Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/261

233&#93; TOU of hard, soft, rough, smooth, hot, <:old, dry, wet, or other tangible properties. Having already explained the organism of the touch, in the ar- ticle Skin, we shall only remark, that the greatest attention to clean- liness is requisite, for preservvig this sense} as it is liable to be impaired by negligence, cold, pressure, or any other objeiSl; that tends to blunt the nerves, or to obstruct their in- fluence. Farther, the touch isaf- feded by the palsy, by apoplexy, and similar maladies that disorder the brain and nerves j though it may be recovered after the pri- mary complaint is removed. — Lastly, if a defe6t of tliis sense proceed from any obstruftion of the cutaneous nerves, it will be advisable to regulate the first pas- sages, by appropriate purgatives, and then to administer, internally, mustard-seed, horse-radish, spirit of hartshoro, or other suitable sti- mulants. Considerable benefit may also be derived from the applica- tion of Sinapisms, fresh nettles, and the use of the tepid bath. ToucH-ME-NOT. See Balsa- mine. Touch -stone. See Gold, vol. 11. p. 382. TOUCHWOOD, or Spunk, Boletus igniarius, 1/. a species of fungus, or sponge, which grows on the trunks, particularly those of cherry and plum-trees ; where it frequently extends to a size of from two to eight inches. The substance of this vegetable is very hard and tough, of a tawny- brown colour, and is sometimes employed, both in England and in Germany, as a substitute fot tin- der : with this design, it is boiled in a strong ley, or urine, after which it is drled^ and boiled a se- TOU [233 cond time in a solution of salt- petre. It is also occasionally used as a Styptic ; being collected ia August and September ; the hard external crust is separated, and the rneduUary part is beaten with a hammer, till it becomes soft, TOURNIQUET, in surgery. an instrument composed of rollers, screws, straps, &c. for the purpose of C(jmpressing a limb, or other part of the body; in order to pre- vent too great an effusion of blood from wounds. The tourniquet is one of the best contrivances in the art of heating : by compressing the blood vessels, it may be so regulated, as com- pletely to check the farther tillux of that vitnl fluid, from wounded I parts : and thus frequently to save a valuable life. Without entering into a descrip- tion of the various improvements that have lately been intrcxiuced into this essential part of operative surgery, we cannot omit to re- commend to our readers, who arc situated at a distance from pro- fessional aid, to provide themselves with this simple and usci'ul instru- ment, which may be had, in the greatest perfe6tion, of Mr. Sa- viGN Y, whom we have often men- tioned on similar occasions. To jxirsons travelling, or inhabiting warm climates, a tourniquet may- prove of the greatest advantage; and we conceive it to be one of the most necessary articles in a medicine-chest, as well as in a case of instruments. Where it becomes an objeft of importance, to suppress the bleed- ing from arteries of the lower ex- tremities, without intercepting tlic circulation through the whole limb, the following ingenious method of applying a tourniquet has been re- com-