Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/233

T H O tain, where it grows among rub- bish, and on dunghills ; flowecing in the month of July. The seeds of this vegetable have always been classed among the violent narcotic poisons : though, according to Barpn Stokck, and other German physicians, the in- spissated juice of its leaves has, on the Continent, been success- fully employed in maniacal cases : the dose is from one to ten grains, or upwards, to be taken in 24 hours. — It may likewise be ad- ministered internally, both in con- vulsive aud epileptic affedions. Dr. Withering observes, that an ointment prepared from the leaves, affords relief in external in- flammations, and especially in the piles. — Either the seeds or leaves, if swallowed by accident, occa- sion delirium, tremor, swelling, itching. Insupportable thirst, palsy, and death : they likewise tend to inflame the skin. The most effec- tual antidotes will 'be, speedy eme- tics, followed by copious draughts of olive-oil and vinegar, aided by soap-clysters. — ^I'hc thorn-apple is, nevertheless, eaten by cows, goats, and sheep : but refused by liorses. Lastly, the odour of this plant is exceedingly hurtful to mankind ; and, if bees happen to settle on its flowers, they die from the narcotic exhalations. THORNBACK, or Raja da- vata, L. a voracious fish, frequent- ing the sandy shores of Britain, and sometimes weighing a stone and upwards. The upper surface of its body is of a pale jish-colour, in- termixed with black streaks ; its skin is rough, and has small tuber- cles, resembling shagreen : there are rows of strong sharp spines dis- posed along its back and tail. Thornbacks chiefly subsist on T H R [207 herrings, flat-fish, and .sand-eels, though they occasionally devour crabs, and other shell-fish. Their spawning season is in June ; but their young are produced in the month;? of July and August : the latter (as well as those of the Skate) are called maids, till they arrive at an age sufficient for breed- ing. Thesrt fish begin to acquire a proper flavour in November, and continue in perfed^ion longer than the skate j — the young of both spe- ci<^s are, at all seasons, esteemed wholesomte food. THRASHING, or Threshing, in rural economy, is the operation, by which grain is separated from the straw. Thrashing is performed by dif- ferent methods, in various parts of the globe : thus, in the eastern climates, coiTi is trodden out by oxen, cows, horses, mules, and even by asses : while in Europe, theriail is gentTally employed. This implement Is certainly preferable to the feet of animals j as it is not only more expeditious, but the la^ hour is executed in a much cleaiier mode than can be effeded by the latter. But, notwithstanding these advant.iges, thrashing with the flail, is liable to niany objetlLons i being too laborioua, even fpr per- sons of considerable strength : and, as they are often paid in proportion to the quantity of corn thrashed, such work is seldom accomplished in a perfeft manner; so that nu- merous grains generally remain In the straw. To remedy these in- conveniencies, machines of various construdion, have been invented ; and, as some of these contrivances promise to be of great advantage to agriculturists, we shall give aa account of the most valuable. Tlic