Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/436

414&#93; 4M-] P LU rient efFe6ls ; bat, when prunes do not operate sutiicieiitiy, their power may be increased by combining them with a small portion of rhu- barb, or cream of tartar. If p/ums be eaten in a fresh state, or before tl)e3' are perfectly ripe, and in immoderate quantities, they induce colics, looseness, and similar affections in the stomach and intestines. The larger kinds, especially, ought to be used sel- dom, and with great precaution, be- ing more dangerous than the smaller plums ; because the former are rarely permitted to attain to matu- rity. PLUME, or Plumage, denotes the feathers of birds, which are frequently worn by military men, and females, as ornaments to the head-dress ; a custom originally derived from barbarous nations. Although we do not approve of such tinsel decorations in domestic life, yet, as the young and gay, especially in public places of re- sort, such as balls, masquerades, &c. are frequently liable to tar- nish, or otherwise to injure the beauty of their costly feathers, we shall insert the following methods of cleaning them : — White plumage may be elFeftually bleached by dipping it in the oxygenated mu- riatic acid, or bleaching liquor of Berthollet ; and, if this cannot be easily procured, by simply im- mersing it for a few hours in pure water acidulated with oil of vitriol, in the proportion of six or eight drops of the latter, to every ounce of the former ; then drying the feathers in the sun, or at a dibtance from a lire. — Faricgaled p/v7uage may be cleaui'd and restored to its former brightness, by gently wip- ing it with a soft sponge dipped in spirits of wine ; and, after it. has POI been gradually dried, by moistening the downy part with a filtred so- lution of gum-arabic, or traga- canth ; — then cautiously exposing the tops and sides to the heat of a bright lire, in order to curl their* extremities. POISON, a term denoting an/ matter that may prove detrimen-« tal, and frequently fatal, to the life; of animals, whether it be taken in small portions by the mouth, mix- ed with the blood, or applied to the nerves by friction of the skin> or other means. Poisons are divided into vegeta- ble, animal, and mineral ; but, as we state the particular substances, togeth r with their appropriate re- medies, in their alphabetical order j and, having already given the ge- neral precautions in case any poi- son have been swallowed (undef the article Antidotes), we shaU at present add a few supplementary directions, to be followed in those situations, where poisoning has ei- ther ac'tually taken place, or is strongly suspeded. I. In order to ascertain the na- ture of the deleterious matter, the' remainder of the poisoned aliment (if any) should tirst be examined. The patient, as well as the per- sons pies'-nt, ought likewise to be strittly interrogated, and the symp- toms accurately investigated. II. The next measure necessary to be pursued, is to learn the por- tion of the ]3oison taken into the stoniach ; whether it was admi- nistered by mistake in medicine, food, drink, or in any other form. In this case also, attention must be paid to the symptoms, such as vio- lent looseness, nausea, and vomit- ing, convulsions, swelling of the face, &:c. — Lastly, the time elapsed S'iuce the swallowing of the poisonv au4