Used by brewers to make their beer keep its head or froth.
=HEALTH.= That state of the living body in which all its functions are
duly performed. See HYGIENE.
=HEALTH, GOOD--Gut-Heil= (Aust). A liquor containing the extractive
matters of calamus root, rhubarb, cinnamon, orange peel, &c., with 35 per
cent. of sugar. (Hager.)
=HEAR'ING.= See DEAFNESS, EAR, &c.
=HEART'BURN.= _Syn._ CARDIALGIA, L. Anxiety and pain about the region of
the stomach, generally attended by a sense of gnawing and heat; hence its
popular name. Faintness, nausea, and eructation of a thin, acidulous,
watery liquid, especially in the morning, are common symptoms of this
complaint. The usual causes of heartburn are excess in eating and
drinking, the use of improper food, and sedentary habits. A good remedy is
a teaspoonful of carbonate of magnesia, or carbonate of soda, in a glass
of peppermint or cinnamon water, to which a little powdered ginger may be
added with advantage. This dose may be taken 2 or 3 times daily until the
disease is removed. Articles of food that easily undergo fermentation
should at the same time be avoided, and a dry diet had recourse to as much
as possible. Soda water, toast-and-water, and weak spirit-and-water, are
the most suitable beverages in this complaint.
=HEAT.= _Syn._ CALORIC; CALORICUM, L. The consideration of this subject
belongs to physics and chemistry. Much useful information, in connection
with it, will, however, be found in this work under the heads EBULLITION,
EVAPORATION, EXPANSION, REFRIGERATION, &c.
=HEAVY SPAR.= Native sulphate of barium. See BARYTA.
=HED'ERIN.= _Syn._ HEDERINA, L. From the decoction of the ground seeds of
ivy (_Hedera helix_), boiled in water, along with a little slaked lime or
magnesia, the precipitate being afterwards digested in rectified spirit,
and the filtered tincture evaporated. Febrifuge and sudorific.
=HEIGHT, Average of Man.= The 'Boston Journal of Chemistry' gives the
following particulars of the average height of man:--"The Yankee would
appear to be the tallest of civilised men, if we may trust some statistics
given in foreign journals as the result of the measurement of over half a
million men. The mean height of the American Indian is 67·934 inches; of
the American white man, 67·672; Scotch, 67·066; English, 66·575; Russian,
66·393; French, 66·277; Mexican, 66·110." If the Yankee carries off the
palm as the tallest of men, he also does so for his tallest tales; but if
weight were introduced into the calculation, we think our Transatlantic
cousins would rank last.
=HEIGHTS.= The following table, calculated by Regnault, gives the
temperature at which water boils at the corresponding heights of the
barometric column. The figures have been confirmed by direct observation.
_Boiling Points of Water at different Pressures._
+--------------|-----------|---------------|-----------|---------------|----------+
|Boiling Point.| Barometer.| Boiling Point.| Barometer.| Boiling Point.|Barometer.|
| Deg. Fahr. | Inches. | Deg. Fahr. | Inches. | Deg. Fahr. | Inches. |
+--------------|-----------|---------------|-----------|---------------|----------+
| 184 | 16·676 | 195 | 21·124 | 206 | 26·529 |
| 185 | 17·047 | 196 | 21·576 | 207 | 27·068 |
| 186 | 17·421 | 197 | 22·030 | 208 | 27·614 |
| 187 | 17·803 | 198 | 22·498 | 209 | 28·183 |
| 188 | 18·196 | 199 | 22·965 | 210 | 28·744 |
| 189 | 18·593 | 200 | 23·454 | 211 | 29·331 |
| 190 | 19·992 | 201 | 23·937 | 212 | 29·922 |
| 191 | 19·407 | 202 | 24·441 | 213 | 30·516 |
| 192 | 19·822 | 203 | 25·014 | 214 | 31·120 |
| 193 | 20·254 | 204 | 25·468 | 215 | 31·730 |
| 194 | 20·687 | 205 | 25·992 | 216 | 32·350 |
+--------------|-----------|---------------|-----------|---------------|----------+
=HEL'ENIN.= See INULIN.
=HELIOG'RAPHY.= See PHOTOGRAPHY.
=HEL'LEBORE.= _Syn._ BLACK HELLEBORE; HELLEBORUS (Ph. L.), L. "The rhizome
and root" of "_Helleborus niger_" (Ph. L.) or black hellebore. It is
alterative and emmenagogue, in small doses (2 to 8 gr.); and a drastic
hydragogue purgative and anthelmintic in larger ones (10 to 20 gr.) See
WHITE HELLEBORE.
=HELLEBOR'IE.= _Syn._ SOFT RESIN OF HELLEBORE. An odourless, acrid
substance, extracted by alcohol from black hellebore, and on which,
according to Vauquelin, the activity of that drug depends.
