BKA 



BRA 



BOWEL DISEASES. The most 

 prominent are inllanimations. These 

 are of two kinds, of the interior and 

 of the outer membrane of the intes- 

 tines. The first is produced by bad 

 food, inattention to diet, and is at- 

 tended with a liot skin and jnirging ; 

 the animal is in some degree weak- 

 ened, but may be restored l)y the use 

 of moderate bleeding ; gruel is also 

 administered with soothing medi- 

 cines and astringents : it is seldom 

 fatal. The second kind (peritonitis) 

 is extremely violent ; it is brought on 

 by sudden application of cold, when 

 heated, to the stomach, as in passing 

 a small stream in winter, 6cc. In 

 farriery it is called the red colic, and 

 is often fatal in twenty-four hours. 

 The animal paws violently, is ex- 

 tremely sensitive over the stomach, 

 struggles, groans, lies on his back, is 

 costive, the legs and flanks are cold, 

 he shivers involuntarily, and sweats. 

 These violent symptoms soon sub- 

 side, and he becomes so weak and 

 anxious as scarcely to stand. As 

 soon as the disease appears, copious 

 bleeding must be had to produce al- 

 most fainting, blistering fluid must 

 be well rubbed over the skin of the 

 stomach, and Glauber salts given. 

 He should be kept quiet, and clothed. 

 This treatment will soon show its 

 good effects, after which he must be 

 fed scantily, and kept warm and quiet. 



BOX DRAIN. A drain with square 

 sides, presenting the section of a box: 

 it is usually of tiles or bricks. 



BOX-TREE. The Buxus sempcr- 

 virens and baharica produce the dense 

 yellow wood used by engravers, and 

 also for making rules, combs, but- 

 tons, flutes, &c. The best wood is 

 obtained from Southern countries, as 

 Spain and Turkey. The dwarf box 

 is a variety of B. scmjicnnrens. 



BOX OF WHEELS. The iron 

 cylinder in which the axis turns. 



BRACCATE. Bracca, breeches. 

 In ornithology, when the feet are con- 

 cealed by long feathers descending 

 from the tibiae. 



BRACHALYTRA from (ipaxvc, 

 short, and e/.vrpoi', sheath). The name 

 of an extensive group of coleopterous 

 106 



insects, including all such as have the 

 elytra so short as not to exceed one 

 third the length of the abdomen. 



BRACIIINUS. A genus of coleop- 

 terous insects, now the type of a fam- 

 ily {Brachinidce), including those sin- 

 gular beetles which, from their defen- 

 sive anal explosions, are termed 

 " bombardiers." 



BRACHIUM. The lower portion 

 or forearm of the fore extremities. 



BRACT. In botany, the small 

 leaflet situated under the flower. 

 The flowers of grasses, sedges, &c., 

 are bracts which receive the names 

 of glumes and paleae. 



BRAIRD. In Scotch books, the 

 starting of young seedlings. 



BRAKE. An implement to bruise 

 flax and hemp. The wooden pincers 

 used by coopers and others. The 

 snaffle used with horses. A large 

 harrow. 



BRAMBLE. The genus Rubrus. 

 See Blacliherry. 



BRAN. The outer membrane of 

 wheat, &,c., rubbed off in tlie mill. 

 When first used, bran produces a lax- 

 ative effect on horses and other ani- 

 mals. For milch cows and calves it is 

 an admirable fodder, in consequence 

 of the large amount of bone earth it 

 contains ; it is fattening, as it yields 

 four per cent, of oil. As a general 

 article of food, Boussingault makes 

 nine pounds equal ten pounds of prime 

 hay. The quality of bran will, how- 

 ever, difi(?r with the economy of the 

 miller. From good wheat, well bolt- 

 ed, there should not be more than 

 seven per cent, of bran. 



BRAND IN CORN, See Burned 

 Ear. 



BRANDY. Liquor distilled from 

 the dregs of wine : it contains fifty per 

 cent, alcohol ; the colour is fictitious, 

 as the spirit is nearly transparent. 

 Burned sugar is the usual colouring 

 matter. 



BRASSICA. The generic name 

 of the cabbage, rape, broccoli family ; 

 they belong to the Cruciferm of Jus- 

 sieu, and Tetradynamia siliquosa of 

 Linnajus. 



BRAW^N. The salted and pre- 

 pared flesh of the wild boar. 



