ALTARPIECE. 



ALTERNATE. 



in the thickest (bad* ol their forests. The ancient Penuan*. u Hero- 

 dot us trlli 11. (I. 131), made no Umules, nor statues, nor altan, but 

 worshipped the deity on the top* >.f the mountains. 



The altars of the Greeks were of three sorts : thoce dedicated < il.-- 

 bravtnlr god* (jSp*f), were often structures of considerable height ; 

 thoee of demi-gudi and heroes were low and new the ground (iaxdpa<> ; 

 and thoee of the infernal deitie* (if Mich may W called altan) were 

 treoche* lunk in the ground (lUtpot, A<uco>>. They may again be 

 divided into three rUmim. thoee fur burnt-offeringx ((pvvpoi) : those on 

 which no fire wan ueed, which were (*>up<M>, meant for offerings of 

 fruit, meal-cokes, Ac. ; and thoee on which fire might be used to con- 

 sume vegetable production*, but no blood was spilled (iMkjuurrw), the 

 klUr : when dedicated to either of the latter climes, it wag often 

 nothing more than a mined hearth or step. Each temple usually had 

 two altan, one in the open air before it, fr burut-ofleringy ; ainither 

 before the statue of the god to whom the building wax sacred. Altars 

 were often erected where there wan no temple. The Greek altars 

 were usually square, Hometimex circular, or triangular. They were 

 ..ften nude of marble, and elegantly sculptured. 



The Koman altan and rites of worship uiuch resemble the Greek. 

 We must distinguish between altarf and rn. The former, as is 

 indicated by the syllable nil, signifying high, was an elevated structure, 

 used only for burnt-offerings, and dedicated to none but the heavenly 

 gods : the latter might belong either to the heavenly, or infernal gods, 

 or to heroes. The Romans, however, like the Greeks, dug trenches 

 (Knhet), into which they poured libations to the infernal gods. Ara 

 seems to be the general term, and ix used by Virgil ox incluiling 

 altart ; 



En quutuor arw, 

 Eeee duo tibt Daphni, duoquro altnria 1'ha-bo. Eel. v. 65. 



From altart comes the English word altar, which by the Roman 

 C .itholic church la used in its proper sense, to denote an erection on 

 which sacrifice is offered, it being their doctrine that the mans is a 

 sacrifice. Applied to the communion-table of an English Protestant 

 church, the word is used metaphorically, or rather is misplaced ; for 

 the English church teaches the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to be 

 no sacrifice, but merely a symbol. Altars were in England taken down, 

 and wooden tables substituted, by royal command at the bishop's 

 visitations in 1550 ; again set up at the commencement of the reign of 

 Mary, and finally removed at the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth. 

 Several of them, however, which escaped destruction, still remain in 

 i hill-clip* in various parta of England, and some of them arc Hue 

 examples of the art of the period. 



ALTAR-PIECE. We are accustomed in this country to give the 

 name of Altar-piece only to paintings on sacred subjects placed over 

 the altar at churches ; but in earlier times the same name was given 

 to small elaborately worked productions in gold and silver, and 

 other metals, connected with the offices of religion. The exhibition 

 of Medueval Art at the rooms of the Society of Arts in 1850 contained 

 many such specimens, in which much skill was often shown both by 

 the artist and the artificer. One was an altar-piece of silver, partly 

 gilt, enriched with scrolls and garlands, and enclosing enamels and 

 .u,-. 



ALTERATIVES, a word signifying ' things that produce a change.' 

 Under this head are comprehended those medicines which do not 

 produce any immediate or very perceptible effect, but which gradually 

 bring the body from a diseased to a more healthy state. They seem to 

 act in removing unhealthy conditions of the system, much in the same 

 way that a drop of water hollows a stone, not by its violence, but by 

 frequently falling. They are generally given in small and frequent 

 doses, and, even when given in large doses, they are often repeated. 

 The former mode of administering them is employed when they ore 

 powerful medicines, the latter when less active. Out of almost every 

 clan of medicines some one may be used as an alterative its claim to 

 he so regarded depending less upon its natural powers than upon the 

 manner in which these are modified, so as to effect a particular pur- 

 pose. Thus by diminishing the dose, or combining them with oth.-r 

 medicines, some of the most powerful drugs we possess are capable of 

 being employed as alteratives, and made to produce effects exactly 

 opposite to what they do when given alone, or in large doses. Ten 

 grains of ipecacuanha, for example, taken with some fluid into the 

 stomach, will speedily cause a feeling of sickness, followed by vomiting 

 three or four grains will cause a feeling of sickness and loss of 

 appetite, though not actual vomiting while one-quarter or one-half 

 a grain taken about an hour before each meal for several days in suc- 

 cession, will be found greatly to increase the appetite, and improve the 

 digestion. Yet even ten grains of ipecacuanha, if token along with two 

 of opium, will not produce any obvious effect on the stomach, but, 

 if toe patient be kept warm in bed, will cause a profuse flow of 

 I .i-p.i .t. ii 



Many of the forms or preparations of mercury, even the most active 

 and poisonous, when given in very small doses, neither prove purgative 

 nor destructive to life, but, on the contrary, often produce signal 

 benefit, relieving the patient from many complaints which rendered 

 his days miserable, or even threatened to shorten them. Nor is the 

 taort (beaded of the mineral poisons arsenic itself incapable o( con- 



tributing to the restoration of health, since we see it now make the 

 i-hivrt ing ague cease, and at an'tli.-r time cause the agonising, headache 

 :.irt. 



