Part 165

=EXTRAC'TIVE.= _Syn._ EXTRACTIVE PRINCIPLE. Fourcroy entertained the belief that all vegetable extracts contained a common basis of definite composition, to which he gave the name of _extractive_. Chevreul and other chemists have shown, however, that Fourcroy's _extractive_ is not a chemical compound but a heterogeneous mixture, varying in composition with the plant from which it is obtained. Extractive has a brown colour, or one becoming so in the air; it speedily putrefies, and becomes oxidised, and is rendered insoluble by long exposure to air, and by repeated solutions and evaporations. In its unaltered state it is soluble in water and in alcohol, is nearly insoluble in ether, and is precipitated from its solutions by the acids and metallic oxides. With alumina it forms the basis of several brown dyes.

=EXTRAIT.= [Fr.] Literally an extract. Among perfumers, extraits are mostly spirituous solutions of the essential oils or odorous principles of plants and other fragrant substance. The French commonly apply the term to any concentrated spirit, either simple or compound. In the shops of the Parisian perfumers upwards of 60 preparations of the kind are distinguished by this name. The extracts of JASMINE, JONQUIL, MAY-LILY, ORANGE BLOSSOMS, VIOLETS, and other like flowers of delicate perfume, are obtained by agitating and digesting the 'huiles' and 'pomades' of the flowers with the purest rectified spirit in the manner described under SCENTED SPIRITS ('esprits'). This process is repeated with fresh oil or pomade until the spirit is rendered sufficiently fragrant. The other extracts (both simple and compound) are made by the common methods of infusion and distillation. See ESSENCE, EXTRACT, SPIRIT, &c.

=EYE.= In _anatomy_ and _physiology_, the organ of vision. In order that vision may be distinct, it is necessary that the pencil of rays diverging from each point of the object and entering the pupil should converge to a focus on the retina. Near-sightedness ('MYOPIA,' L.) is due to the too great convexity of either the 'lens' or 'cornea,' causing the rays to converge to a focus before reaching the retina. The spectacles worn by myopic persons have concave glasses, which, by increasing the divergence of the rays falling upon the eye, have the effect of carrying back each focal point towards the retina. In the long sight of old people ('PRESBYOPIA,' L.) the foci of the refracted pencils are situated behind the retina, the 'lens' or the 'cornea' being not sufficiently convex. This defect is corrected by convex glasses, which increase the convergence of the incident rays.

_Foreign Bodies in the Eye._--Particles of dust, small insects, hairs, and such like minute bodies frequently get under the eyelid, and thus become a source of considerable discomfort, and very frequently of great pain. Hence the necessity of their prompt removal. In order to effect this the inside of the lids should be so exposed as to reveal the intruding substance. The lower lid may be easily turned down so as to show the inner surface, but the upper lid cannot be so easily manipulated. The end, however, may be attained by taking firm hold of the lid with the finger and thumb, drawing it downward and forward, placing a quill or a small pencil-case on the outer upper part, and turning the lid backwards over it. When the annoying particle is seen it should be removed by gently drawing over it, with a wiping motion, a piece of rag or linen handkerchief, wrapped round the finger, or by means of a camel-hair brush, if this latter be at hand.

If these means fail to remove it, and it should be imbedded too firmly in the membrane, it may be picked off with a tooth-pick, the end of a pair of tweezers, a fine ivory paper-knife, or with a stiff hair from a clothes-brush bent at right angles. If lime-dust has blown into the eye it is only the larger particles that can be removed in this manner; the finer particles may be dissolved out by washing the eye with a lotion made of one part of common vinegar and two parts of water. A drop or two of pure sugar syrup will also frequently dissolve the lime. When a powerfully destructive substance, such, for instance, as sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol, is, as sometimes happens, thrown by some person into the eye, the best course is to wash it out with a solution containing four grains of washing soda in an ounce of water. This should be done as quickly as possible, and pending the time the soda lotion is being got ready, the eye, being kept open, should be diligently washed with cold water. Grains of gunpowder should be carefully removed. Hot fluid, such as melted fat or pitch, may be got rid of by putting into the eye a few drops of almond or olive oil.

Upon removal of the foreign body the pain generally subsides; but it sometimes happens that the membranes may be lacerated, in which case more or less inflammation may ensue. Under these circumstances a medical practitioner should be consulted. For _animals_ the same treatment may be followed. See BLINDNESS, COLOUR BLINDNESS, VISION, &c.

