lating medicines, for instance, ipecacuanha, as well as by a local irritation of the fauces, it will be easily understood, that either nausea or vomiting will be the natural consequence, according to the different degrees of the stimulus applied.
The viscera of the abdomen are, in common with other parts of the body, liable to a variety of disorders; the most formidable of which, are those arising from inflammation.
An inflammation of the liver, hitherto supposed by the generality of physicians to be a very rare disease, has by a late French writer, M. Ferrein, been affirmed to be of all diseases the most frequent, and least understood. It often occasions other lasting and dangerous diseases; and, even when removed, unless proper precautions be observed, is liable to return. See the article Liver.
The usual symptoms of inflammations of the lower belly are, pain attended with fever; but these are by no means a necessary consequence; as in this, and other diseases of the Animal Economy, a slight degree of inflammation may prevail, unaccompanied either by febrile symptoms, or considerable pain. The mode of discovering the existence of inflammation is, to press with the tip of the finger on the seat of the complaint; and, if the viscera be inflamed, the pain will be increased in such manner, as when we touch a bruised or tender part. For the treatment of this dangerous affection, we must refer the reader to the article Inflammation.
In order to protect the tender parts we have now described, from external injury, every judicious person will admit the necessity of adopting such a dress, as is best calculated to answer this useful purpose. Hence, no whalebone, or other stays tightly laced, should be worn by women, nor high and straight waistbands be suffered to impede the free action of the bowels, either in boys or men. It is indeed unreasonable to expect, that the present generation can enjoy the ease and comforts of their less fashionable, more prudent, forefathers, so long as mankind continue to encourage those customs and habits, which almost every body deprecates, but which few have the resolution either to oppose or abandon.
Abies. See Fir-tree, or Pinus Abies, L.
ABLUTION, in its literal signification, implies washing, and is usually confined to purification by the aid of water; but may also be applied to cleansing, or washing with any other pure liquid. It is a term well known in the religious world. As a practice, its antiquity is co-eval with the first institution of religious ceremonies.
Ablutions were, on various occasions, enjoined by the Jewish Legislator. The Mahometans frequently have recourse to them in the celebration of those rites prescribed in the Alcoran; and they form no inconsiderable part in the established religion of almost every nation.
Egyptians, Grecians, Romans, Syrians, Cophts, Jews, Christians, &c. all admit them, as forming a part of their ceremonials; by total or partial immersion of the body, by sprinklings in baptism, and so forth.
But, though used in some measure symbolically, or as emblems of that inward purity requisite to the discharge of duty, among the faithful disciples of religious institutions, yet the importance of ablutions is very considerable, when viewed in a physical sense, as being instrumental to preserve health and beauty, and not
