MUM 
SIULTIPLYING glusx, in optics, one 
■wherein objects appear increased in num- 
ber. It is otlierwise called a polyhedron, 
being ground into several planes, that make 
angles with each other ; through which the 
rays of light issuing from the same point 
undergo different refractions, so as to enter 
the eye from every surface in a different di- 
rection. 
MULTISILIQU.E, in botany, the name 
of the twenty sixth order in Linnaeus’s 
“ Fragments of a Natural Method;” con- 
sisting of plants which have more seed ves- 
sels than one. Of this kind are aconitum, 
monk’s hood ; delphinum, larkspur ; nigella, 
or devil in a-bush ; and many others. These 
plants are mostly perennial herbs ; the 
steins of some are erect, others creep on 
the ground, and produce roots near the ori- 
gin of each leaf, as in some species of ra- 
nunculus ; others climb, and attach them- 
selves to the bodies in their neiglibourliood, 
either by the foot-stalk of their leaves, as 
the virgin’s bower, or by tendrils which ter- 
minate the foot stalk, as atragene. The 
flowers are hermaphrodite, and are easily 
rendered double by culture. The calyx is 
wanting in some ; in the others it is gene- 
rally composed of five pieces, which fall 
with tlie petals ; but the calyx of tlie rue 
and peony is permanent. The petals vary ; 
five is the prevailing number, but they dif- 
fer from four to fifteen. Tlie stamina are 
from five to three hundred, distinct, and 
attaclied, generally in rows to the recepta- 
cle. The seed-buds are usually numerous, 
and so also are the seeds. Most of these 
plants are acrid, many of them are poisonous. 
The leaves of all the species of clematis 
being bruised, and applied to the skin, burn 
it into carbuncles; and if applied to the 
nostrils in a sultry day, immediately after 
being plucked, will cause the same uneasy 
sensation as a flame applied to that part 
would occasion. 
MULTIVALVES, in natural history, 
the name of a general class of shell-fish dis- 
tinguished from the Univalves, which con- 
sist of only one shell, and the Bivalves, 
which consist of two, by their consisting of 
three or more shells. See Conciioi.ogy. 
MUM, a kind of malt-liquor, much drank 
in Germany; and chiefly brought from 
Brunswick, which is the place of most note 
for making it. 
MUMMY, abody embalmed or dried, in 
the manner used by the ancient Egyptians : 
or the composition with which it is em- 
balmed. There are two kinds of bodies 
MUM 
denominated mummies : the first are only 
carcases dried by the heat of the sun, and 
by that means kept from putrefaction: 
These are frequently found in the sands of 
Lybia. Some imagine, that these are the 
bodies of deceased people buried there on 
purpose to keep them intire without em- 
balming; others think they are the car-, 
cases of travellers, who have been over- 
whelmed by the clouds of sand raised by 
the hurricanes frequent in those desarts. 
The second kind of mummies are bodies 
taken out of the catacombs, near Cairo, in 
which the Egyptians deposited their dead 
after embalming. For a further account of 
mummies, and the manner of embalming 
dead bodies, see Embalming. 
We have two different substances pre- 
served for medicinal use under the name of 
mummy, though both in some degree of the 
same origin : the one is the dryed and pre- 
served flesh of human bodies, embalmed 
with myrrh and spices ; the other is the 
liquor running from such mummies, when 
newly prepared, or when affected by great 
heat or damps. This latter is sometimes 
in a liquid, sometimes of a solid form, as it 
is preserved in vials well stopped, or suf- 
fered to dry and harden in the air. The 
first kind of mummy is brought to ns in 
large pieces, of a lax and friable texture, 
light and spongy, of a blackish brown co- 
lour, and often damp and clammy on the. 
surface : it is of a strong but disagreeable 
smell. The second kind of mummy in its 
liquid state, is a thick opaque and viscous 
fluid, of a blackish colour, but not dis- 
agreeable smell. In its indurated state, it 
is a dry solid substance, of a fine shining 
black colour, and close texture, easily 
broken, and of a good smell ; very inflam- 
mable, and yielding a scent of myirh, and 
aromatic ingredients while burning. This, 
if we cannot be content without medicines 
from our own bodies, ought to be the 
mummy used in the shops ; but it is very 
scarce and dear, while the other is so cheap, 
that it will always be most in use. 
All these kinds of mummy are brought 
from Egypt, but we are not to imagine, 
that any body breaks up the real Egyptian 
mummies, to sell them in pieces to the 
druggists, as they may make a much better 
market of them in Europe whole, when 
they can contrive to get them. What our 
druggists are supplied with, is the flesh of 
executed criminals, or of any other bodies 
the Jews can get, who fill them with the 
common bitumen, so plentiful in that part 
