N O S
N O T
they are to be raiSed on each in this manner, and the cavity of the noftrils is to be filled up with long dofiils, to prevent the bones from coliapfingi covering the part alio for this end with fome plaifter, and applying firii the dieflings com- mon in recent wounds. If the bone is fractured into feveral Splinters, they arc to be reduced into their proper places by the fingers ; but if a Splinter is fo entirely Separated from the bone, that it will not eafily unite with it again, it is to be taken out with the forceps. The bones will unite, when pro- perly replaced, in about fourteen days, if no caries, or abSceSs intervene. If the bone fhould require a ftronger fupport than what has been hitherto mentioned, one may be formed out of Strong paper, either Single, or double, and adapted to each Tide of the nofe, and fupported by bolfters, and the whole muff be kept in its place by a four headed bandage not tied too tight. Heifter, Surg. p. 117.
Luxated Nbst. It fometimes happens, though not often, that the bones of the nofe are Separated from each other, or dis- torted out of their natural places, without a fracture. When this cafe happens, the patient is to be Speedily placed in a high chair, and an affiftaftt muSt Stand behind, and hold his head firm in a proper pofture : the furgeon is then to introduce with one hand a thick probe, a goofe quill, or a fmall ftick Shaped for that purpofe up the noftril internally, by which means the depreffed parts of the nofe may be thruft out into their places : in the mean time he is to apply his other hand - externally, to guide, and direct the parts which are thus mo- ved from within. This being done, and the bones properly replaced, there is fcarce any thing elfe to be done, but to let a piece of fticking plaifter lie upon the nofe lor fome time. Heijier, Surg. p. 151.
f Founds of "//jtfNosE. Wounds of the nofe are generally cured by the dry future; but, where the wound divides the carr- iage, and penetrates fo deep that the lips of it cannot be kept in contact by the application of fticking plaiftcrs, the true future muft be made through the fkin, on each fide of the wound ; and Bleyny affirms that when a part of the nofe has been actually cut off, and Separated from the reft, it has been afterwards united, by means of futures. When the nafal bones have been fractured, it is ufual to place fmall tubes of lead, or Silver, under them for fome time, left the paffage of the nofe fiiould he ftopped up by the (hooting of new flefh. Ex- ternally f ome vulnerary balfam, or glutinous powder, is to be ufed, and covered with fticking plaifters, which muft be kept on by the four-headed bandage. Heiftet, p. 81.
Nose-^w//, in the manege, called in French mufercUe, is that part of the head-ftall of a bridle that comes over a horfe's nofe
NOSTOCH, the name of a vegetable fubftance which fcems to differ from moil of the other bodies of that kind, in fe- veral particulars.
It is a fubftance of an irregular figure, of a greenifh brown colour, and fomewhat tranfparent. It trembles at the touch, in the manner of a jelly, but it does not melt when held in the band. It has therefore fomewhat of the character of a vegetable leaf, but it has neither veins nor fibres. It is found in all forts of foils, but moft frequently in fandy ones, fometimes on the gravel of garden walks, and moft ufually makes its appearance after rain. It is found only in the fummer months, and retains its humidity and perfect fi- gure fo long as it is a moift feafon, but immediately dries up, and withers away, on the fun, or winds affecting it. Many people have fuppofed this not to be a plant ; it appears all on a fudden, and, as it were, by a fort of miracle, either from the earth or clouds, and fome have called it flower of earth ; others flower of heaven ; and the obfeurity of its origin has occafioned its being held in great efteem among the che- mifts, who fuppofe that it contains an univerfal fpirit capable of converting other metals into gold. Memoirs Acad. Far. 1722.
Mr. Magnol, and Mr. Tournefort, were the firft authors who aflerted its true origin, and ranged it among the plants. Its nature, however, was never perfectly difcovered till Mr. Re- aumur took it under confideration. This accurate obferver foon found that it was a leaf which naturally imbibed water in a very particular manner ; that when it had enough of this liquor in it, it then appeared in its natural flourishing ftate ; and when it loft this again, it became thin, and wrinkled, and Was not to be known for the fame fubftance, or, indeed, fcarce to be ken at all. Hence appears the reafon of its fuppofed fudden production, and decay. If it has, ever fo long, lain in the walks of a garden in its empty wrinkled ftate, it is never taken notice of; but, on a fhower of rain, it imbibes the wa- ter, and immediately Swells out into this jelly-like ftate, and, on the Sun's evaporating that moifture, it falls into its undiS tinguifhable ftate again ; and theSe changes may affect, the fame plant alternately for many days together. Mr, Geoffroy imagined that he had found roots to the nofioch but Mr. Reaumur pofitively afferts that it has none. He ob ferved, indeed, at certain times, on the Surface of fome Spe- cimens of this, a vaft number of round tubercles of different fizes, which appeared to be the fecda of the plant : thefe he regularly Sowed in earthen pots of mould, and tbcfe pra<
duced young plants like the parent nofioch, but even thefe were never difcovered to have any appearance of roots ; and, to try farther whether they had any, Mr. Reaumur turned all the plants bottom upwards, and they received no harm from it, but grew juft as vigorously as before.
