MUN 
of the world ; and adding a little aloes, and 
two or tliree other cheap ingredients, send 
them to be baked in an oven, till the juices 
are exhaled, and tlie embalming matter has 
penetrated so thoroughly that the flesh will 
keep, and bear transporting into Europe. 
Mummy has been esteemed resolvent and 
balsamic ; but whatever virtues have been 
attributed to it, seem to be such as depend 
more upon the ingredients used in prc|)ar- 
ing tlie flesli, tlian in the flesh itself; and 
it would surely be better to give those in- 
gredients without so shocking an addi- 
tion. 
Besides the mummy, the human body 
has been made to furnish many other sub- 
stances for medicinal purposes. Thus, the 
skull has been celebrated for its imaginary 
virtues against the diseases of the head ; 
the very moss growing on the skulls of hu- 
man skeleton, s, has been supposed to pos- 
sess anti-epileptic vu’tues : the tat of (he 
human body has been recommended as good 
in rheumatisms; and the blood, and, in 
short, every otlier part or humour of the 
l>ody liave, at one time or other, been in 
repute for tlie cure of some disease ; but at 
present we are grown wise enough to know, 
tliat the virtues ascribed to the parts of the 
human body are eitlier imaginary, or sucii 
as may be found in other animal substances. 
The mummy and skull alone, of all these 
horrid medicines, retain their places in the 
shops ; and it were to be wished that they 
too were rejected. 
MUNCHHAUSIA, in botany, so named 
from Baron Gerlacli Adolphus de Miinch- 
hausen, a genus of the Polyadelplua Po- 
lyaiidria class and order. Natural order of 
CalyeanthcmaB. Salicarias, Jussieu. Essen- 
tial character : calyx six-cleft, tornlose ; pe- 
tals clawed ; stamens in six bodies, four or 
live in each; pistil superior, witli a filiform 
curved style. There is but one species, 
viz. M. speciosa, a native of Java and 
China. 
MUNICIPAL, in the Roman civil law, 
an epithet wliich sigiiities invested witii the 
rights and privileges of Roman citizens. 
Thus the municipal cities were tliose w hose 
inhabitants were capable of enjoying civil 
oflices in the city of Rome ; these cities, 
however, according to Mariana, had fewer 
privileges tlnm the colonies: they had no 
suffrages or votes at Rome : but were left 
to be governed by their own laws and 
iiiaaisirates. Some few mnnioipal cities, 
however, obtained the liberty of votes. 
Municipal, among us, is applied to the 
MUR 
laws that obtain in any particular city 
or province. .And those are called mu- 
nicipal officers wiio are elected to defend 
tlie interest of cities, to maintain their 
rights and privileges, and to preserve order 
and harmony among the citizens. Such as 
mayors, sheriffs, consuls, &c. 
MUNTINGIA, in botany, so called from 
Abraham Munting, professor of botany at 
Gioeniiigen, a genus of the Polyaiidria 
Monogynia class and order. Natural orJ 
der of Columnifer®. Tiliace®, Jussieu. 
Essential character ; calyx five-parted; co- 
rolla five-petall«) ; berry five-celled; seeds 
many, nestling. There is but one species ; 
viz. M. calabura, villose Mmitiiigia, a native 
of Jamaica on the calcareous subalpine liills ; 
and of St. Domingo, in the moist parts of 
woods. 
MURAINA, the eel, in natural history, a 
genus of fishes of the order Apodes. Ge- 
neric character: head smooth; nostrils tu- 
bular; gill-membrane ten-rayed; eyes co- 
vered by the common skin; body round, 
smooth.; and mucous spiracle behind the 
head or pectoral fins. There are five spe- 
cies according to Shaw. Gmelin enume- 
rates nine, of which the following are 
most deserving of notice. M. anguilla, or 
the common eel. Tliis species is particularly 
distinguished by the steadiness ormiiformity 
of its colours; an olive brown on the back 
and silvery lustre on tlie sides and beneath ; 
but more expressively still by the great 
elongation of its under jaw. Its general 
size is from two to tliree feet; it is slow in 
its growtli, and considered as very long 
lived. Its usual food consists of insects, 
worms, and the egp of other fishes. It is 
viviparous, producing great numbers at a 
birth; but of a very diminutive size. It 
continues generally during the day in its hole 
in the banks, which it furnishes with two 
avenues to facilitate its escape and security. 
By night it ranges for food. In winter it 
appears to be ingnlphed in mud, and remains 
in this state of sechision and Iramjnilhty, if 
not torpor, till the return of spring invites it 
to a renewal of its excursions. In some 
places tlie fishery of cels is carried to very 
great extent, and in one of the rivers of 
France 60,000 are said to have been taken 
by the net in the course of a single day. 
Tl®y are wholesome food when taken in 
moderation. Tliey are to be met with in 
almost all tlie rivers, lakes, and stagnant 
waters of the old world, abounding also 
frequently in its marshes. Their tenaeious- 
uess of vitality is so great, tliat they may be 