=HEM'LOCK.= _Syn._ CONII FOLIA (B. P.); CONIUM (Ph. L. E. & D.), L. In
_pharmacy_, "the fresh and dried leaf of the wild herb _Conium
maculatum_," or spotted hemlock. The first is used to make the extract;
the last, the tincture and powder.
Hemlock is a powerful narcotic acrid poison, occasioning stupor, delirium,
paralysis, convulsions, coma, and death. In small doses it is anodyne,
alterative, resolvent, antispasmodic, and anaphrodisiac, and has been
exhibited in cancer, dropsy, epilepsy, rheumatism, scrofula, syphilis, and
other diseases.--_Dose_, 3 or 4 gr. of the powder, twice or thrice daily,
until some obvious effect is produced.
Hemlock, whether in leaf (conii folia) or powder (pulvis conii) rapidly
deteriorates by keeping. When good, the powder, triturated with solution
of potassa, exhales a powerful odour of conia.
In cases of poisoning by hemlock, the treatment is similar to that noticed
under ACONITE. See CONIA, EXTRACT, TINCTURE, &c.
=HEMP.= _Syn._ CANNABIS, L. In _botany_ the typical genus of the natural
order _Cannabinaceæ_. The common hemp, from the fibres of which cordage is
made, is the species _Cannabis sativa_. The fruit of this plant (hemp
seed) is demulcent and oleaginous. It is said that the plumage of
bullfinches and goldfinches fed on it for too long a time, or in too large
a quantity, changes from red and yellow to black.[346]
[Footnote 346: Burnett, 'Outlines of Botany.']
=Hemp, Indian.= _Syn._ HASHISH, CANNABIS INDICA. This plant, now so
largely used in medicine, is a variety of _Cannabis sativa_, or, perhaps,
the same simply rendered more active by climate. The parts employed in
Asia for the purposes of intoxication, and in Europe as medicine, are the
herb or leaves and the resin. The 'gunjah' sold in the bazaars in the East
Indies is the plant, just after flowering, dried, and pressed together.
'Bang,' 'bhang,' 'subjee,' or 'sidhee,' consists of the larger leaves and
capsules without the stalk. The concrete resinous exudation from the
leaves, stems, and flowers, is called 'churrus,' and in this country
'resin of Indian hemp.' 'Hashish' seems to be a general term for the
preparation of hemp.
Dr Preobraschensky, has lately subjected hashish to a chemical analysis,
and states that he has found an alkaloidal body, not only in the
commercial substance, but also in the flower-tops of the hemp itself, and
the pure extract prepared from it, which was recognised as _nicotine_.
Indian hemp is anæsthetic, anodyne, exhilarant, antispasmodic, hypnotic,
and narcotic. In the East it is commonly used as an intoxicant, either by
smoking it, like tobacco, or swallowing it. The inebriation produced by it
is of an agreeable or cheerful character exciting the party under its
influence to laugh, dance, sing, and to commit various extravagancies. It
also acts as an aphrodisiac, augments the appetite for food, and, in some
cases, occasions a kind of reverie and catalepsy. In this country its
action is less marked. It has here been chiefly administered under the
form of alcoholic or resinous extract. See EXTRACT OF INDIAN HEMP.
=HEN'BANE.= _Syn._ HYOSCYAMI FOLIA (B. P.); HYOSCYAMUS (Ph. L. E. and D.),
L. In _pharmacy_, "the fresh and dried stalk-leaf of the biennial herb,
_Hyoscyamus niger_" (Ph. L.), or common biennial or black henbane. The
first is used for preparing the extract; the last, for the powder and
tincture.
Henbane is anodyne, hypnotic, antispasmodic, and sedative. It differs from
opium in not being stimulant, and by not confining the bowels; and hence
may be administered in cases in which that drug would be improper. In
large doses it acts as a powerful narcotic poison, producing obscurity of
vision, dilatation of the pupils, delirium, phantasms, coma, &c.--_Dose_,
3 to 10 gr., in powder. It is usually given in the form of extract or
tincture. The antidotes, &c., are the same as those noticed under OPIUM.
=HEN-COOPS, Fumigator for.= Consisted wholly of coal-tar.
=HE'PAR.= _Syn._ LIVER. A name given by the older chemists to various
combinations of sulphur, from their brownish or liver colour; as '_hepar
antimonii_,' '_hepar sulphuris_,' &c. See ANTIMONY (Liver of), POTASSIUM
(Sulphide), &c.
