deed, after the poisonous fluid has left the stomach, and entered the intestinal canal, the principal benefit will be derived from emollient and balsamic injections.
AQUA REGIA is a compound of the nitrous and marine acids, in different proportions, according to the purpose for which it is required; and usually made, by dissolving sal ammoniac, or common salt, in nitrous acid. When the former is employed, the usual proportion is one of this salt to four of the acid; but equal parts will be necessary to dissolve platina.
Aqua regia is used as a menstruum for gold; it likewise dissolves all other metals, silver alone excepted. The best kind for the above-mentioned purpose, is a preparation of three parts of the pure marine, with one of the nitrous, acid. One hundred grains of gold require for their solution, two hundred and forty-six of this mixture.—Concerning the nature and cure of those casualties which may arise from an improvident use of this powerful solvent, we refer to the preceding article.
AQUA VITÆ is usually understood to signify either brandy, or spirit of wine, prepared simply, or with aromatics. Some, however, make a distinction; appropriating the term brandy to what is drawn from wine, or the grape; and aqua vitæ to that which is extracted from malt, &c.—See Brandy.
Aquilegia. See Columbine.
Arabic. See Gum Arabic.
Arabis. See Cress.
ARABLE LANDS, in general, are those naturally fit for tillage, or which may, by proper means, be prepared for the production of grain.
The just proportion between arable and pasture lands, has in this country, of late years, been much exceeded in favour of the latter. It is asserted by competent judges, that though the prevailing rage for breeding cattle of the finest quality, and to the greatest extent, has doubtless benefited the grazier, and the lord of the manor, yet this practice must certainly be attended with disadvantages to the community at large. We cannot, in this place, enter into a minute discussion of this important subject; but it clearly appears, from the present prices of corn, when compared with those of animal food, that they bear no just proportion to each other.
With respect to the general methods of improving arable land, we are induced to avail ourselves of the excellent remarks of M. Duhamel, who maintains that it is much more profitable to increase the fertility of land by tillage, than manure: 1. Because only a certain quantity of dung can be had; the produce of twenty acres being scarcely sufficient to dung one; whereas the particles of the earth may be pulverized and divided at pleasure: 2. Plants reared in dung, do not possess the fine flavour of those produced by a natural soil: 3. The plough not only separates the particles in a manner exactly similar to the fermentation occasioned by dung, but also changes their situation, by turning up the earth, and thus exposing the whole, at different times, to the influence of the sun, air, and dews; all which greatly conduce to render it fertile: 4. Dung breeds and harbours insects, which afterwards feed upon and spoil the plants. To remedy this inconvenience, he recommends the following expedient: "Let a reservoir of quick-lime be kept in