=Eye Balsam=, Vegetable (Martin Reichel, Würzburg). Opium, 5 parts; oxide of mercury, 5 parts; camphor, 2 parts; wax cerate, 52 parts. (Hager.)

=Eye Drops.= See WATER (Eye).

=Eye Essence= (Dr Romershausen). A tincture prepared from fennel seeds and fresh young fennel. (Hager.)

=Eye Powder= (Laeyson, Paris), also known as Odorous Powder. For the strengthening, restoration, and preservation of the sight. A powder composed of--Burnt chalk, 100 parts; ammonia, 50 parts; charcoal, 6 parts; oxide of iron, 2 parts; cinnamon bark, 2 parts. (P. L. Geiger.)

=Eye Pow'ders.= See COLLYRIA.

=Eye Salt.= Powdered alum. (G. Graefe.)

=Eye Salve.= See OINTMENT (Eye).

=Eye Snuff.= See SNUFF.

=Eye Water= (Biedermann, Annaberg). 2 grms. sulphate of zinc in 60 grms. distilled water, with a little infusion of cloves.

=Eye Water= (Brun) is a solution of 4 parts of aloes in 32 parts of white wine, with 32 parts of rose water, and 1-1/2 part of tincture of saffron.

=Eye Water= (Chantomelanus) "makes spectacles superfluous." A turbid yellow-brownish liquid, consisting of a weak extract of lavender flowers in diluted spirit, in which some oil of lavender has also been dissolved. (Opwyrda.)

=Eye Water, Dr Graefe's= (L. Roth, Berlin). Sulphate of zinc, 1·5 grms.; fennel water, 100 grms., slightly coloured with fennel seed tincture. (Schädler.)

=Eye Water= (J. P. H. Hette). A solution of ethereal oils of lavender, bergamot, rosemary, and tincture of opium in spirits of wine, 50 per cent. (Wittstein.)

=Eye Water= (Bernhard Kraft, Calbe) for acute inflammation of the eyes and for strengthening the sight. Seven grammes of an impure muddy sediment-leaving spring water containing half a gramme of native sulphate of zinc containing iron. (Schädler.)

=Eye Water= (Inspector Stroinski, Neisse). One part of sulphate of zinc dissolved in 500 parts of common river water. (Schreiber.)

Once a trace of patchouli perfume was added to this water. (Hager.)

=Eye Water, Dr White's= (T. Ehrhard, Altenfeld, Thuringia). Four cloves, a piece of cinnamon the size of a large pea, 2 teaspoonfuls of rose water, 1 drop of vinegar, 10 drops of arnica tincture. Digest for an hour and filter. Dissolve in the filtrate some white vitriol of the size of a pea. (Hager.)

Sulphate of zinc, 3 parts; honey, 4 parts; water, 80 parts; perfumed with oil of cloves and a trace of mustard oil. (Wittstein.)

=Eye Waters.= See WATER.

=FACE A'GUE.= The common name for the intermittent form of facial NEURALGIA or TIC DOULOUREUX. See NEURALGIA.

=FACE PAINTS.= _Syn._ FARDS, Fr. See BLOOM, CARMINE, PEARL WHITE, ROUGE, &c.

=FAC-SIM'ILE.= An exact imitation of an original in all its traits and peculiarities. The term is chiefly used in relation to copies of old manuscripts, or of the handwriting of famous men, or of interesting documents, produced by engraving or lithography. See SIGNATURES.

=FACTI''TIOUS.= _Syn._ FACTITIUS, L. Artificial; made by art, in distinction from that produced by nature. Numerous illustrations of the application of this word occur in the pages of the present work.

=FÆCES.= Excrement. In the _laboratory_, the 'settling' or sediment deposited by a liquor. See DEFECATION, EXCRETA.

