DEFINITIOM OF TERMS. 



121 



and spirituous particles, but it likewise be- 

 comes oppressive to the digestive organs, 

 and imparts a degree of acrimony to the 

 human fluids vi'hich has a remarkable 

 tendency to generate putrid diseases, such 

 as the scurvy of mariners. Hence it would 

 be a desirable object to ascertain by ac- 

 curate experiments whether beef, pork, &c. 

 might not be kept fresh at sea for many 

 months, merely by burying it in charcoal- 

 powder, of which it could be easily di- 

 vested by proper ablution. This impor- 

 tant subject deserves the researches of 

 patriotic inquirers. 



With respect to the quantit}' of food, 

 there is one general rule, which ought 

 never to be disregarded, namely, to cease 

 eating when the first cravings of appetite 

 are satisfied, so as to renovate the waste 

 which the body has apparently sustained. 

 By a strict adherence to this principle 

 many distressing complaints arising from 

 intemperance might be eifectually obvi- 

 ated. 



DEFINITION OF TERMS. 



Letter F. 



Frost, is that state of the atmosphere 

 which causes water and other liquids to 

 congeal or freeze. In cold countries, the 

 frost frequently proves fatal to mankind. 

 Where animation is suspended, the follow- 

 ing directions should be strictly adhered 

 to, and every exertion used to restore 

 life. No external warmth of any kind 

 must be applied to frozen persons, till the 

 internal or vital heat be excited; when 

 the. fprmer also should be carefully and 

 very gradually adopted to the manifest 

 degree of the latter. Hence the whole 

 process should be performed either in the 

 open air, or in a cold room; the body 

 cautiously carried in a posture somewhat 

 erect to the nearest dwelling; the head 

 turned gently toward the right side, and 

 the clothes carefully taken off, without 

 injuring the skin or bending the limbs. 

 These precautions are necessary, as rough 

 treatment may easily occasion dislocations 

 of the joints, or fractures of the bones. 

 Next, the whole naked frame, excepting 

 the face, should be covered with a bed of 

 snow from twelve to eighteen inches in 

 thickness, or if this cannot be procured, 



cold water and ice may be substituted, 

 and clothes successively dipped in it may 

 be spread over the whole body, especially 

 the head and breast. After continuing 

 these affusions, gentle frictions with flan- 

 nel or soft brushes, likewise immersed 

 in cold fluids, should be commenced, 

 alternately making use of the shower bath, 

 and persevering in these attempts for an 

 hour at least, when the body ought to be 

 left undisturbed for some minutes. If no 

 signs of life appear, clysters of cold water, 

 with oil and vinegar, or six ounces of 

 brandy, are to be given, and the former 

 process again and again repeated; so that 

 five or six hours sometimes elapse, before 

 any symptoms of animation are per- 

 ceptible. As soon, however, as there is 

 the least prospect of recover}^, warm 

 fomentations must be resorted to; the de- 

 gree of friction cautiously increased, and 

 the patient placed in bed between two 

 robust persons ; emollient clysters pre- 

 pared; and when he is able to swallow, 

 a cup of tea with a little vinegar, wine or 

 brandy, may be allowed. In many des- 

 perate instances, however, it will perhaps 

 be proper to perform venesection, or in- 

 troduce air into the lungs by means of 

 common bellows ; or to have recourse to 

 the electrifying machine, or the earth 

 bath, &c. but such cases must be submit- 

 ted to the judgment of a physician. In 

 Russia, frozen parts of the human system 

 are kept constantly covered with goose 

 grease until a cure is effected, and in the 

 United States, that of common fowls is 

 used. — Preparations of camphor, either 

 that of camphorated spirits or opodeldoc, 

 has also been used with beneficial re- 

 sults. 



Fasts, a term used to denote abstinence 

 from food,particularly for religious reasons. 

 Fasting is injurious to delicate and debi- 

 litated habits, particularly in the early 

 part of the day, because the fluids of the 

 body, after circulating several hours with- 

 out any alimentary refreshment, at length 

 acquire a putrid tendency, which is ex- 

 tremely injurious to the whole human 

 system. 



Fermentation 



Is strictly speaking a chemical process, 

 and of considerable importance in domes- 

 tic economy; particularly in the fermen- 



