Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/106

86] SME dark-blue colour j and which, on levigating it, assumes a beautiful shade; resisting the a(9ioa of air and lire : hence, if it could be rendered sufticiently^He, it would prove an excellent substitute for ultrama- rive. Sraaltis prepared, by melting one part of calcined cobalt, with two of pulverized flint, and one of pot- ash. At the bottom of the cruci- bles, which are employed in ma- nufafturing this compound, there is generally found a regulus of a ■whitish colour, inclining to red, and rather brittle; this, o being again melted, and becoming cold, separates into two parts; namely, tlxat which settles at the bottom, is the true cobalt, and is used to increase the quantity of smalt ; the other is called bismuth; to which we refer. Smalt is employed in various branches of the arts and manufac- tures ; as likewise by clear-starch- ers, in getting up fine linen ; and by •whom it is termed powder-Hue. SMELLING, one of the exter- nal senses, is that faculty by which we are enabled to distinguish the odour of ditt'erent substances. It is exercised by means of papillae, or little warts of tlie olfactory nerves, which are distributed throughout the nasal membrane ; and convey volatile exhalations to the sensorium, exciting impressions of sweet, sour, fetid, or aromatic substances, according to their re- spe6kive nature. This sense is intimately con- neded with that of taste; and, in some respeAs, is more valuable than the latter; as animal beings arc thereby enabled to discover un- wholesome substances, without ex- posing themselves to danger. Thus brutes, and particiilarly dogs, pos- sess a more acute smell thau the SMO human race ; for this is their only guide in searching for food ; while man, being endowed with superior faculties, can dispense with such sagacity. Nevertheless, remark- able instances of acuteness of smell , in the rational creation, have some- times occurre.l. — See the article Odour, SMELT, or Salmo eperlcmus, L. a fish of a beautiful form and colour ; its head is transparent, and the skin, in general, so thin that, with a good microscope, the circu- lation of theblood maybe distinctly perceived. * Smelts inhabit the seas, and never swim at a great distance from the shore, excepting when they ascend the current of rivers. In the months of November, De- cember, and January, incalculable numbers are caught in the Tha^nes and Dee ; in March and April they cast their spawn, after which they uniformly retire to the sea ; though the young smelts remain in their native streams, till they are several inches long. This fish va- ries in size, sometimes measuring 12 inches and upwards in length; and weighing half a pound: it has a peculiar flavour, which slightly resembles that of the violet. Smelts are m season towards the latter end of summer, or in the be- ginning of autumn;— they are sold in the streets of London, split and dried, under the name of dried sparlings r-r-epicures eat them as a relish to a glass of wine, in the morning. — When cooked in a fresh state, they are very nutritious, and easy of digestion. SMOKE, a dense, elastic fume, which is exhaled from burning coals, wood, and other substances. Snioke being not only disagree- able to the senses, hut also tie-, quently detrimental to health ; in- genious