162 MLTERIA MEDICA. 



sembiing spermaceti, by maceration in wa- 

 ter. 



SPIKE, a species of lavender. An oil of 

 spike is kept in the shops and much used by 

 farriers ; it appears, however, to be nothing 

 more than oil of turpentine, coloured with 

 alkanet root. 



SPIRITS. (See Rectified Spirit) 

 By the term spirit is commonly under- 

 stood alkohol, either pure or diluted, and 

 mixed with various substances. Spirit may 

 be obtained from fermented liquids in a di- 

 luted state; when concentrated and purified, 

 it is termed rectified spirit, or alkohol. An 

 equal quantity of water being mixed with 

 alkhol, forms proof spirit. There are va- 

 rious kinds of spirits used in medicine, 

 such as spirit of nutmeg, spirit of juniper, 

 &c. which are made by distilling the medi- 

 cal substance with dihue spirit. 



SPONGE. Burnt sponge is sometimes 

 used by medical practitioners in scrophu- 

 lous complaints, but it is never employed in 

 veterinary practice. 



SQUILL, or Sea Onion. A large bulbous 

 root resembling the onion, and a medicine 

 oi considerable value. The best prepara- 



