Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/54

34&#93; 34] S C U as are the most agreeable to the taste and stoiuach, in order lo avoid vomiting; the food should consist of the lightest and most digestible vegetables; while he must cauti- ously abstain from all fermented and spirituous liquors, and drink barley-water, or other diluents, ia which a few grains of nitre have been dissolved. A small scar generally remains after the wound is healed; but, if a considerable part of the integu- ments have been lacerated, or de- stroyed, the bone will be covered only by a tliin skin, over which the convalescent ought to wear a round plate of tin or silver, adapt- ed to the purpose, ^ml lined with flannel, to protect it from external injury, SCULL-CAP, the Common, or Blue, or Hooded Willow- herb, Scutellaria galericulata, L. a native perennial plant, gowing on tlie banks of rivers, and the bord- ers of ponds; flowering in the month of July or August, — Its square stem attains the height of two feet : the herb is eaten by cows, sheep and goats j but is re- fused by horses and hogs. — Cau- THKUSER, a German writer, in- ibrms us, that the whole of this astringent vegetable may be em- ployed for dyeing black, with the addition of green vitriol. SCURVY, oxScorbulns, denotes a putrescent, or rather dissolvent, state of the blood. Tiiis term is often misapplied to a variety of eruptive complaints, which have no ijpecific names. The scurvy has been divided into several species, an invesiigaiion of which would be foreign to our pur- pose; especially as the land-scurvy only differs from the sea-Si,urvy, by beii)g less severe. scu Symptoms : — i Debility; dejcc- timi of spirits; bleeding and decay of the gums; fetid breath; spots of various colours, but mostly ot a livid hue, on Ae thighs, legs, and particularly at the roots of the hair. In the progress of this malady, blood issues from different parts of the body, and ulcers are formed, which emit only an ichorous hu- mour, and are with difficulty healed. The patient is now subject to great pain and fainting, on the least mo- tion; or, when exposed to the fresh air, his feet swell j breathing U impeded; and at length diarrhcea, dropsy, or fainting, terminates his sufferings. Causes : — Low, and damp habi- tations; an inadtive life; suppress- ed or excessive evacuations; im- pure air J inattention to cleanliness; depressing passions; coarse, un- wholesome, salted, and smoked food, when taken for a considera- ble time, and without a proper share of vegetables; foul water; want of malt liquor — to the in- fluence of all which causes, seafar- ing persons are peculiarly subjeft, as well as the inhabitants of northern climates. Cure: — It is evident from the preceding statement, that the prin- cipal relief must be afforded by a diet and regimen exactly opposite to the Cimse. Tims, if the scurvy originated from low, damp, or conlined air, the patient must be removed to an open, dry, and warmer situation : if it arose from inadivity, a sedentary life, or de- pressing passions, recourse should be had to exercise in the open air; and he should endeavour to divert his mind by cheerful company and pleasing amusements. Suppressed evacuations must be restored with precaution^ and by mild aperients, the