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different fluids. By a determinate quantity of neutral salt con-tained in tlie serum, tiiis fluid is adapted to preserve those vesiclesin their flat shape; for, if mixed with water, they become round,and dissolve perfectly, but on adding a little of any neutral salt tothe water, they remain in it without dissolving, or any alterationof their form. The uses of the blood in the animal ceconomy areso various and important, that some have not scrupled to main-tain that it is possessed of a vital principle, from which the life ofthe whole body is derived. This opinion was formerly entertain-ed by Harvey, and has lately been revived and supported, withmany ingenious, though inconclusive, arguments, by Mr. JohnHunter. \ et so much is certain, that the blood stimulates thecavities of the heart and vessels to contract, that its circulationcontributes to generate the heat of the body, and propagate it tothe remotest parts; in short, that it nourishes every part, and sup-plies all the secretions, which, without exception, are separatedfrom the blood. Hence it forms the bones, ligaments, tendons,membranes, muscles, nerves, vessels, and the whole organizedbody. The blood is of different degrees of viscidity in differentanimals, and even in the same creature, at different times. It al-ways possesses a considerable degree of tenacity; which, how-ever, is remarkably greater in strong than in weak animals: thusthe blood of bulls was used by the ancients as a poison, on accountof its extreme viscidity, which renders it totally indigestible bythe human stomach. Animal blood was formerly held in greatesteem, as a medicine in various diseases; for instance, the bloodof goats and some other creatures was employed by the followersof Galen, and recommended even by the late Dr. Mead in pleu-ritic attacks. But at present the principal use of blood is confin-ed to the arts, for making Prussian blue ; sometimes for clarifyingcertain liquors; and very large quantities are used in the manu-facture of loaf sugar. In horticulture, it is recommended as anexcellent manure, when poured in spring on the roots of fruit-trees, having previously removed the soil round the trunk: thusemployed it promotes the growth of the tree, and enriches itsfruit. A mixture of blood with quick-lime forms an exceedinglystrong cement, and has therefore been used in preparing chemicallutes, as well as in making the floors of common farm-houses, andother humble habitations. For the latter purpose, a mixture ofclay, ox-blood, and a moderate portion of sharp sand, beaten welltogether, and uniformly spread, produce a neat firm floor, and ofa beautiful colour. Whether blood really affords nourishmenthas been doubted by some, and affirmed by others. In our opi-nion, it contains little or no alimentary matter; and though it maybe digested by very powerful stomachs, it .night be more advan-tageously employed in manuring the soil. Tn hot climates, in par-ticular, it is highly alkalescent, and was therefore wisely prohibitedto the Israelites . When blood was used as a common article offood in this country, the scurvy not only prevailed more generallythan at present, but it was a more violent and obstinate disease.Travellers inform us, that in some countries the savage natives areaccustomed to intoxicate themselves by drinking the warm bloodof animals. This barbarous practice, with its consequent effect,apparently confirms Mr. John Hunter’s opinion, that this fluid isthe immediate reservoir of the vital principle; and the inebriatingquality of the blood certainly deserves the farther researches of thechemical philosopher. Several expressions in Scripture also tendto countenance the conjecture of this acute inquirer.
Blood, Thomas, an extraordinary character, who renderedhimself famous by two daring exploits. The first was, the seizingthe duke of Ormond with an intent to hang him at Tyburn, fromwhich his grace was delivered by his servants: the other was thatof stealing the crown and other regalia from the Tower. Bloodwas taken in the last enterprise, disguised as a clergyman.Charles II. caused him to be brought into his presence, where heconfessed that he had once formed a design against his life, butthat the sight of his majesty awed him from the execution of it.The king granted him a pardon, and gave him an estate of 500/. ayear in Ireland . He died in 1680.
BLOODHOUND, Sanguinarius, a species of dog remark-able 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 generallymarked with a black spot above each eye. We believe the breed-ing of this species has of late years been neglected. These ani-mals were formerly much employed in the discovering of gameVOL. i.— no. 30.