=HERBAR'IUM.= [Eng., L.] _Syn._ HORTUS SICCUS, L. A collection of dried
specimens of plants; hence called HORTUS SICCUS, or dry garden. Plants for
the herbarium should be gathered on a dry day, and carried home in a
tin-box ('VASCULUM'), or other convenient receptacle which will preserve
them fresh for a time. Those which have collected moisture in their leaves
should be allowed to dry, their stalks being placed in water to keep them
alive. Plants with very thick, succulent leaves or stems must be killed by
immersion in hot water before they can be safely placed in the drying
press. The press consists simply of a few stout boards with a screw--or,
still better, a number of heavy weights, bricks, or stones--for pressing
them together. The specimens of plants, when all superficial moisture has
been removed, are placed between layers of bibulous paper (BOTANICAL
PAPER), care being taken that the parts of each are arranged in a natural
manner. The sheets containing the specimens are then placed between the
boards, and pressure is applied. This must be very gentle at first, and
should be gradually increased as the plants become dry. The paper is
changed every day or every second day, and the damp sheets are dried for
use at a future time. When properly dried, the specimens are placed on
sheets of writing paper, and fixed by a few stitches of thread, a little
gum, or strips of gummed paper. The name of the genus and species, and the
locality where found, &c., are then marked beside each. Camphor or a
little corrosive sublimate may be used to preserve herbaria from the
ravages of insects. The preparation of an herbarium offers an almost
endless source of amusement to the ingenious, whilst the specimens so
collected, if well preserved, are almost as useful to the botanist as the
living plants.
=HERBS.= _Syn._ HERBÆ, L. The collection and drying of herbs for medicinal
purposes and perfumery are noticed under VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES.
Amongst cooks, several aromatic herbs, either fresh or dried, are used for
seasoning. "In many receipts is mentioned a bunch of sweet herbs, which
consists, for some stews and soups, of a small bunch of parsley, two
sprigs of thyme, and one bayleaf; if no parsley, then of four sprigs of
winter savory, six of thyme, and one bayleaf." (Soyer.)
=HER'NIA.= See RUPTURE.
=HER'RING.= A well-known small sea-fish, belonging to the family of
_Clupeidæ_, a branch of the order _Malacopterygii_. As an article of food,
herrings are of a vast importance to a large proportion of the population
of Europe. When recently caught and dressed by broiling or boiling, they
are wholesome and agreeable; but if fried, or long kept, they become
strong and oily, and are then apt to offend the stomach. The preparation
of salted and dried of smoked herrings (bloaters, red herrings) furnishes
employment for thousands, both in these countries and Holland. Real
Yarmouth bloaters and Dutch herrings are highly esteemed by many as a
relish. Salted herrings are said to be diuretic. The pickle was formerly
used in clysters, dropsies, &c. M. Soyer calls this fish "the poor man's
friend," and tells us that, after being "cleaned and scaled, and the head
removed," it should be "opened in the back, and the gut taken out." Also
that "the way to ascertain if a herring is too salt is to take the fish in
the left hand, and pull out a few of the fins from the back, and to taste
them. You may thus find out the quality and flavour. This plan is adopted
by the large dealers."
=HESPER'IDIN.= A peculiar substance obtained from the white portion of the
rind of oranges, lemons, &c. It forms crystalline silky needles, is
odourless, tasteless, fusible, soluble in alcohol and ether, less soluble
in water. Hesperidin is a glucoside.
=HIC'COUGH= (h[)i]k'-[)u]p). _Syn._ HICCUP; SINGULTUS, L. A convulsive
motion of the diaphragm and parts adjacent. The common causes are
flatulency, indigestion, acidity, and worms. It may generally be removed
by the exhibition of warm carminatives, cordials, cold water, weak
spirits, camphor julep, or spirits of sal-volatile. A sudden fright or
surprise will often produce the like effect. An instance is recorded of a
delicate young lady that was troubled with hiccough for some months, and
who was reduced to a state of extreme debility from the loss of sleep
occasioned by it, that was cured by a fright, after medicines and topical
applications had failed. A pinch of snuff, a glass of iced soda water, or
an ice-cream, will also frequently remove this affection.
=HI'ERA-PI'CRA.= See POWDER OF ALOES AND CANELLA.
=HIP'POCRAS.= An aromatic medicated wine, formerly much used in England,
and still employed on the Continent.
_Prep._ Lisbon and Canary wine, of each 12 pints; cinnamon, 2 oz.; white
canella, 1/2 oz.; cloves, mace, nutmeg, ginger, and galangal, or
cardamoms, of each 1 dr.; bruise the spices, and digest them in the wine
for three or four days; strain, and add of lump sugar, 2-1/2 lbs.
=HIPPU'RIC ACID.= HC_{9}H_{8}NO_{3}. _Syn._ ACIDUM HIPPURICUM, L. A
compound discovered by Liebig in the urine of the horse, cow, and other
graminivora, in which it exists as hippurate of potassium or sodium.
_Prep._ Concentrate fresh cow's urine by a gentle heat to about 1/10th its
bulk, filter from deposit, mix the liquid with excess of hydrochloric
acid, and set it aside to crystallise. It may be decoloured by
redissolving it in boiling water, and treating it with animal charcoal, or
with a little chloride of lime along with some hydrochloric acid, and
re-crystallising it.
