SPORTS AND PASTIMES OF THE BRITISH
ISLANDS.
ABDOMEN, _s._ A cavity commonly called the lower venter or belly.
_Wounds of the Abdomen, or Belly_, may occur to horses in leaping
hedges, or pales, or be inflicted by the horns of a cow. Sometimes the
tendinous covering of the belly is ruptured, while the skin remains
entire; the gut then protrudes and forces out the skin into a tumour.
This is a rupture of the belly, and is thought incurable. I have known
one very large rupture cured by cutting out a piece of the skin which
covered it, and then sewing up the wound and supporting it with a
bandage. In some accidents the skin also is divided, with its peritonæal
covering; the gut then comes out, and the wound is of a very dangerous
nature, and still more so if the gut itself is wounded. The first thing
to be done is to put the gut back, taking care to remove any dirt or
other matter that may be sticking to it; for which purpose, should it be
found necessary, it may be washed with warm water. If the gut cannot be
returned, from its being full of air, the opening in the belly may be
carefully enlarged to the necessary size. After the gut is returned, the
skin _only_ should be stitched up; and a cushion of several folds of old
linen and tow being placed on the wound, should be kept in its situation
by means of a wide bandage rolled round the body, and carefully secured.
The animal should then be copiously bled, have his bowels emptied by
clysters, and his food restricted to grass or bran mashes, and that in
moderate quantity.
ABERDEVINE, _s._ (_Carduelis spinus_, CUVIER).
Size of the redpole, (_Fringilla linaria_,) or between that and the
linnet. Length rather more than five inches; bill reddish-white, tipped
with blackish brown; eyes, umber-brown; head, greenish black; over each
eye a pale streak of dingy primrose-yellow; neck, back, wings, and tail,
oil-green, paler, and more yellow, on the lower parts of the back
towards the tail coverts. The feathers of the back and wings are
streaked down the middle with a tint formed of blackish-green and
hair-brown; sides of the head, throat, breast, and under parts, pale
wax-yellow, inclining to sulphur-yellow; middle of the parts below the
breast very pale wine yellow, passing into white; across each wing are
two bands of primrose yellow, and between them one of black; part of the
quills and tail edged with pale gamboge-yellow: legs and feet pale
flesh-red. The head of the female is of a brownish-colour, inclining to
grey where the male is black; cheeks and sides of the neck siskin green
or oil green; and all the rest of her plumage is of a more dingy colour
than in the male.
These birds are of so mild, gentle, and docile a disposition, that they
become quite tame almost immediately after they are taken. They may be
taught many pretty tricks, such as to open the door of their cage, draw
up their food and water, and come to the hand to be fed at the sound of
a little bell or a whistle. Their food is the same as that of canaries,
and they are managed in the same manner.—_Montagu._
ABSCESS, _s._ A morbid cavity in the body.
ABSORBENTS, _s._ Medicines which neutralise the acid matter in the
bowels or stomach. Potash, soda, magnesia, chalk, &c., are
commonly employed.
ABSTERGE, _v._ To cleanse by wiping.
ABSTERGENT, _a._ Cleansing; having a cleansing quality.
ACACIA CATECHU, _s._ An extract from the inner wood of the acacia; a
powerful tonic and astringent, and useful in diarrhœa and
diabetes.
ACCIDENT, _s._ That which happens unforeseen; casualty, chance.
(_Vide_ GUN.)
ACCIPITER, _s._ A genus of the falcon family thus characterised.
Bill short. Nostrils somewhat oval. Shanks elongated and
smooth. Shins plated with scales, the sutures scarcely
perceptible.—_Vigors._
ACETATE, _s._ The salt formed from a combination of acetic acid with
alkalies or metallic oxides. Acetates are largely used in
veterinary practice, as those of ammonia, lead, &c.