port of the industrious poor.—Lastly, though luxury be the attendant on wealth; though it encourage arts, manufactures, agriculture, and commerce; and, when its prevalence does not corrupt the morals of a people, becomes a national benefit, by diffusing riches among all ranks, and enabling the poor to to pay the most exorbitant prices of provisions; yet we presume to say, that the greatest benefit would result from the observance of sumptuary laws, which should limit the expences of individuals from exceeding a certain point; because that money, which is at present spent in the purchase of articles not strictly necessary to domestic life, might thus be diverted into its proper channel, and be more generally circulated throughout the country.
Lyme-grass. See Lime-grass.
LYMPH, a tasteless transparent liquid, that is absorbed from the surface; the cellular texture; as well as the viscera and their cavities throughout the animal body: it is conveyed into the thoracic duct, or canal of the breast, by means of certain vessels, thence called lymphatics, or lympheducts.—The use of this organization is to return to the thoracic duct the superfluous nourishing fluid; the vapours of vascular cavities, and likewise all substances that are applied to the skin; from which circumstance some physiologists have conjectured the lymph to be the immediate matter of nutrition.
M.
MACE, the inner coat of the Nutmeg, is a thin unctuous membrane, of a yellowish colour, which it acquires by being dried in the sun. It is imported from India in flakes, about an inch in length, which present a variety of ramifications.
Mace emits a very fragrant, agreeable odour, and has a pleasant, though acrid and oleaginous taste. It is reputed to be an excellent carminative, and stomachic, possessing all the virtues of the nutmeg, but with less astringency. Its oil, whether distilled or expressed, is equally efficacious: and, when taken internally in doses of from one to five drops, frequently affords relief in colics. Externally, it is of great utility, if rubbed on paralytic limbs; it also promotes digestion, and often prevents vomiting and hiccoughs, on being applied to the region of the stomach.
Mace pays on importation a duty of 4s. 412d. per lb. besides 11d. per lb. convoy-duty; and a drawback of 3s. 8d. is allowed on exportation; but, if brought from the British plantations in America, it is free from the charge of convoy.
Mad Dog. See Bite of a Mad Dog.
MADDER, or Rubia, L. a genus ot plants, comprising nine species, one of which is a native of Britain, viz. the R. tinctorum, Wild, or Common Dyers'-Madder. It is perennial, and flowers in the months of June and July.
The most proper soil for the cultivation of Madder, in this country, is a soft sandy loam, that has