_Obs._ Hippuric acid, when pure, forms long, slender, milk-white, square
prisms; it is soluble in 400 parts of cold water; it also dissolves in hot
alcohol. When strongly heated, it yields benzoic acid, benzoate of
ammonia, and benzonitrile, with a coaly residue. The urine of horses or
cows, left to itself for some time, or evaporated at a boiling
temperature, yields not a trace of hippuric acid, but only benzoic acid.
Nitric acid and hot oil of vitriol convert it into benzoic acid. Boiling
hydrochloric acid converts it into benzoic acid and glycocoll. With the
bases it forms salts, which are called hippurates. See BENZOIC ACID.
=HIPS.= _Syn._ HEPS; ROSA CANINA (Ph. L.). The fresh fruit of the dog rose
(_Rosa canina_), or wild briar. Used to make a conserve.
=HOL'LANDS.= _Syn._ GENEVA, SCHIEDAM, HOLLANDS GIN, DUTCH G. _Prep._ 1.
The materials employed in the distilleries of Schiedam, in the preparation
of this excellent spirit, are 2 parts of the best unmalted rye and 1 part
of malted bigg, reduced to the state of coarse meal by grinding. About a
barrel (36 galls.) of water, at a temperature of from 162° to 168° Fahr.,
is put into the mash-tun for every 1-1/2 cwt. of meal, after which the
malt is introduced and stirred, and, lastly, the rye is added. Powerful
agitation is next given to the magma till it becomes quite uniform, when
the mash-tun is covered over with canvas, and left in this state for two
hours. Agitation is then again had recourse to, and the transparent 'spent
wash' of a preceding mashing is added, followed by as much cold water as
will reduce the temperature of the whole to about 85° Fahr. The gravity of
the wort at this point varies from 33 to 38 lbs. A quantity of the best
pressed Flanders yeast, equal to 1 lb. for every 100 galls. of the mashed
materials, is next stirred in, and the whole is fermented in the mash-tun
for about 3 days, or until the attenuation is from 7 to 4 lbs. (sp. gr.
1·007 to 1·004). During this time the yeast is occasionally skimmed off
the fermenting wort. The wash, with the grains, is then transferred to the
still, and converted into 'low wines.' To every 100 galls. of this liquor,
2 lbs. of juniper berries (3 to 5 years old), and about 1 lb. of salt, are
added, and the whole is put into the low-wine still, and the fine spirit
drawn off by a gentle heat, one receiver only being employed. The product
per quarter varies from 18 to 21 galls. of spirit, 2 to 3 o. p.
2. (BEST HOLLANDS.) Hollands rectified to the strength of 24° Baumé (sp.
gr. ·9125, or about 6 o. p.).
3. (ENGLISH-MADE.)--_a._ From juniper berries (at least a year old, and
crushed in the hands), 3 lbs.; rectified spirit, 1-1/2 gall. (or proof
spirit, 2-1/2 galls.); digest, with agitation, for a week, and then
express the liquor; after 24 hours' repose, decant the clear portion, add
it to good corn spirit, at 2 or 3% overproof, 90 or 100 galls., and mix
them well together.
_b._ From juniper berries, 2-1/2 lbs.; sweet fennel seed, 5 oz.; caraway
seed, 3-1/2 oz.; proof spirit, 2 galls.; corn spirit, 90 or 100 galls.
_c._ As the last, with the addition of Strasburg turpentine or Canadian
balsam, 1 lb.
_d._ To either of the last two or three add a very small quantity of
ground cardamoms or horse-radish. Some compounders also add 4 or 5 cloves
of garlic, or about 15 gr. of assaf[oe]tida, with 1 gr. of ambergris
rubbed to a powder with a little white sand or lump sugar. Good plain gin
may be advantageously employed in lieu of the corn spirit ordered above,
when expense is no object.
_Obs._ The last four forms, which are only given as examples, produce a
very pleasant spirit, if it is kept for some time to 'mellow.' Age is one
of the principal causes of the 'creaminess' of foreign gin, which usually
lies in bond for some time before being consumed. The product is, however,
much superior if the ingredients are rectified along with 20 galls. of
water, and about 14 lbs. of salt, by a gentle heat.
It will be seen from the above that the superior flavour of Hollands
spirit depends more on the peculiar mode of its manufacture than on the
quantity of juniper berries employed; 2 lbs. of them, when new, being
barely equivalent to 1 oz. of the essential oil; and when old, to less
than 1/2 oz., a quantity wholly insufficient to flavour 100 gallons of
spirit. The Dutch distillers, most noted for this liquor, add a little
pure Strasburg turpentine and a handful or two of hops to the spirit,
along with the juniper berries, before rectification. The former substance
has a pale yellowish-brown colour, and a very fragrant and agreeable
smell, and tends materially to impart that fine aroma for which the best
geneva is distinguished. At Rotterdam sweet fennel seed is commonly added
as a flavouring; and at Weesoppe Strasburg turpentine and fennel seeds, or
the essential oil of fennel, are frequently substituted for a large
portion of the juniper berries.
