Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/458

422] which are sometimes added chalk, ashes, soap-boilers' waste, brick-layers' rubbish, &c.

In this state, the heap remains till within a month of the time for spreading the manure on the land; when the whole is turned, and intimately mixed; the larger clods are then broken into small pieces, while such as may be too dry, are thrown into the middle. Thus treated, the mass unites more perfectly; and the putrefaction will be completed, while the matters continue in a heap. By this mode of forming the basis of dung-hills, the fertilizing liquor (that distils from the dung during the fermentation and heat which necessarily take place) is effectually preserved, and contributes greatly to the amelioration of the soil.  DYEING.—A fine orange-yellow tinge may be imparted to silk or cotton, by grinding anotta on a moistened slab, and boiling it in double its weight of pearl-ash and water: the liquor is then suffered to settle for about half a hour; when it is drawn off, while hot, into a proper vat; and the stuff immersed, till it acquire the requisite shade. In order to heighten and fix the colour, it will be proper to dissolve some cream of tartar in hot water, and to add the solution to the liquor, so as to render it slightly acid: after which, the stuff may be rinsed, and dried in the usual manner.

A beautiful Saxon-blue, for silk and woollen cloths, may be prepared by gradually pouring from five to eight parts of sulphuric acid on one part of finely pulverized indigo. The mixture must be suffered to stand for 24 hours; at the expiration of which, the effervescence will subside: the solution is then to be diluted with water, when it will be fit for dyeing.

Black: A hot decoction of Aleppo galls, in water, is first to be prepared in a proper vessel, in which cotton or silk stuffs, previously soaked in warm water, must be worked for some time. The superfluous liquid is now to be expressed, and the cloths should be immersed in a black dye, made by steeping alder-bark, and iron hoops for several months, in a cask of water; or they may be plunged into a solution of iron in vegetable acids. When the stuffs are thoroughly wetted, they must be wrung out, and afterwards soaked in a decoction of logwood, to which a little verdigrease is added. The last mentioned process ought to be repeated, till the colouring particles be sufficiently imbibed: during the intervals, it will be proper to rinse the cloths in water, and to dry them, in order to fix the colour.  

 EAR.—Beside the causes assigned for the painful affection, known under the name of Ear-ach, it may be occasioned by taking cold from exposure to a current of air, or from wet feet, and likewise from blows, falls, or similar accidents.

For persons peculiarly liable to take cold, the best preventive will be,