if the disorder be suffered to take its usual course, death is the inevitable consequence.—In cases of this dangerous nature, mephitic or fixed air, produced from a mixture of chalk and oil of vitriol, has been injected into the intestines, by means of the instrument employed for tobacco clysters; by which application the violence of the diarrhœa was quickly abated; the heat and fetor of the stools corrected; and every alarming and dangerous symptom in a short time removed.
The last disorder in which the use of fixed air has been attended with success, is the calculus, or stone, of which it is said to be an excellent solvent; but, as the experiments made on this subject have not hitherto accurately determined its efficacy, we cannot speak of it with any degree of confidence.—See Stone.
Flag: See Flower-de-Luce.
FLAG, the Sweet, or Acorus calamus, L. an indigenous perennial plant, growing in shallow, standing waters, rivulets, and marshy places. It delights in an open situation, and might be transplanted into gardens, where it will thrive, if the ground be moist, and not shaded by trees; but unless it grow in water, it never produces flowers, which appear about the latter end of June, and continue till August.
The root of this vegetable has a very agreeable flavour, which greatly improves by drying. It is affirmed to possess carminative and stomachic virtues, having a warm, pungent, bitterish taste, and is frequently used as an ingredient in preparing bitters, though it is said to impart a nauseous flavour.
In the opinion of Linnæus, the powdered root of the sweet flag might supply the place of our foreign spices; and is the only genuine aromatic plant of cold climates. Other assert, that agues have been cured by it, after the Peruvian bark had failed. These roots are commonly imported from the Levant, but those reared in Britain are in no respect inferior. The fresh root candied, is used at Constantinople as a preservative against epidemic diseases.—See Gout.
According to Bechstein, the leaves may be employed for dispelling many noxious insects: hence we recommend them particularly against the moths infesting woollen cloth, and the destructive worms in books; for which purpose they might, every year, be replaced in the corners of drawers and shelves.—M. Bautsch has used the whole plant for tanning leather; and Dr. Böhmer remarks that the French snuff, called a-la-violette, probably receives its peculiar scent from this fragrant root.—Neither horses, cows, goats, sheep, nor hogs, will eat the herb or roots of this vegetable.
Flail: See Threshing.
FLANNEL, a kind of light, porous, woollen stuff, woven on a loom with two treddles, in a manner similar to baize.
This is unquestionably one of the most useful articles of wearing apparel; and it is much to be regretted, that it is not more generally worn, as we are fully persuaded, that it would be the means of preventing many diseases.
The principal objection to the wearing of flannel appears to be, that it irritates the skin, and occasions disagreeable sensations: these, however, continue only for a few days, and the subsequent advantages, thence resulting, amply com-
