, which is little inferior to that made of wheat. The bran, separated in preparing the meal, is given to horses troubled with worms ; but no water should be allowed these animals for several hours afterwards. Beside the use- ful purposes before mentioned, the flote-fescue is a valuable grass for .cattle j being so remarkably grate- ful, especially to horses and hogs, that they will endanger their lives in obtaining it 5 but as it grows only in waters which have a miry bottom, it cannot be cultivated. — Ti-e Cuttenharh and Chedder FE V cheese, in a great measure, derive their celebrity from this grass. 6. The myurus, or Wall Fescue- grass, or Capons-tail grass, which grows on walls, dry barren places, and road sides ; it produces violet stalks from 16 to 24 inches high, and affords a sweet, nourishing pasture : hence it might be culti- vated with advantage, on the poorest soil where few other grasses will thrive. FEVER, a general term for a numerous and diversified class of diseases ; in which, after shiver- ing, succeed increased heat and a quick, irregular pulse ; while se- veral of the animal functions are im- paired, and the muscular strength, particularly that of the joints, is remarkably diminished. In mostof the febrile actions tak- ing place in the human body, Nature endeavours to remove some noxious foreign matter ; and the evacua- tions which take place in fevers, are principally those by the pores of the skin, and the urinary pas- sages, sometimes also by vomit- ing and diarrhoeas, less frequent- ly by hemorrhages or fluxes of blood, and very seldom by cu- taneous eruptions. — In the small- pox and bilious fevers, especially of scorbutic patients, a discharge of saliva occasionally intervenes, which, though it cannot be called critical, ought never to be sup- pressed. In all fevers, there is either an increased, progressive motion of the blood, which is manifest from the quickness of the pulse ; or an accelerated internal commotion of the fluids, which is obvious from the unusual degree of heat accom- panying them : — in most instances, however, both symptoms occur in the same individual. Hence, the pro$i