SPR 



SPU 



SPIRAL VESSELS. In plants, 

 elonijated cellules, which contain a 

 delicato internal thread, spirally 

 wound, and capable of being drawn 

 out. 



SPIRIT. A distiUed alcoholic 

 product. 



SPIT OF EARTH. A spadeful, 

 as du^ from the soil. 



SPLANCHNOLOGY (from a^}.ay- 

 vov, an enlrail). An account of the 

 viscera. 



SPLAYED. In building, an angle 

 cut off obliquely. 



SPLEEN. "A spongy viscus, of 

 an oval form, the use of which is un- 

 known ; placed in the human subject 

 in the left hypochondrium, between 

 the eleventh and twelfth false ribs." 



SPLINT. •• In farriery, a hard 

 excrescence growing on the shank 

 bones of horses. It appears first in 

 the Ibrm of a callous tumour, and 

 afterward ossifies. If the splint in- 

 terfere with the action of some ten- 

 don or ligament, the hair should be 

 removed, a little strong mercurial 

 ointment be rubbed in for two days, 

 and then an active blister applied."' 

 Also, a thin board of a suitable fig- 

 ure, or pasteboard, to sustain a bro- 

 ken limb. 



SPONGIOLE. The small spongy 

 extremity of the rootlets. 



SPORADIC. Springing up singly, 

 or in small numbers. Diseases are 

 sporadic which are not epidemic or 

 endemic. 



SPORANGIU.M. The case or re- 

 ceptacle containing the spores. 



SPORIDIA. The covering of the 

 spores, the spore-like bodies of algae. 



SPORULES, or SPORES. The 

 minute, simple, reproductive grains 

 of cryptogamic plants. 



SPRINGS. Natural fountains of 

 ■water, formed whereverthe rain, fall- 

 ing on a pervious bed, is interrupted 

 by an impervious stratum of clay or 

 rock. See Drainage. 



SPRAY. The young branches or 

 twigs of trees. 



SPRUCE PINE. Pinus Canaden- 

 sis. Hemlock pine, a handsome ever- 

 green tree, with excellent wood. It 

 is common in New-York and the 



R R R 



Eastern States. The bark is used for 

 tanning. 



SPUD. " An implement used ad- 

 vantageously in cutting up weeds. 

 It consists of a chisel-formed tool, 

 about two inches wide on the cutting 

 edge, inserted into a handle of some 

 four or six feet in length. It is often 

 made use of by the farmer as a use- 

 ful substitute for the walking-cane, 

 affording an opportunity of destroy- 

 ing weeds with the utmost facility 

 while walking over his grounds." 



SPUR. The short, fruit-bearing 

 branches of apples and pears. The 

 hind toe of gallinaceous birds. A 

 well-known implement used by horse- 

 men. In botany, an elongated ap- 

 pendage of the corolla. 



SPURRED RYE. Ergotted rye. 

 See Ersrot. 



SPURGE. The genus Euphorbia, 

 the juice of which is usually acrid. 

 Many species are highly ornamental. 

 The unripe fruit of the E. lathyris is 

 used as a pickle. 



SPURGE L.\UREL. Daphne lau- 

 rcola. A shrub of the same genus as 

 the Mezereoii. 



SPUR OF RYE. Ergot. See Rye. 



SPURRY. Spcrgula arvensis (Jig.). 

 Corn spurry, an indigenous annual, 



growing in sandy wheat and grain 

 fields. It may be cultivated on the 

 poorest soils, and is so quick of 

 growth and short of duration, that it 

 is often made to take an intermediate 

 place between the harvest and the 

 spring sowing, without any strict ad- 

 herence to the regularity of sucres- 

 i sion. It is sown sometimes in the 



745 



