laughter, artificially excited. Beside the pleasing sensations with which it is accompanied, this affection powerfully operates on the organs of digestion, and greatly contributes to the assimilation of food.
Laurel. See Bay-tree.
LAXATIVES, or Aperient Medicines, are such as promote a loose state or disposition of the bowels, for the more easy and regular evacuation of the feces. On account of the gradual effect which laxatives produce on the body, they are distinguished from the more powerful or drastic purges, which operate more speedily. Hence, with the former intention, castor-oil, or cold-drawn linseed-oil, are alike calculated to afford relief, especially if they be taken in small doses, such as a table-spoonful every hour, with a draught of warm ale, till they mildly operate.—As, however, the difference between these, and the more brisk cathartics, greatly depends on the manner of administering them, we shall communicate a few observations on both, under the article, Purgatives.
LAYERS, in horticulture, denote certain tender shoots or sprigs of trees, which are buried or deposited in the ground, till they have taken root; when they are separated from the parent stock, and become distinct plants.
The method of propagating trees by layers, is performed in the following manner: A small cut or slit is first to be made in the branches, which should then be laid about half a foot deep, in light, rich mould, and gently watered; but, if they do not retain the position in which they were placed, it will be necessary to fasten them down with wooden hooks.
The best season for propagating layers is, for evergreens, towards the end of August; and for deciduous trees, in the beginning of February: after having taken root, they may be separated from the parent stock, and planted out in the succeeding winter. Some horticulturists, however, recommend stripping off the rind or bark; others direct the branch to be twisted, previously to setting it in the ground; but these operations are not essentially requisite, as the layers will flourish, if proper attention be paid, to water them regularly during their early growth.
LAZARETTO, or Lazar-house, signifies a public building similar to a hospital; and which is intended for the reception of those who are infected with contagious distempers. It is also more particularly applied to edifices appropriated solely to the purpose of detaining and purifying such persons as arrive from places or countries, which are apprehended to be infected with the plague.
There are several institutions of this nature in the Italian and other ports, connected with the Levant; but quarantine is, in general, so negligently performed, that the merchandize often arrives at the place of its destination, in the same state in which it was embarked. Such abuse loudly calls for legislative interference; and it is devoutly to be wished that a lazaretto were established in every sea-port town of the United Kingdom, where vessels returning from the Mediterranean discharge their different cargoes.—In the mean time, we seriously recommend the following simple expedient to all country manufacturers; namely, that they should always station themselves and their
