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ART. V.-The Domestic Encyclopædia; or, a Dictionary of Facts, and useful Knowledge: comprehending a concise View of the latest Discoveries, Inventions, and Improvements, chiefly applicable to rural and domestic Economy; together with Descriptions of the most interesting Objects of Nature and Art; the History of Men and Animals, in a State of Health or Disease; and practical Hints respecting the Arts and Manufactures, both familiar and commercial. Illustrated with numerous Engravings and Cuts. By A. F M. Willich, M.D., &c. 4 Vols. 8vo. 21. 2s. Boards. Murray and Highley. 1802.

THIS may be styled the age of dictionaries. Scarcely a year elapses without successive claims to our attention in this form; and though of what may be styled the literary ephemere, the numerous copies of numerous copies, we can take little notice, yet works which pretend to originality, or whose authors merit distinction, must not be wholly overlooked. Such is the work before us.

The clearest idea that can be formed of a domestic encyclopædia, is a body of useful information on subjects that may daily occur, and especially in circumstances where fuller professional information or more general works cannot be easily procured. In another view, it may be useful to give general ideas, where no more are required; to connect subjects, of which the inquirer may have some knowledge, with those of which he is ignorant. Larger works might lead him too far: dictionaries, merely etymological, would not give the necessary information. In this view, perhaps, the present work is adapted for the country or the town; yet we think the former its true element. Let the author, however, speak for himself.

In regard to the composition, and arrangement, of the Domestic Encyclopædia, many ciscumstances might be pleaded, by way of apology, for occasional inaccuracies and omissions; but, in a work, consisting chiefly of practical information, and containing, perhaps, a greater number of useful facts than have ever appeared in the compass of four moderate volumes, it is to be hoped, the discreet reader will naturally be inclined to qualify his strictures, by a large share of candour and impartiality. Conformably to his original plan, the editor has spared no pains, trouble, or expence, to render this economieal dictionary as complete as the present advancement of agriculture, gardening, of the familiar arts and manufactures, as well as the im perfect state of medical science, would respectively admit. Many subs jects, indeed, might have been extended to greater length, and others considerably abridged, had these volumes been peculiarly calculated for the use of either town or country-readers. Such, however, was not his design; as the work now submitted to the public, includes almost every object, more or less connected with rural, domestic, and animal economy. Hence, the inquisitive reader will find numerous experiments related, many hundreds of which have not hitherto been pub

lished in the English language. Thus, the editor has availed himself of such resources as have enabled him to elicite substitutes for the most essential as well as the most expensive articles of consumption, or convenience; for instance, those of bread, beer, spirits, wine, &c.' Vol. i. P. vi.

With respect to the execution of this Encyclopædia—a term which the author explains and defends in a separate article, following, in this respect, the example of Mr. Chambers, but differing in opinion from that great cyclopedist-the first circumstance regards the choice of articles. Some omissions, but of no great importance, occur. The less important articles, which might perhaps have been supprest without injury to the work, are advertisement,' alms-houses,' avarice,' beard,' bed,' 'belles-lettres,' book,'' burial,' with many others, particularly in the early volumes. The omissions occur in the latter. If, however, the redundances be a fault, it is not a considerable one. They are not numerous, and the articles are not extensive. The degree of attention paid to each subject will not be equally approved of by different persons: each may think the subject he is conversant with the most important, and consequently be inclined to complain of too great conciseness. We have, perhaps from this cause, thought some articles too extensive, others too contracted; but, on examining them repeatedly with a more exact discrimination, we have reason, in general, to be satisfied with the attention each has respectively received.

The subjects which have claimed the greatest share of our author's regard are the diseases of animals, agriculture, the mechanical and the domestic arts. These are given at sufficient length, and many of the articles are peculiarly interesting and instructive. In general, the chemical nature of bodies, and indeed chemical details, are omitted, though the science is now so widely diffused that some account would be easily intelligible, and perhaps may be expected.