=FAINT'ING.= _Syn._ SWOONING; SYNCOPE, DELIQUIUM ANIMI, L. In _pathology_, a state in which the respiration and circulation are apparently suspended for a time, or are extremely feeble. The symptoms are too well known to require description. The causes are supposed to be--diminished energy of the brain, and organic affections of the heart or neighbouring vessels. This has led nosologists to divide syncope into two varieties:--

1. _Occasional_ (SYNCOPE OCCASIONALIS, S. ACCIDENTALIS, L.), primitively induced by sudden and violent emotions of the mind, powerful odours, derangement of the stomach or bowels, constrained position of the body, tight-lacing, pressure, loss of blood, debility from disease, &c. This variety is frequently followed by vomiting, and, occasionally, by convulsions or epileptic fits. The recovery is accelerated by the horizontal position, without the head being the least elevated, by which the arterial blood is more vigorously thrown upon the brain, and thereby stimulates it to resume its usual functions. Pungent substances (smelling-bottle, vinaigrette, &c.) may be applied to the nostrils, and cold water sprinkled on the face and chest. In all cases the dress (corset, waist-band, neck-cloth, &c.) should be instantly loosened, and indeed this is the first assistance which should be given, either in syncope or apoplexy. As soon as the patient can swallow, a little brandy-and-water, or wine, or a few drops of ether or spirit of sal volatile, may be given.

2. _Cardiac_ (SYNCOPE CARDIACA, L.), arising without any apparent cause, with violent palpitation during the intervals, and altogether of a more formidable character than the preceding. The subsequent treatment must here be directed to the cure or alleviation of the original disease.

=FAINTS.= The first and last runnings of the whiskey-still. The one is technically termed the 'strong faints,' the other, the 'weak faints.' They are both purified by rectification, &c. See DISTILLATION.

=FAITH.= Dr Pereira remarks, that "faith in the beneficial agency of remedies, and confidence in the skill of the medical attendant, are important adjuvants in the treatment of disease. To them both the physician and empiric owe part of their success."

=FAL'LING SICK'NESS.= See EPILEPSY.

=FAMILIENSALBE=, Family Ointment (Göring). 16 grammes of a hard yellow salve in a round box; a mixture of 9 parts wax, 3 parts fat; 2 parts turpentine, 2 parts inspissated juice of _Ornithogalium scilloides_ Jacquin, or _O. candatum_ Aiton. These plants are known to the public as Meerzwiebel (sea onion or squill), but they are only related to that plant in appearance. (Hager.)

=FAR'CY.= See GLANDERS.

=FARDEL-BOUND.= _Syn._ CLUE-BOUND, WOOD-EVIL. An affection of the third stomach of cattle, induced by their unduly partaking of coarse indigestible food. Cattle are most commonly attacked by fardel in summer and autumn, when they are able to get at tough, strong, and hard grass. It is also frequently caused by rye-grass in seed and ripe vetches, as well as by eating largely of the shoots of trees or the cuttings of hedges, a circumstance which has given rise to the disease being called 'wood-evil.' Sometimes an attack may be brought on through over-feeding, combined with a deficiency of water. The symptoms vary greatly in intensity, and are often some days before they definitely manifest themselves. The animal ceases to ruminate, refuses food, and, if a cow, the secretion of milk is stopped. Then, after a day or two fever (indicated by heat and dryness in the nose and mouth) comes on, with somewhat quickened circulation and breathing, the breathing by the second or third day being accompanied by a grunt at the beginning and end of respiration, which is very noticeable when an attempt is made to move the animal.

In all attacks the animal suffers from obstinate constipation. The first stomach is frequently much distended, and if any fæces are passed they are caked, dark coloured, and of variable consistence.

When the disease is attended with most of these symptoms, the animal may live ten days or a fortnight; but unless relief is afforded, nausea very frequently sets in, and continues to increase, the pulse at the same time getting gradually weaker, and the strength failing. In some instances the animal has an epileptic fit, and in others death is preceded by great stupor; whilst in others, again, if it be a horse, it is attacked with stomach staggers.

"The _treatment_ consists in removing the obstinate constipation by powerful purgatives, advantage being taken to gain their utmost efficacy by combining several together, and giving them along with plenty of fluid.

"Three-quarters of a pound each of Epsom and of common salt, twenty croton beans, and a drachm of calomel, will suffice for a full-grown, middle-sized ox or cow, and must be administered in three or four bottles of water or very thin gruel. In this disease there is little fear of giving too much medicine.

