heats and vitiates the stomach, but at the same time occasions an accumulation of bile.
Almonds, as well as nuts, ought to be eaten only while fresh, and without their skins. They should be well chewed; for every piece swallowed entire, is indigestible. The use of a little salt, however, renders them miscible with our fluids, as a saponaceous mass; but, if indulged in to excess, they are productive of alarming, and sometimes fatal disorders.
The expressed oil of bitter almonds, is, in cases of poison, recommended preferably to all others; but care must be taken not to use the chemical, instead of the natural oil, as the former is itself a poison.
Bitter almonds are now generally disused. They have been found to destroy some kinds of animals; hence modern physicians prescribe them with more caution; they are, nevertheless, frequently employed, for making orgeat and other liquors, without producing any bad effect.
ALMS, or charitable donations to the poor. In the early ages of Christianity, this term was employed in a more general sense, and signified as well those donations which were given for the subsistence of the ecclesiastical establishments, as those which were appropriated to the repair of churches, and the relief of the indigent.
Alms-giving forms an essential part of all religions. It is particularly enjoined by the Mahometans; and the Alcoran represents it as the only means of ensuring successful prayer. The Christian system constantly recommends the active practice of benevolence, and the frequent distribution of alms.
Hence Dean Swift very emphatically remarks, that "the poor beggar has a just demand of an alms from the rich man; who is guilty of fraud, injustice, and oppression, if he does not afford relief, according to his abilities."
ALMS-HOUSES are asylums for the support and maintenance of a certain number of poor, aged, or infirm persons during their lives. When these institutions are of a private nature, and limited in their extent, they are certainly beneficial to society; yet it may on the whole be doubted, whether such public establishments, especially as they are generally managed under the absolute controul of rapacious trustees, do not in a great measure tend to relax the springs of industry, and encourage habits of indolence. For, by accustoming people rather to resort to eleemosynary sources, than exert their own strength and abilities, they cannot fail to degrade the moral feelings of human nature, and to destroy that independence which constitutes its noblest support.—See the articles Charity and Hospitals.
ALOE is a beautiful exotic plant, the flowers of which grow in umbels on the tops of the stalks, are of an elegant red colour, and appear in the months of August and September. It consists of ten species, all of which are propagated either by off-sets, or by planting the leaves. The proper earth for this vegetable, is one half of garden-mould, or fresh earth dug from a common; the other half consists of an equal proportion of white sea-sand, and sifted lime-rubbish. This mixture should be made, at least, six or eight months previous to its use. The common aloe will live in a dry green-house in winter, and in summer may be placed under shelter, in the open air; but should have very little water, and none on the stem of the plant: the other