In a work of this nature, errors can scarcely be avoided. We have marked several; but the greater number are trifling and unimportant. That cold baths are of a temperature between 56 and 76 of Farenheit is an error of more consequence, since the Buxton water is 82°, though it acts as a cold bath; and the upper limit is near to the 90th degree; the lower, to the freezing point. Beef-tea, whose merit depends on its containing the lighter juices, extracted by hot water only, is ordered to be boiled twenty minutes. Our author's apprehension of the dangerous effects of blistering by cantharides, his aversion to the whole tribe of broths, to the use of tooth-brushes, &c. are among his peculiarities of opinion-we had almost said prejudices. We perceive these peculiarities somewhat more frequently than we could have wished. It would be tedious and

useless to enlarge on these subjects. The process of making glass is somewhat imperfect; and that of porcelain much too short.

The great merit of this work consists, not only in the variety of information, but in the clearness with which it is conveyed, and the peculiar perspicuity of the definitions. We would strongly recommend it as a companion in the country; and, if less useful in towns, it may not even there be an incunbrance. Many circumstances may occur in conversation, when it will be very difficult to procure such satisfactory information in so easy a manner. Perhaps it would not be justice to our author, to take leave of this useful work without one or two specimens. We shall select short ones; and the first shall be a description of the elastic resin.-Dr. Willich should have added, that it is dissolved also, though imperfectly, by spirit of turpentine.

• CAOUTCHOUC, elastic resin, or India rubber, is a substance produced from the syringe tree, or iatropha elastica, L, which is a native of South America. It oozes in the form of vegetable milk, from incisions made in the tree, and is principally collected in wet weather, when it flows abundantly.

Various conjectures have been formed by the most eminent botanists, and chemists, as to the means used for inspissating and indurating this vegetable substance. The general opinion, however, is, that it concretes gradually when exposed to the air. It is particularly celebrated for the uncommon flexibility and elasticity, which it displays immediately on acquiring a solid consistence, and for the many purposes to which it is applied by the Indians, who make boots of it that are impenetrable to water, and when smoked, have the appearance of real leather. They also make bottles of it, to the necks of which reeds are affixed, and through these the liquor is squirted by pressure. The inhabitants of Quito, in l'eru, also prepare from this substance a species of oil-cloth and canvas, which are formed by moulds made of clay, and worked into a variety of figures. Over these moulds is spread the juice obtained by incision; and, as often as one layer is dry, another is added, till the vessel acquires a proper thickness; when the whole is held over a strong smoke of burning vegetables, which gives it the texture and appearance of leather. Before the operation is completely finished, the substance, while still soft, will admit of any impression being made on its surface, which is indelible.

The chemical properties, and other interesting peculiarities of this elastic resin, have been diligently explored by the most ingenious natural philosophers of Europe, from the time it was first known. Va rious experiments have been made to dissolve it, and to ascertain whether it would assume different figures, with the same facility as it did in its original state. This has been effected by the following simple process: Mr. Winch put a pound of good vitriolic æther into a bottle, capable of containing four pounds of any common fluid. On this æther he poured two pounds of pure water, stopped the bottle, inverted it, and agitated both liquids for several minutes, in order to

mix, or, rather, to wash the ether in the water. On subsiding, as the æther floated on the top, he left the bottle in the inverted direction, opened it cautiously, substituted his thumb for the stopper, and thus let the water gradually escape into a vessel beneath. This operation he performed repeatedly, till the sixteen ounces of æther were reduced to five. Having thus obtained a very pure aæther, he found it to be the most perfect solvent of elastic gum. When immersed into it, after being cut into small pieces, it began to swell in a very short time; and, though the æther acted on it but slowly at first, yet, in five or six hours, the whole was completely dissolved, and the liquor remained transparent. If too large a proportion of elastic gum be employed, it will subside to the bottom; and may, after being taken out of the bottle, be moulded into any form, so as to retain its former elasticity.

The caoutchouc is at present chiefly employed by surgeons, for the injection of liquids, and also by painters, and others, for rubbing out pencil marks, &c.; though we do not hesitate to say, that it may be advantageously used for socks, or even shoes and boots, as well as various useful articles of domestic convenience.' Vol. i. p. 433.

Of a different kind, is the following article.