"The action of the purgatives is greatly expedited by the use of occasional stimulants, which in diseases of the digestive organs of cattle may be given without fear of engendering or aggravating inflammation. Every encouragement must be used to get the animal to drink, for large quantities of fluid are obviously most essential in washing out the obstruction which causes the evil. The cessation of the grunt, the passage of some hard cakes of dung, with the subsequent abatement of the fever, are the signs of amendment for which we watch; but even after the first movement of the bowels considerable attention, a sloppy diet, and several doses of purgative medicine, are requisite to empty the canal and prevent the recurrence of the obstruction. If twenty hours elapse after the administration of the above combination without any action of the bowels, the same dose may be repeated, along with a good quantity of some stimulant, such as a bottle of ale, with two ounces of oil of turpentine and two ounces of ginger. Half the quantity of the purgative may be given at the end of a like interval, if no effect be produced; but the further employment of purgatives is injurious, inasmuch as it increases the nausea without expediting the action of the bowels.

"A week will sometimes elapse without any alvine evacuation; in some cases I have known ten or eleven days, and in some fifteen days. Yet even in these recovery took place; and so long as stupor and frenzy are staved off, there is always hope of a cure. After the prompt and energetic adoption of the treatment recommended, little further remains to be done except to withhold all solid indigestible food, administer frequent quantities of water, or any simple fluid, which must be horned over if the beast will not take it; allow also plenty of treacle, and encourage the action of the medicine by clysters, scalding the belly, and occasional exercise. Blood-letting is not only useless, but even injurious." (FINLAY DUN.)

=FAR'INA.= The flour of any species of corn, pulse, tuber, or starchy root. The most important kinds of farina are noticed under their respective heads. The following dietetic articles of a farinaceous character are extensively advertised:--

BAKER'S ALIMENTARY COMPOUND. Fine flour (pastrycook's), 2 parts; finely ground rice, 1 part.

BASTER'S COMPOUND FARINA. Wheat flour, 14 oz.; white sugar, 2 oz.

BRADEN'S FARINACEOUS FOOD. Similar to Hard's (_below_).

BRIGHT'S NUTRITIOUS FARINA. Rice flour and potato starch, equal parts.

BRIGHT'S BREAKFAST POWDER. Chocolate, 1 part; nutritious farina (Bright's) 2 parts.

BULLOCK'S SEMOLA. Wheat flour, from which a portion of the starch has been removed, so as to leave an excess of gluten.

DENHAM'S FARINACEOUS FOOD. Wheat flour, 3 parts; barley meal, 1 part; the mixture is slightly baked, and again ground and sifted. Said to be slightly laxative.

DURYEA'S MAIZENA. Indian corn starch prepared for food.

GARDINER'S ALIMENTARY PREPARATION. Pure rice flour, very finely ground.

HARD'S FARINACEOUS FOOD. Wheat flour, slightly baked, and resifted.

KINGSFORD'S OSWEGO PREPARED CORN. An excellent preparation of Indian corn.

LEATH'S ALIMENTARY FARINA. Wheat flour (baked), with some sugar, Indian corn meal, and tapioca. According to some, it also contains potato starch.

MAIDMAN'S NUTRITIOUS FARINA. Potato starch tinged with beet-root or other pink colouring matter.

PLUMBE'S FARINACEOUS FOOD. South-sea arrow-root, with about 1-3rd its weight of pea flour.

POLSON'S CORN FLOUR. The starch of Indian corn or maize prepared with great care. It is much used as a substitute for arrow-root, and for custards, puddings, &c.

SMITH'S NURSING FARINA. Equal parts of baked wheat flour and rice flour.

_Obs._ Many of the above compounds are deficient in the nitrogenous elements of nutrition, and all of them nearly destitute of the mineral and saline matters which are absolutely necessary to the formation of the bones and tissues, and the support of the body in health, and are consequently utterly unsuitable as an exclusive article of diet, especially for young children. Unfortunately, it has been too much the fashion of medical men of late years to recommend these compounds, and even to furnish testimonials as to their excellence, apparently relying solely on the representation of their proprietors or vendors. We deem it, however, to be a public duty to caution parents and nurses against their injudicious use. As mere adjuvants or auxiliaries, when the natural food supplied by the mother may be insufficient for the nutrition of the infant, some of them may doubtless be of value; but in all other cases they should be largely combined with pure cow's milk, beef tea, meat broths or gravies, eggs, or other substances rich in the nitrogenous and saline elements of nutrition.

