Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/41

21&#93; SAN yellowish colour ; veiy brittle and inflammable 3 possessing a pun- gent aromatic taste, and emitting a fragrant odour when burnt. Considerable quantities of this gum are consumed by varnish- makers, who dissolve it in the oils of turpentine, or linseed, or in spirit of wine, and thus prepare a Ikind of varnish, known under the ■name of veniix, which is used by cabinet-makers and painters. Gum- sandarach is also pulverized and passt d through a tine sieve ; in ■which state it is called pounce ; and, vi'hen rubbed on paper, from which writing has been erased, it prevents the ink from spreading, when new charafters are substitut- ed. — ^I'his drug is subjeil:, on im- portation, to the duty of 7s. 8|d. j>er cwt. SANDERS, the Yellow, or White, Santaliim album, L. a na- tive of the East Indies, whence its wood is imported. It is of a pale- yellowish colour, a pleasant smell, has a bitterish aromatic taste, ac- companied with an agreeable pun- gency. From this elegant wood, the Chinese of distinction obtain their coffins, which are said to resist the clfe6ts of the air and moisture, for a long series of years. They also reduce it to powder, and, with the addition of water, convert it into a paste, which is applied to their bodies, furniture, &;c. probably with a view to serve ns a substitule for the more expensive odoriferous oils :~ the powder is also employed for incense in their idolatrous tem- ples. — In Europe, however, it is chiefly prized by cabinet-makers, for the purpose of veneering. This fragrant vegetable is, at present, very seldom used in me- dicine. "When digested in pure SAP [21 spirit, it produces a rich yellow tincture ; from which, on distilla- tion, the spirit arises without any remarkable flavour. Such prepa- ration is, by Hoffman, considered as a medicine possessing similar virtues with ambergris 5 and he re- commends it as an excellent re- stoi'ative in great or general debi- lity. — By distilling it with water, yellow sanders-wood produces a fragrant essential oil 5 which, on becoming cold, congeals and ac- quires the consistency of a balsam. On importation, this wood pays a duty of 3|d. per lb, SANDIVER, or Salt- op- Glass, is a species of whitish salt, that is separated from the surface of glass, while in a state of fusion. It is of a pungent, corrosive taste, and is employed by farriers for the purpose of cleansing horses' eyes. This substance is said to be de- tergent, and is, therefore, occasi- onally applied to the human skin, for removing foul spots : it is also sometimes used as desiccative in ulcers, shingles, and similar com- plaints ; nay, it is even strongly re- commended as a tooth-powder ; though we believe it to be a very improptr and hazardous denirifice. Sanicle, the Yorkshire, See Butter-wort. SAP, in botany, denotes the juice of plants, which is j)reparcd by the moisture absorbed by their roots and leaves, whence it is cir- culated throughout every p^rt, so as to constitute their nourishment. The sap of vtgetables has been compared to the iliyU; of animah : according to Dr.DARv.'ix, the for- mer consists of sugar, water, and mucilage, together with other trans- parent solutions} for instance, those of phosphorus, carbon, and calca- reous earth. The sap, when first C 3 absorbed