Schiedam Hollands is considered the best; the next quality is that of
Rotterdam; after these comes that of Weesoppe.
Attempts have been made by Mr Robert Moore, and others to introduce into
general consumption in this country a home-made liquor, resembling and
prepared in the same manner as foreign geneva, "but the palates of our
gin-drinkers were too corrupted to relish so pure a spirit."
=HOM[OE]OP'ATHY.= _Syn._ HOM[OE]OPATHIA, L. A medical hypothesis
promulgated at the commencement of the present century by the late Dr
Hahnemann, of Leipsic, according to which diseases may be cured by the
administration of minute doses of medicines capable of producing in
healthy persons affections similar to those it is intended to remove. The
doctrine that "_similia similibus curantur_" had long previously been
practically acted on, to a limited extent, in certain cases, in legitimate
medicine (allopathy, heteropathy), although not verbally recognised as
belonging to its system. The administration of infinitesimal doses is an
absurdity which hom[oe]opathy, however, alone can claim. According to this
method, the millionth of a grain is often an excessive dose; whilst
billionths and decillionths, quantities so small as to be vastly beyond
human perception, form the common doses. This reduces the whole practice
of hom[oe]opathy to a system of doing nothing beyond regulating the diet
and habits of the patient. "All judicious practitioners have long been
agreed that there are many cases which are best treated in the manner just
mentioned, and in which physic does more harm than good; in which, in
short, a sensible physician endeavours to amuse the patient, whilst nature
cures the disorder; so that the frequent success of hom[oe]opathic
treatment may be explained, without admitting the principle upon which it
is presumed to be founded." (Brande.)
=HON'EY.= _Syn._ MEL (B. P.), L. The sweet substance elaborated by the
domestic bee from the juices of the nectaries of flowers, and deposited in
the cells of wax forming the honeycomb.
_Var._ Pure honey consists of a syrup of uncrystallisable sugar and
crystalline saccharine grains, resembling grape sugar.--'Virgin honey' is
that which flows spontaneously from the comb.--'Ordinary honey,' that
obtained by heat and pressure. The former is pale and fragrant; the latter
darker, and possessing a less agreeable taste and smell.--'English honey'
is chiefly collected from furze and broom flowers, and is more waxy than
that from the South of Europe;--'Narbonne honey,' chiefly from rosemary,
and other labiate flowers, very fine;--'Poisonous honey' is found near
Trebizond, in Asia, its toxic effects being due to the bees having
collected it from a poisonous plant, the _Azalea pontica_.
_Pur._ Honey is frequently adulterated with treacle, potato-sugar syrup,
potato farina, starch, and wheat flour. The first may be detected by the
colour and odour; the second in the way noticed under SUGAR; and the
others by the honey not forming a nearly clear solution with cold water,
and striking a blue colour with iodine. When it contains wheat flour, and
is heated, it at first liquefies, but on cooling it becomes solid and
tough. The absence of starchy matter or flour is easily proved by the
following test:--Boiled with water for five minutes, and allowed to cool,
it should not become blue with iodine water--indicating absence of flour.
_Uses, &c._ Honey is nutritive and laxative, but rather apt to gripe. It
is employed in the preparation of OXYMELS and GARGLES, and also to cover
the taste of nauseous medicines, which it does better than sugar.
Clarified honey is alone ordered to be used in medicine.
=Honey, Clarified.= _Syn._ REFINED HONEY, STRAINED H.; MEL DEPURATUM (Ph.
D.), MEL PRÆPARATUM, L. The honey is simply melted by the heat of a water
bath, and strained whilst hot through flannel (Ph. D.); or--it is melted
as last, and the scum removed (Ph. U. S.); or--it is melted with 1-3rd its
weight of water, skimmed, strained through flannel, and evaporated until
it reaches the sp. gr. 1·261. (P. Cod.) Honey is not to be employed
without being desquamated. (Ph. L.)
_Obs._ Clarified honey is less agreeable than raw honey, and has lost the
crystalline character of the latter; but it is less liable to ferment and
gripe. The use of copper and iron vessels or implements should be avoided,
as honey acquires a dark colour by contact with them. Berlin-ware,
stone-ware, or well-silvered or tin copper pans, should alone be used. On
the large scale, one or other of the following plans are adopted:--
1. The honey is mixed with an equal weight of water and allowed to boil up
5 or 6 times without skimming; it is then removed from the fire, and after
being cooled, brought on several strong linen strainers, stretched
horizontally, and covered with a layer of clean and well-washed sand, an
inch in depth; the sand is rinsed with a little cold water, and the mixed
liquor is finally evaporated to the thickness of syrup.
2. Dissolve the honey in water, as last, clarify with white of egg, and
evaporate to a proper consistence.
3. Dissolve in water, add 1-1/2 lb. of animal charcoal to every 1/4 cwt.
of honey, gently simmer for 15 minutes, add a little chalk to saturate
excess of acid, if required, strain or clarify, and evaporate.
