Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/438

4i6l POL a fomentation, prepared of two parts of vinegar, and o:ie of spirit of wine, will be more proper. Should, however, great irritation arise from heat and iiiHammation, it will be necessary lo bleed the animal, and to apply poultices of bread, milk, and elder-flowers ; which method, with the assistance of appropriate physic, will frequent- ly disperse die swelling, and pre- vent the farther progress of the dis- ease. But, when the tumor becomes critical, and contains fluctuating matter, its maturation ought to be promoted by poultices, till it either burst spontaneously, or arrive at a state proper for applying the knife. If sncli operation become necessary, it should ahvays be performed by a skilful veterinary surgeon ; as it frequently happens, that, though a complete cure of this evil be elfected by common farriers, yet, by making deep incisions, resorting to corro- sive mixtures, and a tedious course of hot, irritating applications, the poor animal is so di^^figured as to be fit only for tJie meanest drudgeiy. A more judicious and simple method of discussing tumors of this description, has lately been re- commended by Mr. Cl.^rk, of Edinburgh. — A^ soon as matter is perceived to fluctuate in the part atfected, Mr. C. direfts a large seton-needle, armed with a cord, to ]se introduced at the upper part of the swelling, and brought out at the under or lower part of it : from which orifice the pus will speedily discharge itself; and in a iew weeks the wound will be per- fe6lly healed, without leaving any scar or blemish, or the least trace of the disorder. — Deep-seated ab- scesses may be treated in a similar tnannerj and, if there be two or POL more sinuses, the same method 103/ be adopted, in order to obtain a de- pending orifice, for a free discliarge of muter : thus, a cure is generally and speedily efleded. POLLEN, or Forinajecundans, denotes the fertilizing powder, found in the anthers, or tops of the stamina of plants ; and which, when sufficiently mature, is con- veyed to the pistils for the purpose of fecundation. The farina is, in general, of a yellow colour ; it is very conspicu- ous in the tops of young or unripe flowers, and especia.ly in those of lilies and tulips. It consists of minute hard particles, covered with one, two, or three elastic mem- branes, bursting and shedding the flower dust to a considerable dis- tance, as soon as it has arrived at m.iturity. — When viewed through the medium of a microscope, they usually present a particular form, that is observable throughout the genera of an order, as well as all the species of a genus of plants. Naturalists have discovered, that the pollen cuntains a waxy, unctu- ous matter, ar;d is colleiSted in tire hairs with which the thighs of bees are covered. These inseds tritu- rate, and otherwise prepare it in their stomachs, whence it is eje6t- td in a concrete foftn, under the name of Wax. POLISHING, in general, de- rotes tJie a6t of smootlrening and imparling brightness to hard sub- stances, such as metals, marble, glass, &c. by rubbing them with certain matters adapted to the pur- pose. Having, on many occasions, stated different mineral and vege- tiible b> dies that may be employed with the view (,f polishing njetals (a summary account of which t!je reader