CON 
tion of meat. It is also frequently applied 
to vegetables ; but from the preparation of 
boiling, which is commonly necessary in or- 
der to their being impregnated with the su- 
gar, the condita, except a few that contain 
a large proportion of a more fixed aromatic 
substance, can be considered only as sugar. 
This is often applied to the acid and aces- 
cent fruits ; and when applied in the con- 
sistence of a syrup, it preserves them for a 
long time from any fennentation, but it 
does not destroy their ascescency; and 
when such preserves are taken into the sto- 
mach, the sugar introduced along with 
them renders them much disposed to an 
acescent fermentation. In the quantity 
that sugar is commonly employed, either 
for improving the relish of several kinds of 
food, or for correcting their acidity, it can 
only be hurtful by its ascescency in the 
stomach, and can Imrdly make any proper 
part of the mass of blood. If taken in very 
large quantities, and in greater proportion 
than it can enter into the composition of 
the animal fluid, sugar, Dr. Cullen thinks, 
may increase the saline state of the blood, 
and induce disorders. 
Vinegar, another saline condiment, is a 
powerful antiseptic, employed in several 
ways for preserving animal substances from 
putrefaction. We must consider vinegar 
as a vegetable acid that may be taken with 
more safety than the fossil acids. Acrid 
substances are also employed as condi- 
ments. These are especially taken from 
the class of tetradynamia, and they are 
chiefly the mustard and horse-radish. 
Taken in with our food, they stimulate the 
stomach and assist digestion ; and further, 
as they evidently promote perspiration and 
urine, they obviate the putrescent tendency 
of the system. This has been so much re- 
marked, that the vegetables of this class, as 
fraught with this peculiar acrimony, are 
justly denominated antiscorbutic. 
To the list of condiments. Dr. Cullen 
adds capsicum, ketchup, and soy ; and con- 
cludes his strictures on them by observing, 
that the whole of our seasonings consist of 
salt, vinegar, and aromatics, combined to- 
gether ; and “ if they are taken only in the 
quantity necessary to render the food more 
sapid, they may increase the appetite and 
favour full eating ; but they can hardly 
otherwise do harm, unless when the aroma- 
tics are taken in such large quantity as to 
weaken the tone of the stomach.” 
CONDITION, in law, a restraint annex- 
ed to a thing, one of the terms upon which 
CON 
a grant may be made on a contingency, 
upon the happening of which, the estate 
may be defeated ; as a mortgage which is 
to cease upon payment of a certain sum. 
Conditions are either in deed, or express ; 
in law, or implied ; precedent ; subsequent ; 
inherent ; collateral ; affirmative ; negative ; 
single; copulative. A condition prece- 
dent is one the happening of which is to pre- 
cede the vesting of the estate or thing 
granted. A condition subsequent, by hap- 
pening after the vesting of the estate de- 
feats, continues or extends it; and this dis- 
tinction is of frequent occurrence and great 
importance. A condition in deed differs 
from a limitation of an estate, chiefly in 
tliat the former defines the estate, which 
cannot exceed the limits set to it in the ori- 
ginal grant ; but upon an express condition 
in deed, the estate continues until the 
grantor, who may take advantage of it, en- 
ters to defeat it. See Limitation. Condi- 
tions which are impossible, contrary to law, 
or repugnant to the nature of the estate, 
are void, and consequently the estate, if the 
condition be subsequent, becomes absolute 
by being fr eed from the condition j but, if 
precedent, the estate can never vest. Those 
which give or enlarge an estate are favour- 
ably, those which restrain or defeat it, 
strictly construed, and conditions in re- 
straint of marriage are not favoured, unless 
reasonable, but must be perfonned where 
the thing is limiteri over to a third person. 
The right of taking advantage of a condi- 
tion can be reserved only to the party, his 
heir, executor, or privities, in right and 
representation. A familiar instance of a 
condition is a bond with a penalty, condi- 
tioned to be void on payment of a less sum. 
Condition, or Condition implied, is 
when a person grants an office to ano- 
ther, as keeper of a park for life ; though 
there be no condition expressed in the 
grant, yet the law makes one covertly, 
which is, that if the grantee does not exe- 
cute all things belonging to his office, it 
shall be lawful for the grantor to discharge 
him. 
CONDITIONAL syllogism, a syllogism 
• where the major is a conditional proposi- 
tion. Thus, 
If there is a God, he ought to be wor- 
shipped. 
But there is a God ; 
'fherefore he ought to be worshipped. 
CONDUCTOR, in surgery, an instru- 
ment which serves to conduct the knife in 