4. Honey, 1 cwt.; water, 9 galls.; fresh burnt animal charcoal, 7 lbs.;
simmer for 15 minutes, add a little chalk to saturate free acid (if
required), strain or clarify, and evaporate as before.
=HONEYS.= (In _pharmacy_.) _Syn._ MELITA, L. These are minor preparations,
now almost superseded by 'syrups' (SYRUPI). The _mellita_ of the Ph. L.,
including two 'oxymels,' are only four in number.
=Honey of Bo''rax.= _Syn._ MEL BORACIS (B. P. Ph., L. E. & D.), L. _Prep._
(B. P.) Finely powdered borax, 1; clarified honey, 7; mix. Astringent,
detersive, and cooling. It is employed in aphthæ of the mouth, excessive
salivation, &c. A great improvement would be to dissolve 1 of borax in 1
of glycerin, and then add 6 of honey.
=Honey of Col'chicum.= _Syn._ MEL COLCHICI, L. _Prep._ (Beasley.) Dried
colchicum 1 part; water (at 140°), 16 parts; infuse for 12 hours, strain,
let it settle, and boil the clear liquor with white honey, 12 parts, to
the consistence of a syrup. See COLCHICUM.
=Honey of Liq'uorice.= _Syn._ MEL GLYCYRRHIZATUM, L. _Prep._ (Ph. Hamb.)
Honey and a strong infusion of liquorice boiled to a proper consistence.
Emollient, pectoral, and laxative.
=Honey of Male Fern.= _Syn._ MEL FILICIS, L. _Prep._ (Dunglison.) Ethereal
extract of male fern, 30 gr.; honey of roses, 4 dr.; mix. In
tapeworm.--_Dose._ One half at bedtime, followed by the remainder in the
morning.
=Honey of Mercury.= _Syn._ MEL HYDRARGYRI, L. _Prep._ (Bell.) Mercury, 1
dr.; honey, 1 oz.; triturate till the globules disappear. Allard adds of
oil of cloves, 1/2 dr. Properties similar to those of mercurial pill. It
is chiefly used as an application to ulcers of the throat.
=Honey of Ro''ses.= _Syn._ MEL ROSÆ (Ph. L. and E.), L. _Prep._ 1. (Ph.
L.) Dried petals of the red rose (the leaves separated), 4 oz.; boiling
water, 16 fl. oz.; macerate for 2 hours; lightly press them in the hand,
and strain; then add 8 fl. oz. more of boiling water to the roses,
macerate for a short time, and again gently express the liquor; to this
add the other half; next add to the mixed liquors, honey, 5 lbs.; and
evaporate in a water bath, so that, the infusion which was set aside being
added, it may become of a proper consistence.
2. (Ph. E.) Dried rose petals, 4 oz.; boiling water, 2-1/2 pints; infuse
for 6 hours, and gently squeeze out the liquor; after the impurities have
subsided, decant the clear, add of honey, 5 lbs., and evaporate as before,
to a proper consistence, removing the scum which forms. Used to make
astringent gargles. It must not be boiled in a copper or iron vessel, as
they will spoil the colour. The last form is that commonly adopted in
trade.
=Honey of Squills.= _Syn._ MEL SCILLÆ, L. _Prep._ 1. Thick clarified
honey, 3 lbs.; tincture of squills, 2 lbs.; mix.
2. (Soubeiran.) Dried squills, 1 oz.; boiling water, 3/4 pint; infuse 2
hours, strain, add of honey, 12 oz.; and evaporate to a proper
consistence. Resembles OXYMEL OF SQUILLS (nearly).
=Honey of Verdigris.= EGYPTIACUM.
=Honey of Vi'olets.= _Syn._ MEL VIOLÆ; L. _Prep._ From clarified honey, 2
parts; expressed and depurated juice of violets, 1 part. Resembles syrup
of violets.
=HON'EY DEW.= _Syn._ ROS MELLITUS, L. A sweetish matter ejected upon the
leaves of plants by certain aphides.
=HOOP'ING COUGH.= See WHOOPING COUGH.
=HOPS.= _Syn._ LUPULUS (B. P.), L. "The catkins of the female plant of the
_Humulus lupulus_" or common hop. (B. P.) "The dried strobiles." (Ph. D.)
The hops of commerce are the strobiles or catkins (LUPULI STROBILI, L.
AMENTA) of the hop plant. The yellow powder or small lupulinic grains or
glands (LUPULIN), which are attached to the strobiles, are the portion on
which their characteristic qualities chiefly depend.
The hop is tonic, stomachic, and moderately narcotic. It is used in
diseases of local debility with morbid vigilance and other nervous
derangement, producing sleep where opiates are objectionable. Hops may be
used topically as a fomentation or a poultice, as a resolvent or
discutient in painful swellings and tumours. The golden dust attached to
the scale of the hop is sometimes administered in doses of from 5 to 10
grains. Very freshly dried hops, made into a pillow, procure sleep.
