192 



a dose of hydrocyanic acid. Medicinally 

 the oil is used like hydrocyanic acid in 

 various disorders of nervous origin, as 

 whooping cough, spasmodic troubles, 

 etc. 



Sweet almonds are variously employed. 

 Roasted and salted almonds are very 

 much liked by everybody. Almonds for 

 the table must first be "blanched," that 

 is, the outer, reddish brown, thin seed 

 coat must be removed, as it contains ir- 

 ritant properties. They are used in mak- 

 ing cake and other pastry. Cake or bread 

 made from almond meal has been recom- 

 mended as a substitute for ordinary bread 

 in the treatment of diabetes, as it is free 

 from starch, a food substance which 

 proves harmful in this disease. Almond 



cake is a term applied to the crushed 

 seeds from which the oil has been ex- 

 pressed. Finely-powdered this is used 

 for washing hands and face. Almond 

 paste is a cosmetic made from powdered 

 bitter almonds, white of t^g, rose water 

 and rectified spirits. It is used to soften 

 the skin and prevent chapping of hands. 

 An emulsion of sweet almonds is also 

 used as a substitute for milk in feeding 

 infants. 



Description of Plate: — A, B, branch 

 with flowers and fruit ; i, la, flowers from 

 different trees; 2, 2a, petals; 3. stamens; 

 4, pollen; 5, stamen; 6, 7, ovary; 8, 9, 

 seed with shell; 10, seed without shell; 

 II, 12, sections of seed. 



Albert Schneider. 



Nature, the Vicar of the Almightie Lord. 



— Chaucer, " The Assembly of Foules.'* 



All Nature is but art, unknown to thee; 



All chance, direction, which thou canst not see; 



All discord, harmony not understood; 



All partial evil, universal good; 



And, spite of pride, in erring reason's spite, 



One truth is clear, whatever is, is right. 



— Pope, " Essay on Man." 



Nature is a frugal mother, and never gives without measure. 



— Emerson, " Essays." 



But who can paint 

 Like Nature! Can imagination boast 

 Amid its gay creations hues like hers? 



— Thompson, " Seasons." 



