THE FARMER AT fl-f^JERSlTY 443 



whence its long slender pods, containing im^rgT^^^A^^ns, are 

 imported. These seeds are warm and arorria^rpos^img an oily 

 taste and a fragrant odor, similar to that of the Peruvian balsam. They 

 are used chiefly for imparting an agreeable flavor to chocolate, in the 

 proportion of one grain to an ounce. The drug itself is said to be 

 resolvent and coroborant ; to afford relief in flatulency ; and to pro- 

 mote the digestion of the oily matter contained in the cacao. On the 

 other hand, if it be too freely used, its narcotic effects, though exhile- 

 rating at first, like opium, are succeeded by uncommon debility, and 

 relaxation of the nerves. When the fresh pods are opened, they 

 exhale such powerful fragrance, as to intoxicate the person thus 

 employed. 



VAPOR BATH. The vapor or steam bath may be regarded as 

 a modification of the hot bath ; but its effects are much less violent. 

 The most usual mode of employing it is to expose the naked body in. 

 a room, into which the steam of hot water may be admitted. The 

 room is generally heated to a temperature considerably above that of 

 the atmosphere, and the body is suffered to remain for some time in the 

 heated air, the common effect of which is, to increase its temperature, 

 and to accelerate the circulation of the blood. After some time, the 

 steam is admitted, when the former symptoms are removed, and a 

 profuse perspiration is produced. This is usually promoted by friction, 

 and a removal to a warm bed. The general effect of this process is 

 to relax the body, to remove obstructions of the skin, alleviate pain 

 and spasmodic contractions, and promote sleep. In the vapor bath, 

 the stimulant power of heat is modified and tempered by the moisture 

 diffused through the air ; and, as the elastic vapor, like air, is a less 

 powerful conductor of heat than the watery fluid, the effect of vapor in 

 raising the temperature of the body is much less than that of the hot 

 bath. Its heating effect is also further diminished by the copious per- 

 spiration that ensues ; so that, on all accounts, the vapor bath is safer, 

 and, in most cases, more effectual than the hot water bath. 



VEGETABLE. A vegetable is composed of a root, stem, leaves. 

 flowers, fruits and seeds ; and when all these different parts are fully 

 developed, the vegetable is said to be perfect. The root is that part 

 of the plant which is concealed in the earth, and which serves to 

 convey nourishment to the whole plant. The stem, which commen- 

 ces at the termination of the root, supports all the other parts of the 

 plant. When the stem is large and solid, as in trees, it is denomi- 

 nated the trunk, which is divided into the wood and the bark. The 

 bark constitutes the outermost part of the tree, and covers the whole 

 of the plant from the extremity of the roots to the termination of the 

 branches. The bark is composed of three parts, namely, the epider- 

 mis, the parenchyma, and the cortical layers. The wood immedi- 

 ately under the bark, is composed of concentric layers, which increase 

 with the age of the plant. The wood next the bark, which is softer 



