Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/398

366] the spot where they are destined to remain.

Every part of this plant, but especially the root, has a pungent, acrimonious, and almost caustic taste, with a peculiarly strong, and, to many persons, offensive smell. Several nations, however, such as the Russians, Poles, and Hungarians, are very partial to it; and the Jews eat it to excess. Its odour is extremely penetrating and diffusive; and, when the root is taken into the stomach, its scent is communicated to the various excretions, and perspires through the pores of the skin.—The juice of this pungent root may be employed with advantage, for cementing broken glass and china, or porcelain.

Garlic differs from the onion, only by being more powerful in its effects: they are both stimulants; assist digestion; relieve the bowels; expel flatulency; and are beneficial in disorders proceeding from too great a degree of viscidity: they also increase the appetite; and, as their stimulating properties are diffused over the whole system, they may be considered as useful condiments with the food of phlegmatic persons, or those, whose secretions are in a languid state; but their use may prove very pernicious to individuals who are liable to inflammatory complaints, or in whom a great degree of irritability prevails.

The medical properties of garlic are various: it has long been in estimation as an expectorant in pituitous asthmas, and other pulmonary affections that are not accompanied with inflammation. It is also frequently of service in the dropsy; at the commencement of which it has been especially recommended by, in the quantity of one or two drams in substance, for a dose.—Externally applied, it blisters the skin. When made into an unguent, it is said to discuss cold tumors, and has been celebrated for its efficacy in cutaneous complaints:—in certain states of deafness, a small clove or bulb of the root, when enveloped in gauze, or muslin, and introduced into the ear, has been found an efficacious remedy.  GARTER, a ligature employed for fastening or tying up stockings.

Though the use of garters be sanctioned by custom and fashion, it is by no means to be recommended, either above or below the knee; for the parts compressed acquire an unnatural hardness; and every exertion, either in walking or riding, is attended with increased fatigue. Dropsies of the legs and thighs also frequently arise from this unsuspected cause;—hence, likewise, many persons stumble, fall, and dislocate, or otherwise materially injure the knee-pan. Such are the inconveniencies attendant on the use of garters: they might, however, be easily prevented, by simply fastening the stockings to the waste-band, by means of tape.—Trifling as this alteration may probably appear, it is of real importance to all, especially to those who are troubled with swelled or ulcerated legs, as well as to invalids and valetudinarians in general: for we are fully persuaded, that by the adoption of the expedient before suggested, many unfortunate accidents may be easily obviated.  GAUZE, in commerce, is a thin transparent stuff, sometimes woven of silk, and sometimes only of thread. In preparing the silk for making gauze, it is twined round a wooden