Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/252

230&#93; 530] M O R body, or rather of a particular part, in consequence of inflammation. Under the article Gangrene, we have already given some hints 3espe6tin5 the nature and treatment pt this dangerous affeftion, so that ve shall at present only add a few Bupplementar}' observ^ations. JMortitications of the external parts, such as the legs and feet, more frequently occur in debilitated persons, and those who are addict- ed to the use of spirituous liquors j or in the aged, gouty, scorbutic, &-C. than in the young and robust. Beside the means suggested for the removal of this complaint, vol. ii. p. 361-2, there are three other remedies, which have fre- quently proved successful. Cakmikati recommends the external application of the gastric juice of animals to the parts atfe£t- ed, in a manner similar to that de- scribed vol. i. pp. 429-30. The late IMr. Pott, after having experienced the inefhcacy of the Peruvian bark in the cure of mor- tifications, accidentally discovered that opium, taken in pretty large doses (one grain every three or four hours), first procured a remission from the great and continual pain Nvhich the patient felt in his foot and ancle } and then stopped the progress of the disease ; but Mr. Pott carefully watched the narco- tic elfects of tliis diug; keeping the body open by laxative injedtions. Thus, the mortified parts were cast olT, the bones separated, and a clean sore was produced : while this was JicaUng, the dose of llie opiate was .gradually diminished, and at length totally relinquished. The last, and probably most ef- fc&Mfd, remedy against this fatal disorder, appears to be the applica- tiuu viJUcd air, v hether by means M O S of filling large bladders, or othff^ vessels, in -which the afFe6ted limb may be confined 5 or by the repeat- ed use of Jerinenting poultices. — In the 3d vol. of the London Medi- cal TransaBioTis ,Mt. John Power communicates a case, in which all the toes had perished, and the mid- dle of the foot had mortified j but a cataplasm of wheat flour and ho- ney, fermented by the addition of yeast, completely stopped the pro- gress ; healed the sore ; and the patient, aged 6/, recovered her health and spirits. MOSCHATEL, theTuBERous, or Adoxa Moschatellina, L. an indi- genous perenniiil plant, growing in damp woods, and shady places^ where it flowers in the mondis of April and May. — The ripe fruit of this low plant has the flavour of strawberries. The plant itself pos- sesses the odour of musk, for which it may serve as a substitute iii chests, or drawers, among clothes. Its root was formerly in repute among the vulnerary herbs. jVIOSS, in Botany, a term for 3 numerous family of plants, which may be called tiiC dwarfs of the vegetable kingdom. IVIosses were formerly supposed to be a mere excrescence from the earth and trees, yet diey are no less perfeft plants dian those of greater magnitude, having roots, dowers, and seeds, diough no art has hitherto been discovered, to propagate them from d^e seed. They are spread over the whole globe, so that in some situations the soil is exclusively covered by mosses ; and thus frequently bare rocks gradually become fertile. — As they grow most copiously on the north-west side of trees, it is probable that mosses serve to pro- ted dicra from the severity of cold^