In the choice of hops, care should be taken to select those that have
large cones or strobiles, that are the most powerfully odorous and most
free from leaves, stems, scaly fragments, and sticks, and which, when
rubbed between the hands, impart, in the greatest degree, a yellowish tint
and glutinous feeling to the skin. The tightness with which they are
packed should also be noticed; as, without being very firmly pressed
together, and quite solid they soon spoil by keeping. The finest flavoured
hops are the 'GOLDINGS,' grown chiefly in middle and east Kent; the
'WHITEBINES' of Farnham and Canterbury; and the WORCESTER HOPS, grown on
the red soils of the vale of the Severn. These are principally employed
for the finer class of ales. Mid Kent and Sussex hops are also used for
ale, but have an inferior colour and flavour. The best hops are packed in
sacks of fine canvas, termed 'pockets,' weighing from 1-1/4 cwt. to 1-3/4
cwt. each; and the inferior qualities in coarse 'bags,' of about double
the size. The former are mostly purchased by the ale brewers, and the
latter by the porter brewers. When hops are older than of last season's
growth they are termed 'yearlings,'--when of the second season's growth,
'old,'--and when three years, or older, 'old olds.' See BREWING, EXTRACT,
HUMULIN, LUPULIN, TINCTURE, &c.
=HOOSE.= Young cattle, especially calves, as well as sheep and lambs, are
frequently liable to attacks of a species of bronchitis, caused by the
presence in the bronchial tubes of minute worms. They are mostly so
attacked in autumn.
_Treatment._ For a calf of six months old give half an ounce of oil of
turpentine in two ounces of linseed oil, to be repeated once or twice
after an interval of two days. Half this dose may be given to sheep. The
mixture should be administered by the mouth, and _not_ by the nostrils, as
usually recommended. Calves should additionally be comfortably housed at
night, and be fed with a little oil cake and other good food.
=HORE'HOUND.= _Syn._ WHITE HOREHOUND; MARRUBIUM VULGARE (Linn.), L. This
herb has long been a popular remedy in chronic pulmonary complaints,
especially catarrh, and in uterine and liver affections. Horehound tea
(THEA MARUBII, INFUSUM MARUBII) is prepared by infusing 1 oz. of the herb
in boiling water, 1 pint, for an hour;--syrup of horehound (SYRUPUS
MARUBII), by thickening the infusion of tea with sugar;--candied horehound
(MARUBIUM CONDITUM), by mixing 1 pint of horehound juice with 8 or 10 lbs.
of white sugar, boiling the mixture to a candy height, and pouring it,
whilst warm, into moulds, or small paper cases, well dusted with finely
powdered lump-sugar; or by pouring it out on a dusted slab, and cutting it
into squares. See CANDYING.
=HORN.= For the purposes of the turner and comb-maker, horns of the goat
and sheep are preferred on account of their superior whiteness and
transparency. For medical purposes, those of the stag (HARTSHORN) are
ordered to be employed.
Horn is dyed with the same dyes, and in a similar manner to bones and
ivory.
Horn is softened, bent, and moulded, by means of heat and pressure. For
these purposes boiling water and a screw press are commonly employed.
Horn is reduced to plates or sheets by sawing it, and then exposing it to
powerful pressure between hot iron plates; the pith having been previously
removed, and its texture softened by soaking for some days in water, and
subsequent boiling in that liquid.
Surfaces and edges may be united or cemented together by softening the
horn by the heat of boiling water, placing the parts in contact under
strong pressure, and exposing the whole thus arranged to the heat of
boiling water.
Horn is stained or party-coloured to imitate tortoise-shell, by a solution
of terchloride of gold, for the red portion; nitrate of silver, for the
dark brown and black; and nitrate of mercury (hot), or a paste made of red
lead, and potash or quicklime, for the brown. When the last is used the
horn must be heated and exposed to its action for some hours.
=Horn Silver.= (Ag. Cl.) A native chloride of silver, which occurs either
crystallized in cubes, or as a compact semi-transparent mass.
=HORS-D'[OE]UVRES.= [Fr.] _Syn._ ASSIETTES, Fr. Small _entrées_, as
'_aiguillettes_,' '_ragouts_,' plates of sardines, anchovies, or other
relishes, served at dinner between the leading dishes. '_Assiettes
volantes_' (flying plates) are dishes handed round to the guests, but not
placed on the table.
=HORSE.= _Syn._ EQUUS, L. This most useful quadruped belongs to the family
_Equidæ_, distinguished by a single digit and hoof on each foot. The horse
can scarcely be said to exist at the present day in its natural wild
state, as the so-called 'wild-horses' of America and Asia are but the
progeny of horses which have escaped from the haunts of civilisation. Of
all animals the horse is most useful to man. Independently of its value as
a beast of burden and draught, its skin, its hide, intestines, and bones,
furnish us with leather, the thongs of whips, gut, grease, bone-black,
manure, &c. The excrement, fat, and hoof were included in the Materia
Medica of the Ph. L. 1618. The flesh is eaten in some countries, and was
formerly esteemed to possess many virtues.
