powdered, of each two drams; oil of savin and amber, of each one dram; syrup of buckthorn, enough to form the whole into a ball.
BOUNTY, in commerce, a premium paid by government to the exporters and importers of certain commodities, such as corn, sail-cloth, silk-stockings, fish, &c.
Bounties are sometimes given to support a new manufacture against one of a similar kind established by other nations. To promote the manufacture of sail-cloth in this country, was doubtless an object of the greatest national importance, on account of our vast consumption of that article.
The principal intention of bounties to exporters, is to enable the British trader to become beneficial to his country, by giving him a compensation for his ingenuity and industry. As bounties are usually granted only for a limited time, they can never be the cause of any material loss to a nation, though avaricious men are often stimulated by a desire of gain, to convert to their private advantage what was intended for the benefit of the community.
BOW, a weapon made of wood, horn, or some other elastic substance, and bent into a curve, in which position it is kept by a string fastened to each end. The elastic power thus acquired, is such, that after bending, and unbending, an arrow is impelled with great force.
The long-bow, so called by way of distinction from the cross-bow, is the most ancient of all weapons, and has very generally been used by remote and barbarous nations. The Laplanders, who support themselves principally by hunting, excel the most civilized nations in the construction of this instrument. Their bow is composed of two pieces of strong elastic wood, of an equal size, which are flat on each side, and glewed together. This instrument expels the arrow with much greater force than if it were formed of one piece of similar dimensions.
The Indians still make use of the bow; and the repository of the Royal Society contains a West-Indian bow two yards long.
In the year 1749 a bow and quiver containing twenty-four arrows, made of reed, pointed with steel, and bearded, were found in the New Forest, Hampshire, supposed to have lain there since the reign of William Rufus, who was shot there 649 years previous to their discovery: the reeds were not decayed, nor the steel points rusty.
The strength of a bow is calculated on the principle, that its spring or elastic power is proportionate to the extent of its curve. The use of the bow is termed archery, and those who practise it, are called bowmen, or archers.—See Archery.
Cross-bow. This weapon consists of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, with a string and trigger. It is bent by means of a piece of steel, and expels bullets, large arrows, darts, &c. with great velocity.
BOWELS, or intestines, are very important parts in the animal economy (see Abdomen); and are often subject to diseases which, if neglected, may be attended with dangerous consequences. Of this nature, in particular, are inflammations of the bowels, which manifest themselves by a continued acute pain, frequently accompanied with a sensation of burning.