=FARM'ING.= The business or management of a FARM. Formerly farming was looked upon as a profession easily understood, and successfully pursued only by an empiric. It is now, however, regarded in a different light, and the farmer, to succeed, not only requires perseverance and observation, but also a sound knowledge of natural sciences. See BUTTER, CHEESE, IMPLEMENTS, MANURES, SOILS, &c.

=FARMS, SEWAGE.= See SEWAGE FARMS.

=FAT.= _Syn._ ADEPS, L. The fat of animals is a concrete oil contained in the cellular membrane of their bodies, more especially round the kidneys, in the folds of the omentum, at the base of the heart, upon the surface of the intestines, and among many of the muscles. Fat varies in consistence, colour, and odour, with the animal from which it is obtained. That of the carnivora is usually soft and rank-flavoured; that of the ruminantia solid and nearly scentless. It is generally whitest and most copious in the well-fed young animal, and yellowish and more scanty in the old. That under the skin and surrounding the kidneys (suet) is also more solid than that in the neighbourhood of the movable viscera. In the cetacea, or whale tribe, the fatty secretion assumes the form of oil. These variations in consistency depend upon the relative proportions of solid stearin and liquid olein present in the fat.

The vegetable fats are found in various parts of certain plants, but are generally most abundant in the seeds. They are extracted by simple pressure or else by boiling. Two kinds of vegetable fat, namely, palm-oil and cocoa-nut oil, are extensively employed in the useful arts.

All fats are lighter than water. They are all soluble in ether, benzol, and turpentine, and may be mixed with each other in any proportion.

In former times the fats of many animals were employed in pharmacy, but at present those principally used are lard and suet. In perfumery, in addition to these, beef marrow and bear's grease are employed. For both these purposes the crude material is cut into small pieces, and freed as much as possible from all extraneous membranes; after which it is placed in a boiler with water, and heated until it is completely fused, when the whole is strained, and allowed to cool very slowly. By this means a cake of cleansed fat is obtained, which may be readily separated from any adhering water.

Fats and the fat oils are best preserved by being run into glazed jars, and secluded from the action of the air. A little benzoic acid or gum-benzoin, dissolved in them by heat, will generally prevent, and in all cases greatly defer, the accession of rancidity. We introduced this method into the laboratory in our early days of manipulation, and ourselves, and others to whom we have made it known, have since employed it with undeviating advantage in the manufacture of cerates, ointments, and other preparations containing fatty matter or the fixed oils. It has been shown by Dr Griesler that nitric ether, and its alcoholic solution, act in the same manner. A few drops are not only sufficient to prevent rancidity, but, it is said, will even destroy the disagreeable odour of rancid fat. When heated to remove the alcohol, they immediately become bright, clear, and scentless. See OIL, GLYCERIN, OLEIN, PALMITIN, STEARIN, TALLOW, &c., also _below_.

=Fat, to melt down.= Let all the small pieces of fat cut off joints, &c., be collected, divided into small pieces, put in a stew pan (a little water being added to prevent their burning), and placed on the fire. This must be stirred carefully at intervals to prevent any of the pieces of fat sticking to the bottom.

When thoroughly melted (which it will be in about an hour and a half) pour through a strainer into a basin with some cold water in it. Thus prepared, dripping or fat may be used instead of suet, and there are few who would know any difference between them. Dripping, if clarified as above, may be used over and over again for frying, provided it has not been previously employed in dressing fish, in which case it will impart a fishy taste. But it can be used repeatedly for fish if it is kept for that purpose only. The skimmings off the top of the saucepans, while a piece of meat is boiling, will also do capitally for light puddings.[296]

[Footnote 296: 'Artisan Cookery.' Griffith and Farran.]

=FAT'TY ACIDS.= In _chemistry_, compounds having acid properties derived from the various fats and oils. The radicals of these acids exist in the natural fats combined with a base called glyceryl. When fats are saponified by an alkali, stearate, palmitate, and oleate of potassa or soda, as the case may be, are produced and glycerin is set free. On decomposing either of these compounds with sulphuric acid a sulphate of the alkali is formed, and the fatty acid is precipitated. Some of the fatty acids, as stearic, cerotic, palmitic, and lauric, are solid at ordinary temperatures; others, as oleic, are liquid. The hard fatty acids are extensively used as candle materials, being superior in every respect to the natural fats from which they are derived.