Injuries of a serious character, and even death, are often occasioned by
horses running away, or becoming unmanageable. Various methods have been
proposed to prevent accidents of this kind, and to place the animal
entirely under the power of its rider or driver. In Russia, around the
horse's neck, near the neck strap, is placed a cord with a running knot.
To this slip-noose is attached a pair of reins, which always lie thrown
over the dashboards, ready to be seized at once. When the horse starts,
and becomes unruly, the gentleman takes up this cord, and tightens the
horse's throat, so that he cannot take breath. The most furious horse
stops instantly, and will not fall or kick. See BEDDING, BRAN MASH, BROKEN
KNEES, BROKEN WIND, CLIPPING, CANKER, CATARRH, CHOKING, CHOREA, CHOLIC,
CONSTIPATION, CORNS, CRIB-BITING, CURB.
=HORSE BALLS.= See VETERINARY MEDICINE.
=HORSES, Condition Powder for.= The principal ingredients were: Fenugreek,
liquorice root, resin, brimstone, common salt, nitrate of potash, and a
green powder, probably senna. It contained traces of calcium and magnesium
carbonates; alumina, silica, and iron.
=HORSE POW'ER.= This term was first employed by James Watt to express a
power capable of raising 33,000 lbs. one foot high per minute. The
effective pressure on the surface of the piston was estimated at 7 lbs. to
the square inch, and hence the area of the piston, in square inches,
multiplied by 7, gave the gross effective moving pressure, and the space
passed over by this piston in a minute gave the distance through which the
pressure was exerted, or the weight was raised. From these data the horse
power was easily calculated. In process of time improvements in the
formation of boilers and steam engines increased the effective pressure on
the piston, and, consequently, the power of the engine. In modern engines
the actual power is commonly from 2 to 4 times greater than the nominal
power, which is, however, still retained as the unit of power in
commercial calculations.
=HORSERAD'ISH.= _Syn._ ARMORACIA RADIX. (B. P.). "The fresh root of
_Cochlearia Armoracia_" (B. P.). Horseradish is pungent, acrid, stimulant,
and rubefacient. It is also regarded as diaphoretic, diuretic, and
antiscorbutic. It forms a useful masticatory in hoarseness, sore throat,
and toothache. As a condiment, it provokes the appetite and assists
digestion. Reduced to shreds (scraped horseradish), it forms a common and
excellent accompaniment to roast beef. The root of aconite or wolfsbane,
which somewhat resembles it in appearance, has occasionally been mistaken
for it, with fatal results; the two are, however, readily distinguished
from each other, as the taste of horseradish is warm and pungent,
approaching that of mustard, whilst aconite is bitter, and its odour is
earthy and disagreeable, and after a few minutes' contact with the lips,
tongue, and fauces, produces a sensation of numbness, and tingling. See
ACONITUM NAPELLUS; under which article will be found engravings of the two
roots. The root may be kept fresh for some time if buried in sand in a
cool place. Horseradish powder is prepared from the roots gathered in
November or December, and dried by a gentle heat or exposure to a current
of dry air. It is used as a condiment.
=HOR'TICULTURE.= _Syn._ GARDENING. The art of cultivating gardens.
According to Loudon, horticulture differs from agriculture, chiefly in the
comparatively limited space over which it extends, and in being conducted
by manual labour; whilst the latter is performed jointly by human and
animal labour, in fields, or on an extensive tract of land called a farm.
=HOR'TUS-SICCUS.= See HERBARIUM.
=HOS'PITAL GAN'GRENE.= _Syn._ PHAGEDÆNA GANGRENOSA. L. A species of
ulcerating mortification, particularly characterised by its infectious
nature, and its tendency to attack wounds and ulcers in crowded hospitals,
so that often the most trifling operation cannot be performed with safety.
Under its influence the parts are rapidly destroyed, not by the formation
of ordinary sloughs, as in common mortification, but by their conversion
into an ash-coloured viscid substance interspersed with bloody specks. The
treatment is similar to that noticed under MORTIFICATION, but here, above
all things, thorough ventilation must be established, and persevered in,
and, when possible, change of situation sought.
=HUILE.= [Fr.] Oil; a term applied to various substances and preparations
on account of their smoothness, consistence, or real or imaginary
emollient or oleaginous nature. See LIQUEUR, OIL, &c.
=Huile Acoustique.= _Prep._ From garlic and bay leaves, of each, 1/2 oz.;
olive oil, 1/2 lb.; boiled together for 15 minutes, and strained. Used in
ear-ache and deafness. A little is dropped on cotton wool and placed in
the ear.
=Huile, Antique.= See OILS (Hair).
=Huile Liqueureuse.= _Prep._ 1. (DE LA ROSE.) From eau de rose, 1 part;
simple syrup, 2 parts; mixed together.