48] SEA There are two kinds of Sealing- wax, generally used; the one is iard, for the sealing of letters, and similar purposes : the other soft, /or receiving the impressions of fcals of office to charters, patents, and other written documents. In order to prepare the best hard red sealing-wax, take two parts of sbell-lac, with one of resin, and one of Vermillion ; let these ingredients be reduced to a fine powder ; melt them over a moderate fire ; and, when the)' are fhorou^hly iocorpo- ratpd, form the composition into slicks. — Seed-lac may be substi- tuted for the shell-lac, and in- stead of resin, boiled Venice tur- pentine may be employed. — A coarser kind of such sealing-wax may be manufaftured by mixing equal parts of resin, and of shell- lac (or Vermillion and red-lead, in the proportion of one part of the former, to two of the latter) ; then proceeding in the manner above di- rected. But, where large quanti- ties of this wax arc consumed, both the Vermillion and shell-lac are generally omitted, so that it may be obtained at a much cheaper rate. Black sealing-7vax is composed of gum-lac, or shell-lac, melted with one-half or one-third of its weiglit of levigated ivor)'-black. To prevent the composition from becom/ng too brittle, Venice tur- pentine, in the proportion of two- thirds of the above ingredients, is usually added ; as it likewise contributes to improve the bcaiily of the manufadure. These sub- stances being melted, and pro- perly stirred over a slow fire, the liquid is next poured upon an iron plate, or stone, ^previously oiled ; and, while soft, it must be rolled into sticks ; which are then expos- SED cd to heat, till they acquire a glossy surface. Uncoloured soft sealing-wax is commonly prepared of bees-wajc 1 lb. ; of turpentine 3 oz. ; and of olive-oil, J oz. : these ingredients are carefully boiled in a proper vessel for some time ; till the com- pound become fit to be formed int<f^ roll», or cakes, for use. And, in order to impart to it the requisite colour, one ounce or more of eithei' of the pigments above mentioned may be added, stirring the mass till the whole he duly combined. Se.wes. See Rush the Com- mon. SEDLITZ, or SEYDSCHUTZ- WATER, is obtained from two mineral springs rising near a vil- lage of that name, in Bohemia. It has a very saline, bitter taste ; and when used, is strongly laxative, but does not occasion the griping pains attendant on other violent purgatives. Ihe principal complaints whicfi Sedlitz-water is calculated to re- lieve, are by Hoffman stated to be, 1. All cases of indigestion, ac- companied by nausea, aversion to, or loathing of, food, and a painful compression of the chest j 2. Hy- pochondriasis, in which it ia pre- ferable to the aloetic and other strong purgatives ; 3. Suppressions of the natural discharges; 4. The impaired state of health to which sedentary persons are i)eculiarly liable; 5. llie tendency to he- morrhages in persons of a plethoric habit ; and, 6. Obstinate cutaneous affe6tions. — The dose varies ac- cording to the age and constitution of the patient : in general, from halfapinttoa pint is sufficient; though some persons are obliged to drink two pints, in order to pro- duce the desired effefts, 6EED