Others which are less active may lie given in very large doses, as 

 sarsaparilla, and similar article**. 



The variety of agents which may be used as alteratives must convince 

 us that they cannot all act in the same way, and that their beneficial 

 effects cannot be attributed to the same cause. Most of them appear 

 to act upon the secretions and excretions either by increasing their 

 quantity or altering their quality. In many parts of the body. Imi 

 I>aitieularly along the course of the alimentary canal, are situated 

 glands, the duty of which is to elaborate from the blood certain fluid* 

 containing salts and other principles, which are primarily useful in 

 keeping moist the surfaces over which they flow, and often second aiily 

 useful in effecting changes in the matters with which tiny c. ,m. in 

 contact, on the saliva with the food, as soon as it is receives into the 

 mouth, and the bile with tin- chyle, ii|ni its paHsage nut ,.i' il, 

 stomach. These, then, are secretions. The kidneys and skin are 

 organs by which fluids are separated from the blood, serving as v 

 for the removal from the system of salts and other prineipleM no longer 

 useful, the retention and accumulation f which would - pmve 

 hurtful, and ultimately fatal. These are termed excretions : that of 

 tin- kidneys being of no primary or secondary use, while that i the 

 skin keeps this covering moist and pliant, states necessary for its 

 answering the objects of its existence. 



The preservation of a due proportion in tin- quality and quantity ( 

 these secretions and excretions is essential to the maintenance ' 

 equilibrium, that fair and equal, or harmonising play of all the organs 

 of the body, when, feeling no weight or o]i|nv.--ii.u in any part, a man 

 readily says he ii veil. The disturbance of this balance gives rise to 

 various degrees of uneasiness and ill-health ; states to which the Kn n< h 

 apply the expressive term malaise. 



The functions of secretion and excretion Wing rather vital than 

 chemical processes, they are greatly dependent u|ion the state >.f th.- 

 nervous system. This, again, is only perfect when the blood i 

 proper quality; and this last is beholden for itx excellence to tin- 

 thorough performance of digestion, for w hich a due supply of n<-i v.,u- 

 energy is required. 



As all these functions act and re-act upon each other, it matters 

 but little which of them is the first to fail in contributing it* 

 part to the general welfare, as all in time suffer ; but the function* 

 of secretion and excretion, perhaps, soonest show a falling off, and 

 .-i.i .in --t attract the attention of the patient. He awakes with a 

 dry tongue, and observes that the secretion from the kidneys is 

 less in quantity and more highly coloured than natural, or excessive 

 in quantity and pale, or he perceives that the skin is dry and b.i 

 bloated. 



To remedy these states, alteratives are often employed. Small 

 doses of some mercurial, alone, at night, or with rhubarb and soda 

 during the day, or small quantities of ipecacuanha, will often relie\ < 

 the dryness of the mouth. A little common salt taken immediately 

 on waking will also remove it. AVith this view a little bacon has often 

 been recommended at breakfast the benefit being due to the salt, 

 not the bacon. 



The removal of the depraved and unhealthy secretions from tin- 

 intestinal canal, where they are apt to linger, causing uneasiness to the 

 patient, and by the unpleasantness of his bntith rendering his presence 

 disagreeable to others, is best effected by a course of gentle purgatives. 

 The frequent repetition of too powerful purgatives is to be reprobated, 

 as often occasioning disease of the inner coats of the alimentary canal. 

 After these, some strengthening medicine, as bark or iron, will 

 generally be useful, especially if the nervous system be out of i.nli-i . 

 owing to much mental exertion, or protracted night- watching. At 

 this stage of the treament, exercise and travelling, change of scene 

 and pursuit, ore of much service ; or a visit to some watering-place : 

 for the mineral springs, having the saline ingredients very minutely 

 divided, may be considered as nature's alteratives. 



Where the skin is much affected, exercise of a regulated kind. Mich 

 as that practised by trainers, may prove useful, as the diet is at the 

 some time strictly attended to. Indeed, a partial or complete change 

 of diet is often the most effectual alterative we can employ. 



But neither medicines nor a strict plan of diet should be begun or 

 continued without the advice of a competent judge. It is in such 

 cases that persons are most apt to undertake the cure of their own 

 complaints, and, either by using inefficient means, allow them to get 

 rooted in the system or, by employing the natruna and secret, but 

 often dangerous, combinations of quack*, become a prey, in their purses 

 and persons, to ignorance and fraud. 



The explanation of the functions of the system, and the act 

 remedies, already given and hereafter to be given in this work, are by 

 no means intended to enable the patient to dis|>euse with the assist- 

 ance of his medical attendant, but to prepare him to receive tin- full 

 benefit of that assistance, by enabling him to understand something 

 of the principles on which his treatment is conducted, and thereby 

 to teach him how ho may co-operate with his physician in rendering it 

 effectual. 



ALTE'RNATE. In geometry, angles are said to be alternate which 

 are made by two lines with a third, ou opposite sides of it, as A t and 



