Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/88

68] SIL freneral : hence, the necessity of guarding the eyes with equal care against all injuries from without, as well as nodufnnl excesse?, be- comes evident ; for those tender and complicated orgiins are ex- posed to a variety of disorders, •which, if not npportnurly prevent- ed or checked in th( ir progress, may eventually induce total Blind- ness. — Having already enumerat- ed such affeC'tions, and pointed out the most a{)propriatL* treatment, inider tlie articles Eye, Gutta- Sekexa, &c. the reader will con- sult them accordingly. SILK, a fibrous produftion, par- taking both ol'animal and vt-getable nature : it is spontaneously drawn or spun by the insetSt, which will be the objeft of the next article. In this place, therefore, ^we shall only remark, that the filaments manu- factured by this admirable creature, are extremely fine, so that they cannot be employed for any tex- ture, in a single state ; but, when combined or twisted together into several threads, by meaiis of ma- chinery, they form the strongest cords, or cloth, which is not only the most elegant, but also the most durable ; though it may be pro- cured at a cheaper price, in pro|K)r- tion to its tine quality, than either linen, or cotton. — Raw silk pays on importation (excepting that pro- duced in the British colonies, in America, which is duty-free), 3s. 3|d. per pound ; but, the dutjy of wrought silk amounts nearly to a prohibition. — See also Stock- ings. SILK -WORM, or Phalama Jinmbyx Mori, a native of China, •where it propagates itself on the TTmlberr}'-tree, the leaves of which serve as its only natural footl. I'rom the labours of this valuable SIL Insct^t, we obtain Silk. The worm is hatched from yellowish eggs, the size of which is rather smaller than that of mustard -seed ; and which are laid by a species of white moth, resembling a butterfly. Raw silk has hitherto been im- ported into Britain, at a considera- ble annual expence ; thou;]jh, it now appe-jrs that England, in par- ticular, possesses certain advan- tages over the southern climates of Europe, for raising silk ; and which, if they were properly at- tended to, promise to be produc- tive of a great saving to the nation. Thus, the eggs may, in this coun- try, be preserved throughout the winter and spring, without an ap- prehension of being hatched before the mulberr)'-leaves appear ; pro- vided they be kept in cool places, and not exposed to the influence of the sun ; whereas, in Tuscanv, and other warmer parts of Euroj^e, it is scarcely prafticable to keep them in an embryo state, even for a few days. — Cold, thunder, and lightning, are equally destruiStive to these inse(5ls ; and the countries above mentioned are subject to frequent storms, that endangertheir existence ; while Britain is almost tot.iUy exempt from the. latter ca- sualties. Nay, incalculable nnin- bprs of silk- worms are annually bred in Germany, Prussia, Swe- den, &:c. the climates of which are incomparably colder than the Bri-" fish, in general : hence, we trust, that tJie culture of silk will become a source of national profit. When the egg is hatched, after being exposed to a warm tempera- ture of from 60 to 70° of Fah- RllNHEiT, for a fevr days, a small bhick worm bursts fortli, which is very eager for food, and ought to be supplied with the most tender iiiul-