Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/304

274] VIP taste : hence it forms an excellent spice or sauce to fish in general, but particularly to lobsters and oy- sters. VIOLET, or rjola. L. a genus of plants, consisting of 44 species ; of which the following are the prin- cipal : 1. The canina. See Dog's Vio- let. 2. The tricolor. See Heart's- BASK. 3. The odorata, or Sweet Vio- let, is perennial ; grows in warm lanes, hedges, and ditch -banks, esj^cially in clayey or marly soils ; flowers in the months of April and May. — Both the blossoms and seeds of this plant are mildly laxative ; and, when taken in doses of from 40 to 80 grains, the powdered root operates as a purgative, and like- wise as an emetic. — Large quanti- ties of violets are cultivated at Stratford-upon-Avon, for their pe- tals, to impart the colour to sijrupof violets ; an officinal preparation of which is kept in the shops, and proves an agreeable and useful lax- ative for children. Such syrup may also be employed in many chemical inquiries, for discovering the presence of an acid, or an al- kali; the former changing the blue colour to a red, and the latter to a green ; though slips of white pa- per, stained with this juice, and preserved from the access of air and light, may serve as a substitute for tliat purpose. VIPER, the Common British, or Coluber Berus, L. a reptile which inhabits the dry, chalky, or stony counties, and particularly the Hebrides. It seldom exceeds 18 inches, or 2 feet, in length ; and is, in general, of a dusky yellow cast; though a variety of a black colour u also occasionally met with. The VI T head is inflated, and furnished with a long hollow fang, that opens at the point. The tongue is forked ; the front teeth are small ; and the four canine teeth in either jaw are crooked and flexible, being raised, or lowered, for instilling the poison. These noxious animals are vivi- parous, producing seven or eight vii>ers, from eggs that are hatcl;ed internally, after a gestation of about three months. They feed on frogs, toads, lizards, niice, and even on birds, which they swallow entire : when the young vipers are in dan- ger, they retreat into the maternal utenis. Having already pointed out (ar- ticle Poison) the treatment to be adopted, if any person be stung by vipers, we shall at present only re- mark, that the flesh of these ver- min is very nutritious; so that it proves an excellent restorative to persons reduced by long continued sickness ; and, though its virtues may have been exaggerated, it may be beneficially eaten by those who are afflifted with leprous, scorbu- tic, rheumatic, or other chronical complaints. VIPER'S BUGLOSS, the Com- mon, or Eckium vulgare, L.' an indigenous biennial, growing in sandy corn-fields, walls, and rub- bish, particularly on the clay thrown out of coal-mines : it flowers from June till August. — This vegetable is not relished by cows, and is re- fused by horses and goats ; but its strong hairy flowers are fondly u- sited by bees. — From the flower- stalks, Dambourney obtained a ■dye of a fine olive-green shade. Virgin's-bower. See Tra- veller's-joy. VITRIOL, a compound salt, formed by the combination of zinc, copper, or iron, with the sulphuric, ox