THE FARMER AT HOME. 287 



MURIATIC ACID. Muriatic acid is generally in a liquid form, 

 h iving a strong and pungent smell, and a taste very sour and caustic ; 

 e cposed to the air, it emits white fumes. It is a solution of the muri- 

 a ;ic acid gas in water, which deserves attention in a medical point of 

 \ iew, as being employed in fumigation for destroying contagion. It 

 i , extricated for this purpose by pouring sulphuric acid on common 

 s lit, by which the fumes of muriatic acid are disengaged, and sulphate 

 r f soda is formed. Muriatic acid has been successfully administered in 

 t yphus and scarlet fever, in the proportion of a dram to a pint of gruel 

 c r barley water, with sugar or syrup to correct its acidity, and to ren- 

 c.er it more palatable. This mixture is to be used for common drink ; 

 but must not be put into a leaden or pewter vessel or spoon. It is 

 ] ecommended as good against worms, in the dose of from five to twenty 

 drops in a strong infusion of quassia, frequently repeated. 



MURRAIN. Murrain, or gargle, is a contagious disease incident 

 to cattle. The symptoms are, a hanging down and swelling of the 

 head, abundance of gum in the eyes, rattling in the throat, a short 

 oreath, palpitation at the heart, staggering, a hot breath, and a 

 shining tongue. To prevent this disease, the cattle should stand cool 

 in summer, and have plenty of good water. All carrion should be 

 speedily buried ; and as the feeding of cattle in wet places, on rotten 

 grass and hay, often occasions this disease, dry and sweet fodder 

 should be given them. 



MUSCLE. The parts that are usually included under this name 

 consist of distinct portions of flesh, susceptible of contraction and re- 

 laxation ; the motions of which, in a natural and healthy state, are 

 subject to the will; and, for this reason, they are called voluntary 

 muscles. Besides these, there are other parts of the body that owe 

 their power of contraction to their muscular fibres ; thus the heart is 

 a muscular texture, forming what is called a hollow muscle ; and the 

 stomach, intestines, &c., are enabled to act upon their contents, merely 

 because they are provided with muscular fibres ; these are called in- 

 voluntary muscles, because their motions are not dependent on the 

 will. The muscles of respiration being, in some measure, influenced 

 by the will, are said to have a*mixed motion. 



MUSHROOM. A plant remarkable for the quickness of its 

 growth and decay, for the remarkable bad smell it diffuses when in a 

 state of decay, and for yielding a nutritive article for the table. Care 

 must be taken that those eaten are of the right sort, as there are sev- 

 eral funguses resembling them that are highly poisonous. The marks 

 of good esculent mushrooms are the following. The true mushrooms 

 are known by their external whiteness, and by being of a pale red 

 within when young, and of a deeper red, or dark, when older ; they 

 are at their first appearance of a round figure, and not much larger 

 than a small nut ; after they have a little unfolded their membranes, 

 they appear red full, and close ; on the top is a disagreeable softness, 