The most expeditious way of extinguishing fire is a matter of equal importance, as the security of buildings from that destructive agent. Hence various machines, and chemical preparations, have been invented by ingenious men, in order to promote so useful an object ; one of the earliest contrivances was a barrel, filled with certain ingredients, first proposed by M. Fuchs, a German physician, in the year 1734; and which effectually answered the purpose for which it was designed. A similar invention was introduced into this country by a Mr. Zachary Greyl, whose machines were made of wood, and contained only water; they were exhibited before several of the nobility, but did not meet with encouragement. In the year 1701 Dr. Gol frey produced certain vessels which in every respect succeeded. They are supposed to have been an improvement on Mr. Greyl's, were constructed with wood, and filled with a chemical liquor, consisting of water, oil of vitriol, and sal-ammoniac. When thrown into rooms and other places that were purposely set on fire, they burst, and by their explosion completely extinguished the flames: it is to be observed, that they were useless after the roof had fallen in. These contrivances, however, are evidently more calculated for ships, than to be employed on land; as they would be of great service for suppressing fires in vessels at sea, and might be considered as necessary a part of their cargo as naval stores, or ammunition.

In the 23d volume of "Annals of Agriculture," Mr. William Knox, a merchant of Gothenburg, in Sweden, states that he has made a variety of experiments for extinguishing fire by means of such substances as are cheap and easily procured. He divides them into simple and compound solutions. In the former class, he proposes to add to seventy-five gallons of water, nine gallons of the strongest solution of wood-ashes; or six gallons of the finest pulverized pot-ashes; or eight and a half gallons of common salt, well dried, and finely beaten; or eight and a half gallons of green vitriol or copperas, thoroughly

dried and finely pulverized; or eleven and a quarter gallons of the strongest herring pickle, or nine gallons of alum reduced to powder; or nineteen gallons of clay, perfectly dried, well beaten, and carefully

sifted.

Among the compound solutions, Mr. Knox recommends to mix seventy-five gallons of water with ten quarts of clay, ten quarts of vitriol, and ten quarts of common salt; or a similar quantity of water, with eighteen quarts of the strongest solution of wood-ashes and eighteen quarts of fine clay reduced to powder; or the same proportion of water, with fifteen quarts of red-ochre, or the residuum of aqua fortis, and fifteen quarts of common salt; or, lastly, to mix fifteen quarts of the strongest herring pickle, and fifteen quarts of red-ochre, with seventy-five gallons of water.-All these different solutions, Mr. Knox remarks, are equally efficacious in extinguishing fire; but he prefers the compounds, as being the "surest and most powerful for that purpose."

Another of the various inventions for extinguishing are by chemical means, deserving of notice, is the composition prepared by M. Von Aken, and which consists of the following ingredients:

Burnt. alum

Green vitriol in powder

Cinabrese, or red-ochre, pulverized

Potters', or other clay, finely pounded and sifted
Water

lbs.

30

40

20

200

630

With forty measures of this liquor an artificial fire, which would have required the labour of twenty men, and fifteen hundred measures of common water, was extinguished, under the direction of the inventor, by three persons. The price of this compound solution is estimated at one halfpenny per pound.' Vol. ii. P. 292.

We shall conclude our extracts with the following short remarks on water-proof cloths. The specification of Mr. Johnson's patent would detain us too long. His method consists in giving a lining of caoutchouc resin dissolved in oil of turpentine, the smell of which may be dissipated by oil of wormwood and spirit of wine, in equal parts.

In 1901, another patent was granted to Messrs. Ackermann, Suardy, and Co. for their invention of a process, by which every species of cloth may be rendered water proof. As the patentees have not thought proper to publish the particulars of their process (though such concealment is contrary to the nature of letters patent), we shall briefly remark from our own observation, that their method appears to be a simple impregnation of cloth with wax previously dissolved, and incorporated with water, by the addition of pure vegetable alkali, or pot-ash. This being the cheapest and most expeditious mode of reducing wax to a fluid state, we are farther inclined to believe that our conjecture is well founded; because all the woollen cloth prepared in the manufactory of Messrs. Ackermann, Suardy, and Co. feels somewhat harder than such as has not been waxed: for the same reason, it will stand a shower of rain only so long as it has not been subject to

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