The proportions of the ingredients employed in making this favourite liquor, are various: in general, however, it acquires a proper degree of strength by combining four or five parts of water, with one of ardent spirit; but, in the summer season, a larger proportion of the former fluid may be used with advantage. Some persons substitute the juice of limes for that of lemons; but, in our opinion, the latter acid is not only milder, but also less injurious to the bowels.—See Limes.
Punch, used with moderation, may occasionally serve as a diuretic; but, for this purpose, it should be made weak, and unusually acid. If, at any period of the year, such beverage be proper or harmless, it will be so in hot weather; when, according to Dr. Short, it tends to lessen the effects of febrile heat, and hard labour upon the body; dilutes the fluids, promotes perspiration, and is said to be well calculated to resist infection. In short, punch is supposed to be of considerable service in preventing the hurtful effects of a moist and cold atmosphere, of pestilential vapours, of unclean occupations, of a damp military camp, and sometimes, too, of a temporary abstinence from food; but it should never be resorted to by the nervous, delicate, or invalid, as a substitute for wine; in which cases it will prove a liquid poison.
PUNCHEON, a vessel of capacity for measuring liquids; it is chiefly employed for the conveyance of rum from the colonies, and contains 130 gallons, according to the wine-measure.
PUNCTURE, in farriery, a species of wound to which the feet of horses are much exposed; and which has received this name from the minuteness of the orifice; the injured parts closing up easily, so that it becomes difficult to ascertain the real depth of the wound.
Punctures are generally occasioned by the animals treading on sharp stones, broken glass, or other pointed substances, and not unfrequently from nails, when applied by clumsy farriers; in consequence of which, the sole or frog is perforated; the interior parts of the feet are wounded, and become highly inflamed.—If timely detected, punctures may be easily cured, by opening a passage, for the discharge of the collected matter; after which, it will be proper to keep the foot moist by the application of emollient poultices round the hoof. Should, however, any fragments of glass, nails, &c. remain in the wound, the inflammation will increase, and at length the tumor will suppurate. The matter then accumulates; and, from the natural shape of the hoof, finding no outlet downwards, it ascends up to the coronet, where it forms a round tumor, that afterwards breaks out into a malignant ulcer called a Quittor-bone; under which article we propose to state the most appropriate remedies to he adopted in such cases.
PUNISHMENT, or the penalty which a person incurs on the commission of a crime, or trespass.
The necessity of adopting rigorous measures, in cases where either natural or public law is violated, has been acknowledged by all civilized nations; among whom various modes of inflicting punishment prevail, according to the nature of the offence; or the peculiarly aggravating circumstances that attended its perpetration. It would