IS the nofioch has truly no roots, as appears to be very evident- ly the caSe, it Sollows that it imbibes its nourishment in the manner of the fea plants, which imbibe the water by which they are nourifhed at all their pores.
It fhould Seem that there are two Species of this noftocb-, the one only a plain flat leaf; the other curled, wrinkled, and variously undulated : and it is on this laft, that the fruits which produce the young plants are principally found. It may be, however, that the one of thefe may be the male, and the other the female of the fame fpecies, as in many larger plants ; or poffibly the being in the ftate of fructification alone may make the difference.
NOSTRILS {Cyd.) — The nojlrils are Sometimes Subject to be preternaturally cloSed ; though this is a caSe that but rarely happens. It is fometimes owing to a careleSs treatment in the Small pox, in the bad kinds of which the xoflrils have been known to clofe, and adhere So Strongly to die upper lip, which is Sound turned back at the Same time, as to leave no poffibility of fhutting the mouth. In this unhappy cafe, the only relief is by the knife, Separating the lip from the nofe, and then opening a paffage through each of the nojirih. TheSe are to be kept open, cither with tents, or leaden pipes, and the Jip prefted downward into its natural pofition by a comprefs, and bandage, and this continued till the wounds are ficcarrized. Heifer's Surgery, p. 447.
Nostrils effijh. See Nares^jW/.
NOSUS, a name by which Some of the barbarous writers of the middle ages have called alabajter : others alfo have called it nifus.
NOTHING {Cycl.) — Some modern mathematicians have dif- tinguiflied nothing into two kinds. They talk of abfolute no- things and of relative nothing; but all this jargon is the re- fult of confufed notions, and ought to be banished out of geo- metry. See Infinitesimal.
NOTION (Cycl.) — This term, and the word idea., are often taken in the fame SenSe; but an ingenious author obferves, that we cannot Strictly be Said to have an idea of an active bemg, or of an action, although we may be Said to have a notion oS them. 1 have fome knowledge, or notion, of my mind, and its acts about idca^ inaSmuch as I know, or un- derstand what is meant by thoSe words. What I know, that I have fome notion of.
However, if the world will have it fo, the terms idea and notion may be ufed convertibly. But yet it conduces to clearneSs and propriety, that we diftinguifh things very different by different names. It is alfo to be remarked, that all relation's including an act of the mind, we cannot So properly be Said to have an toed, but rather a notion of the relations or habitudes between things ; but, if in the modern way, the word idea is extended to Spirits, relations, and acts, this is, after all, an af- fair of verbal concern. Berkeley^ Princip. of Hum. Knowl. Sect. 142. p. 160, 161. SeeloEA.
NOTONECTA, in natural hiftory, the name of a Species of water- i ii Ssct, approaching to the nature of the cimex. It al- ways Swims upon its back, and is very fwift in its motions. Its belly, which it fliews while in the water, is of a yellowifli white; its legs are long ; when taken out of the water it hops. It is indeed a very beautiful, and very nimble little creature ; and is common in the ponds of water in Hyde park, and in feveral other places about London. It has four wings, fix legs, and no antennas ; it is eight inches long, three broad, and two and a half thick. The body is black, and of a very particular form, being flattifh. at the belly, and riling to a ridge on the middle of the back ;.So that when it Swims, which is alrnoft aj- ways on the back, its body reSembles a boat in figure. The belly is jointed. Striated, and hairy, and has a large open- ing at the tail, out of which, when hurt, it thrufts forth fome- thing refembling a Sting. The head and Shoulders are !ar"e, hard, and yellow, without any Spots ; the eyes are lar^e and red, and are of a fomewhat triangular form. The nofe is a long, green, hollow probofcis, terminating in a hard and Sharp brown point ; this, in its natural pofture, is kept under the belly, and reaches to the middle pair of legs. The outer pair of wings are of a pale flefh-c< dour, with Spots of a dead white; thefe are long, narrow, and fomewhat tranfparent : they ter- minate in a roundifTi point, and perfectly covert! e who'e bo- dy. The triangular piece which ftands between the top of the wings, is hard and perfectly black ; the inner wings are broad- er and fhorter than the outer ones ; they are thin, and perfect- ly tran Spa rent, and are of a pale pearl colour. The legs are green and hairy ; the foremoft pair are fliorteft; the middle ones longer than theSe ; but the hinder pair are greatly longer than all the reft, So that they Serve as oars, and are tufted with hair at the end to that purpofe. This creature moftly lives in the water, where it preys on fmall infects, killing them, and fucking their juices with its probofcis, in the manner of the water Scorpion, and many other aquatic inSects ; and it Seizes its prey violently, and darts with incredible SwiStneSs to a confutable diiian.ee after it.
4 Though
