floors of common farm-houses, and other humble habitations. For the latter purpose, a mixture of clay, ox-blood, and a moderate portion of sharp sand, beaten well together and uniformly spread, produce a neat, firm floor, and of a beautiful colour.
Whether blood really affords nourishment, has been doubted by some, and affirmed by others. In our opinion, it contains little or no alimentary matter; and though it may be digested by very powerful stomachs, it might be more advantageously employed in manuring the soil. In hot climates in particular, it is highly alkalescent, and was therefore wisely prohibited to the Israelites. When blood was used as a common article of food in this country, the scurvy not only prevailed more generally than at present, but it was a more violent and obstinate disease.
Travellers inform us, that in some countries the savage natives are accustomed to intoxicate themselves bv drinking the warm blood of animals. This barbarous practice, with its consequent effect, apparently confirms John Hunter's opinion, that this fluid is the immediate reservoir of the vital principle; and the inebriating quality of the blood certainly deserves the farther researches of the chemical philosopher. Several expressions in Scripture also tend to countenance the conjecture of this acute inquirer.—See Transfusion.
BLOOD-HOUND, Sanguinarius, a species of dog remarkable for possessing the sense of smelling in the highest degree. This animal is distinguished by his long, smooth, and pendent ears, broad chest, muscular form, a deep tan colour, and is generally marked with a black spot above each eye. We beliewe the breeding of this species has of late years been neglected.
These animals were formerly much employed in the discovering of game that had escaped, or been stolen out of the forest. From the acuteness of their smell, they are said to have also been able to trace the footsteps of man with the greatest certainty: hence, they were trained for discovering delinquents who endeavoured to escape the hands of justice.
Dogs of this species were once greatly esteemed on the confines of England and Scotland, and employed to prevent, or detect, the depredations which the inhabitants were, continually committing on each other.
BLOOD-SHOT EYES, an inflammation of the membranes which invest the eye. As we propose to treat of the diseases incident to that organ, in general, under its alphabetical head, we shall at present only state the first and most necessary rules for preventing the progress of inflammatory complaints; namely, rest, and exclusion of light, without heating the eye by a close cover; cold fomentations repeatedly applied, when they become warm; abstinence from animal food, and all heating or stimulating liquors; mild aperients; and, if these do not produce the desired effect, leeches may be applied, near the eyes; though drawing blood, by cupping and searifying near the temples, has generally been found more effectual.
BLOOD-SPAVIN, in farriery, is a swelling and dilatation that runs along the inside of the horse's leg, forming a small, soft tumor in the hollow part, and is not unfrequently
accom-
