DIS 



DIS 



of the foxglove {D. purpurea), a poi- 

 sonous sedative. 



DIGITATE. In botany, any leaf 

 divided into several sej^ments origi- 

 nating in a common centre. 



DIGYAIA (from die, and jv^V> « 

 vDoman). Flowers with two styles. 

 See Botany. 



DILL. Anethum gravcolens. An 

 umbelliferous plant, the seeds of 

 which are esteemed as a medicine. 

 They contain dill oil, which, being 

 distilled, is used in solution in water 

 for the gripes of infants. It is an an- 

 nual, requiring a dry, rich soil. Sow 

 in drills in iMarch or April, keep clear 

 of weeds, thin out to ten inches ; they 

 fruit in September. Fresh seed must 

 be used for planting. The leaves are 

 sometimes used like parsley. 



DILUENTS. Any fluid, as water, 

 which dilutes. 



DILUVIUM, DILUVION. Accu- 

 mulations of gravel found upon the 

 ordinary rocks in manv places. 



DINGLE. A small" valley. 



DICECIA, DIOICA (from die. ticice, 

 and oLKia, house). Flowers, the sta- 

 mens and pistils of which are on dis- 

 tinct plants, as the hop, hemp, &c. 



DIOPTRICS (Irom Ac, and ottto- 

 uai, I see). That part of optics which 

 investigates the passage of hght 

 through glasses, &c. 



DIOSCOKEA. The generic name 

 of the yam See Sweet Potato. 



DIPLOE (Greek). The cellular 

 layer between the outer and inner 

 layers of the scull bones. 



DIPPLE'S ANIMAL OIL. A fe- 

 tid oil obtamed by the distillation of 

 bones, used as an antispasmodic. 



DIPSACUS. The generic name 

 of the teasel. 



DIPTERA, DIPTERANS (from 

 Sec, twice, and nrepov, a wing). Flies 

 or insects with two wings only. They 

 are furnished with a sucker. 



DISCUTIENT (from discutio, I de- 

 stroy). Any application which has the 

 property of resolving or hindering the 

 formation of tumours or boils. 



DISEASES. See them, or Ox, Horse, 

 Sheep. 



DISK. Any flat, round body : 

 hence discoid. In botany, any space 

 230 



existing between the insertion of the 

 stamens and the ovary. 



DISPERSION OF LIGHT. Its 



separation into the colours by a prism. 



DISSEPIMENTS. The dividing 



membranes formed in ovaria by the 



union of the sides of tw-o carpels. 



DISTEMPER. Frequently used in 

 the same sense as disease, but is par- 

 ticularly applied to cattle. In racing 

 stables it is the distinguishing name 

 for epidemic catarrh or influenza in 

 horses. Bleeding in the early stage 

 is recommended, and ic is important 

 that the bowels should be evacuated 

 and sedative medicines given. (See 

 Horse). In dogs, distemper is one of 

 the most fatal diseases ; a little emet- 

 ic powder (three grains of tartar emet- 

 ic and one-grain of opium) is recom- 

 mended to be given. — {Clater's Far., 

 p. 392). 



DISTICHOUS (from die, and otikoc, 

 a row). Two rows of seeds, leaves, 

 &c.. arranged side by side. A term 

 of frequent use in descriptive botany. 

 DISTILLATION. Achemical pro- 

 cess, whereby the more volatile parts 

 of a mixture are separated by heat. 

 It is conducted in a still of metal, 

 usually copper, except where a great 

 heat is necessary, as in destructive 

 distillation, when iron is used. Earth- 

 en-ware and glass are used for many 

 chemical distillations. Vessels of this 

 kind are called retorts or alembics. A 

 retort is of the figure of a large in- 

 verted comma ; if there be an aper- 

 ture over the bulb fitted by a stopper, 

 or to receive a tube, it is termed a 

 tubulated retort. (See Retort.) An 

 alembic consists of two parts, an up- 

 per cap, which carries the tube, or 

 beak, along which the distilled fluid 

 passes, and a lower vessel to contain 

 the matter for distillation. The cap 

 is well luted or fastened before use. 

 The heat employed is regulated to 

 the purposes of the operator. If the 

 object be to separate alcohol from wa- 

 ter, the heat must not rise above the 

 boiling of alcohol (176-^). As the va- 

 pour rises, it is at first cooled along 

 the tube, or beak, of the retort, and 

 flows dow^n it into the receiver ; but 

 the tube becoming heated, steps must 



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