Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/118

98&#93; pSj SOD quality of the goods will be im- paired ; nor the hands of women, when the soda is judiciously em- ployed, be injured in ihc same man- ner, as generally happens by the common ley. Fartlicr, as frequent bathing or washing of the body greatly conduces to health, it has been re- commended to dissolve a small portion of soda in the water thus employed ; or, at least to pass a towel wetted with a solution of soda and soap, over the surface} for such practice opens the pores, and re- juoves the disagreeable odour aris- ing from profuse perspiration : — a similar application will be produc- tive of equal advantage to horses that are employed for racing, post- ehaises, or other purposes, where great exertions arc required. If a weak solution of soda be poured into foul bottles or casks, in •which wine has been kept for a considerable time, it will com- pletely dissolve the tartarous crust that is formed ou their inner sur- face : — ^boot-tops, saddles, or brj- <i!es, may with such liquid be ef- fc6tually cleansed, while the origi- nal colour of the leather is pre- served. This alkali may, likewise, be employed for sweetening kitehea- utensils, and particularly for re- moving grease or acids from copper vessels J because these concretions, when suffered to remain, form a strong poison, and may be produc- tive of deleterious etfe6ts. In a si- milar manner, it may be used for tin and iron vessels, to prevent them from becoming rusty. Lastly, as the utensils of the dairy are apt to acquire an acid, disagreeable smell, duriiTg the sanmier, and par- , ticularly after a tliunder-storm, though every attention ^e bestovr- SOF ed on them, such fetor may be comoletely removed by a stnal! portion of soda, which will render the milk-vessels perfeftlv sweet ; while it nentralixes and dispels the acid ferment imbibed by the wood, and which might otherwise taint the milk. The crystals of soda are not lesS useful in a medicinal point of view. Thus, a solution of this salt, is an excellent gutgfe for cleaiising the throat, mouth, and gums, both in a sound and in a diseased or ulce- rated state ; while it whitens the teeth ; and dissolves all incrusta- tions that may be formed on their surface, without injuring their ena- mel. And, if a sfnall quantity of this liquid be occasionally sv^al- lowed, after washing the faucts, it is said effe^ually to remove a fetid Ireath. Soda is, in many instances, preferable to magnesia, for correft- ing acidity in the stomach ; nay, it is even asserted, that it prevcnls the gout, gravel, stone, and similar disorders : lastly, if the fossil alkali be mixed with cream of tartar, in the proportion of 14 parts of the former to 12 of the latter, it fur- nishes one of the mildest laxatives; namely, the Rochelle Salt. — See also Glauber's Salt. SOl'T-GRASS, the Mf.adott, or HoLcus lavatus, L. a native pe- rennial, growing in meadows and pastures, particularly in moist, light situations : it flowers in the months of June and July. This grass, though vegetating late in the season, is very produAive ; but Is not much relished by cattle : it makes a soft, spongy hay, that is very hurtful to horses; which, by eating it, become affefted with a profuse discharge of urine, and general weakness. In case any hay, obt'ained from this vegetable, be acci-