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that had escaped, or been stolen out of the forest. From theacuteness of their smell, they are said to have also been able totrace the footsteps of man with the greatest certainty ; hence, theywere trained for discovering delinquents who endeavoured to es-cape the hands ofjustice. Dogs of this species were once greatlyesteemed on the confines of England and Scotland , and employedto prevent, or detect, the depredations which the inhabitants werecontinually committing on each other.
BLOOD-SHOT EYES, an inflammation of the membraneswhich invest the eye. The most necessary rules for prevffitingthe progress of the inflammation, are rest, and exclusion of light,without heating the eye by a close cover ; cold fomentations re-peatedly applied, when they become warm ; abstinence from ani-mal food, and all heating or stimulating liquors; mild aperients ;and, if these do not produce the desired effect, leeches may beapplied, near the eyes; though drawing blood, by cupping andscarifying near the temples, has generally been found more effec-tual,
BLOOD-LETTING, in surgery, is performed with a vieweither to diminish the quantity of the circulating fluid, or to re-lieve a particular part, in case of inflammation, and, consequently,it is either general or local. General blood-letting is that whichis performed upon a vein or an artery; hence we have the termsvenesection and arteriotomy. Local, or topical blood-letting isperformed by scarification and cupping-glasses, by leeches, or bypunctures made with a lancet, according to the nature of thedisorder.
BLOOD-RUNNING ITCH, in farriery, a disease in a horse,proceeding from an inflammation of the blood by over heating,hard-riding, or other severe labour; which, getting between theskin and flesh, makes the beast rub and bite himself; and, if notcured, sometimes turns to a grievous mange, highly infectious toall near him.
Blood, Spitting of, or H^moptoe. See Medicine.
BLOOD-STONE. See Hematites.
BLOOD-VESSELS, in anatomy, are long membranous canals,which convey the blood through every part of the body. Theyare divided into two classes, arteries and veins. See Ana-tomy.
BLOOD-WIT, or BLOOD-WITE, [from blud, Sax. blood,and Kite, a fine,] denotes an exemption from the penalty of a fineanciently paid as a composition for blood, granted by the king tocertain persons and communities as a special favour.
BLOOD-WOOD, Log-wood. See Hjematoxylon.
BLOODWORT , in botany. See Rumex.
BLOODY FLUX, the dysentery; a disease in which theexcrements are mixed with blood. See Medicine.
Bloody Hand, in law, a trespasser apprehended in a forestwith his hands or other parts bloody ; which is a circumstantialproof of his having killed the deer, though he be not found hunt-ing them.
BLOSSOM, in a general sense denotes the flower of any plant.In a more particular sense, it is restrained to the flowers of trees,which they put forth in the spring as the forerunners of their fruit.The office of the blossom is partly to protect, and partly to drawnourishment to, the embryo, fruit, or seed. See Flower.
BLOTED CHINA WARE, a sort of china, loaded with co-lours in an irregular manner. This pleases some, but it is a defectivesort of ware, the large blotches of colour, having been only laid onto cover the blemishes in the first baking.
BLOTTING PAPER, a species of paper made without sizeor stiffening, serving to imbibe the wet ink in books of account,&c. to prevent its blotting the opposite page.
BLOUNT, Sir Thomas Pope, Bart, an eminent writer, wasborn at Upper Holloway, in Middlesex, September l!J, 1649.Fie distinguished himself as a lover of liberty, a sincere friend tohis country, and a true patron of learning. He was made a baro-net by Charles II. in whose reign he was elected burgess for St.Alban’s in two parliaments, and was kinght of the shire in threeparliaments after the revolution. He wrote in Latin , !. A Cri-tique on the most celebrated Writcrs. 2. Essays on Several Sub-jects. 3. A Natural History, extracted out of the best modernwriters; and 4. Remarks upon Poetry, with Characters and Cen-sures of the most considerable Poets , whether ancient or modern.He died June 30, 1697.
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BLOWING,