OLF 



OINTMENT. A medical prepara- 

 tion containing lard, suet, or fat as 

 a basis. 



OKRA. Hibiscus csculentus. An 

 annual of the family Malvaccce, 

 abounding in a ropy mucus. It is 

 readily cultivated, and much valued 

 for soups and as a vegetable, served 

 with butter. It is said that the ripe 

 seeds, which are as large as a small 

 pea, when roasted and prepared like 

 coffee, are a perfect substitute for 

 that product. They are sowed in 

 settled weather (May), in rich lands, 

 in drills three feet apart each way, 

 and improved by manure and tillage. 

 The plants grow three or four feet 

 high, and bear numerous pods, which 

 are cut green, and while sufficiently 

 tender to break across. In good sit- 

 uations they grow six to ten inches 

 long. They are boiled, and served 

 with butter, or sliced, and introduced 

 into soup, with tomatoes, &c. The 

 green pods also make a good pickle. 

 They are regularly brought to the 

 Southern markets. 



OLD RED SANDSTONE. The 

 formation of red sandstones and con- 

 glomerates next below the coal. 



OLEACE.E. The family of trees 

 and shrubs containing the olive, ash, 

 and privet. 



OLEANDER. Nerium oleander. 

 A beautiful evergreen, with large, ro- 

 saceous flowers. It requires shel- 

 ter in the green-house, and is prop- 

 agated with ease by cuttings kept 

 moist. 



OLECRANON. The bone of the 

 elbow. A process of the ulna. 



OLEFIANT GAS. An inflamma- 

 ble gas, condensing spontaneously 

 into a fluid oil, with an aromatic 

 odour. It consists of two atoms 

 carbon and two hydrogen. It is re- 

 garded as a hvdrate of acetyl (C4 

 H3 -1- H). 



OLEIC ACID. The acid of olein 

 (c/rti/i), or tiie flu id port ions of fats, sep- 

 arated by alkalies from the glycerine. 



OLERACEOUS. Of the nature 

 of culinary vegetables or pot herbs. 



OLFACTORY NERVE.S. The 

 first pair proceeding from the brain, 

 and distributed in the nose. 

 Y V -i 



OME 



OLIBANUM. A fragrant Eastern 

 gum resin. Frankincense. 



OLIVE. Olea Europea (Fig.). A 



small evergreen tree, requiring a 

 mild climate, similar to that of South 

 Georgia, and a dry, granitic soil. It 

 is propagated from slips or seeds. 

 The trees bear well at ten years, and 

 live for centuries, when undisturbed 

 by frosts. They are more hardy than 

 the orange. The unripe fruit, pre- 

 served in salts and water, form an es- 

 teemed culinary and desert article. 

 The variety of tree with long leaves 

 (longi folia) yields the best table oil. 

 It is cultivated in Fiance. The oil is 

 procured from fruit fully ripe, which 

 is allowed to sweat in heaps for a 

 few days, and then crushed in an 

 edge mill, and pressed without heat. 

 The oil becomes fine by standing for 

 a time. 



OLIVE, AMERICAN. Olea Amer- 

 icana. Devil wood. A large ever- 

 green shrub of the South, growing 

 near the seashore, with aromatic 

 flowers and a small fruit. The wood 

 is very hard, but is "tile used. 



OLIVILE. An amylaceous body 

 obtained from the gum of the olive- 

 tree. 



OLIVINE. A gre?n, volcanic min- 

 eral. A silicate of ni;ignesia and iron. 

 I O M B R O .M E T i: R (from ou6po(:, 

 rain, and fieroov). A rain gauge. 

 j O.MENTUM. Tiio membrane or 

 caul that lies over the intestines, and 

 ' becomes loaded with fat. 



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