Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/270

248] , remains fixed. Hence they operate in some measure as a lever; the two ends of every muscle being fastened to the bones by means of the tendons; but, if any fibre or nerve of the muscle be divided, or only obstructed by a ligature, the power of contraction instantly ceases.

Various denominations have been given to the muscles, according to the different parts where they are situated; but, as these particulars belong to the province of anatomy, we shall only mention, that their number in the human body amounts to about 450, while some of the lower animals are provided with several thousand.

Lastly, the colour of the muscles, in healthy individuals, is deep red; but, in dropsical, or those persons whose humours are in a vitiated state, it is of a paler hue. In the aged, the muscles contract and become rigid:—to retard this inactive and feeble state, there appears to be no better preventive than the frequent resort to the tepid bath; and the constant wearing of flannel next the skin, with a view to promote an uniform degree of insensible perspiration.  MUSHROOM, or Agaricus, L. a genus of plants, comprising numerous species, of which more than 300 are natives of Britain; among these, the following deserve to be specified:

1. The semi-globatus, or Semi-globular Mushroom, the gills or under part of which are fixed, and when quite young, of a whitish colour: the edges soon become entirely grey or mottled; and, when old, acquire a chocolate tinge. The stem is hollow, growing two or three inches high, and about the size of a crow's-quill. This species is found in great abundance on grass-plats, and on pastures, chiefly between the months of July and October; when it ought to be carefully avoided, being one of the poisonous fungi, the inadvertent eating of which has frequently proved fatal.

2. The muscarius (Musky), or rather Fly-killing, Reddish Mush-room, has a large head, which is nearly flat, being generally either white, reddish, or of a crimson hue, and covered with raised, compact, angular warts, that are sometimes thin, ragged, and flat. Its stem is solid, but the pith, or internal substance, shrivels as it becomes old, leaving irregular cavities: it grows in pastures from three to five inches in height, and is from three quarters to an inch and a half, in diameter. Among fir-trees, its head is sometimes twelve inches broad, and the stem from four to six inches high.—This species is also poisonous; and, if mixed with milk, is said to destroy flies: the expressed juice from this plant, when rubbed on walls and bedsteads, has been employed to expel bugs.—, a medical author of great reputation, observes, that the celebrated nostrum sold at Frankfort, in Germany, under the name of Ragolo's Anti-epileptic powders, is supposed to consist of the Reddish Mushroom mixed with distilled oil, and pulverized valerian: this remedy is considered, on the Continent, as the only safe and certain specific for the cure of that dreadful malady.

3. The clypeatus, or Long-stalked Mushroom, which has a hollow, white, viscid, tender stem, that grows to the height of four inches; and is, in general, not thicker than a crow's-quill. It is found