Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/401

379&#93; PIL fo wire. The hook may be baited with a middle-sized roach, or a dace, gudgeon, small carp, or tench. From its voracious disposition, the pike is a destruftive inhabitant offish-ponds ; though, while young, it may be usefully employed among large carps, in order to externiinaie •frogs, snakes, and small fish of in- ferior va:ue.—BECHSTEiN observes, that the carp and tench are tiie only fish which are not persecuted by this water-ivolf. The River-pike afrords an excel- lent dish, and is far preferable to those caught either in the lakes, or at sea. Its flesh is firm, though short; and, if properly dressed, re- sembles boiled veal, more than any other fish : it is in season during the winter, and may be eaten ^'ith safety, both by the invalid and ro- l)ust ; as, contrary to the nature of animals preying upon others, it is equally mild and nutritious. PILCHARD, a fish, which greatly resembles the common her- ring ; and though its boily is some- what shorter, yet it is considerably thicker ; and contains a larger pro- portion of oil. Pilchards are fish of passage, ap- pearing towards the middle of July, in extensive shoals, on the coasts of Cornwall and Devonshire; whence they depart at the commencement of winter; a few only returning after Christmas. This fishery proves highly advantageous to the inha- bitants engaged in it : for, inde- pendently of the numerous persons employed in manufaduring ropes, nets, &c. the offals of the captures are consumed by the poor, and the refuse affords an Excellent manure. On taking pilchards, they are first conveyed to a warehouse; where thry are covered with bay- ealt for three weeks or a month, to P I L [379 discharge the blood, Src. after which period, they are washed in sea-water, to remove all impurities ; and, as soon as they are dry, the fish are pressed closely into barrels, to extra.'tthe oil, thatdrains through a hole made in the bottom of the cask. Thus treated, they become fit for use; and, when properly dresse.l,iare preferable to herrings ; as their flesh is of a better flavour, and has a milder taste. PiLcnux. See Oat, the Naked. PILES, or H.^iMORRHoiDs, are small round excrescences a{)p"aring on the verge of the anus, without any apparent swelling : — if attend- ed with a discharge of blood, they are termed the bleeding piles ; in the contrary case, blind piles. This affection is generally accom- panied with a sensation of weight, pain, or giddiness in the head ; dif- ficulty of breathing ; nausea and sickness ; pains in the back, loins, and anus. The piles chiefly occur in per- sons, somewhat advanced in years, and disposed to corpulency; in the plethoric, and debilitated 3 in those who lead sedentary and luxurious lives, especially in men who are addided to the free use of liquors. If the disorder be inherited, it usu- ally appears at an early period of life ; and sometimes during child- hood, or even infancy. In the pe- riodica! bleeding piles of hysteric, hypochondriac, or gouty patients, no medical assistance will be re- quisite, so long as the flux conti- nues moderate ; for, in such case, it is a salutary effort of Nature. The pre-disposing causes of the piles are, obstinate costivencss 5 voiding of liard feces ; acrid pur- gatives, especially such as contain aloes ; obslrudicns in (he haemor- rhoidal vessels ; the frequent use of