the substance of the nipple is destroyed by violent suction; so that the mother, from the intense pain thus occasioned, is obliged to refuse the breast; and a stagnation of the milk takes place, which is often accompanied with ulcerations and fever. To prevent such dangerous affections, the practice of raising the nipples, as before suggested, should be timely adopted; but, if the parts be already in a diseased state, it will then be useful to bathe them with lime-water, or diluted port-wine; after which the nipple should be dressed with a little spermaceti-ointment. Before, however, such applications are resorted to, it will be preferable to anoint the sore part with a composition of white wax and olive-oil, and to cover it with a fine linen rag; by which simple means great relief may often be obtained.
These remedies will, in general, be found sufficient; but, if the nipple receive no benefit, it has been recommended to apply the neck, together with part of the body, of a hog's bladder (or cow's teat taken from a healthy animal), to the part affected. Either of these, if properly moistened and fixed to the breast, will effectually protect it, while the infant is sucking; and, when not in use, the bladder or teat may be preserved in a little spirit of wine, which will prevent it from putrefying.—See also Thrush.
NIPPLE-WORT, or Lapsana, L. a genus of plants, comprising five species; one of which is indigenous, namely, the communis, Common Nipple-wort, or Dock Cresses. It grows in hedges, shady places, and on rubbish; where it flowers in the months of June and July.—The young and tender leaves of this vegetable have the flavour of radishes, and may be eaten raw, as salad. Though possessing a bitter taste, they are a wholesome vegetable; and, in some parts of England, the country people boil them as a substitute for greens.
NITRE, or Salt-petre, is a species of salt, which, in Persia and the East Indies, is extracted from certain native earths. It is likewise artificially produced in several parts of Germany, Hungary, and especially in France; either from the rubbish of old clay-walls and ceilings, or from animal and vegetable matters suffered to undergo putrefaction, which is promoted by the addition of ashes and of lime; when the whole is exposed for a considerable time to the access of the air, in a direction from north to south.
Nitre is of a sharp, bitterish, penetrating taste, followed by a sensation of coldness. When pure, it dissolves in about six times its weight of water, and, on evaporating the latter, concretes into transparent crystals. It easily melts in the fire; where it deflagrates with a bright flame, accompanied with a crackling noise, and afterwards deposits a large portion of alkaline earth.
Salt-petre is of great utility both in the arts and in medicine. Its spirit, known under the name of Aqua-fortis, is extensively employed both in dyeing, and in refining, as well as for other purposes, the principal of which we have already stated.
Purified nitre is prescribed with advantage in numerous disorders: it is usually given in doses of from two or three grains to a scruple; being a very cooling and resolvent medicine, which, by relaxing the
