Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 68

2. To the above add of Spanish-juice, 1-1/2 _lb._; previously softened with a little boiling water For PORTER and STOUT. Both are used by fraudulent brewers; and by publicans in reducing their beer.

=b.a.l.l.s, Black'ing.= _Prep._ 1 (Bailey's). Gum-tragacanth, 1 _oz._; water, 4 _oz._; dissolve, add of sugar candy, 4 _oz._; and afterwards, ivory-black and Prussian blue (in very fine powder), of each 2 _oz._; neat's foot oil, 2 _fl. oz._; thoroughly incorporate, and evaporate by a gentle heat, constantly stirring, until of a proper consistence, then pour it into oiled moulds.

2. Gum-arabic, moist sugar, and ivory-black, of each 1/2 _lb._; lamp-black, 1/4 _lb._; glue (melted with a little water), 2 _oz._; water, 1 quart, or q. s.; neat's foot oil, 1/4 pint; as before.--Used by the shoemakers, harness-makers, &c., to blacken and polish leather. See b.a.l.l.s, HEEL.

=b.a.l.l.s, Breech'es.= See b.a.l.l.s, SCOURING.

=b.a.l.l.s, Bronze.= See b.a.l.l.s, COPYING.

=b.a.l.l.s, Cam'phor.= _Syn._ CAM'PHOR-CAKES, CHAP'-b.a.l.l.s, CHIL'BLAIN B., &c.; GLOB'ULI CAMPHORA'TI, PLACEN'Tae CAMPHORA'Tae, &c., L. _Prep._ 1.

Spermaceti and white wax, of each 2 _oz._; almond or olive oil, 1/4 pint; melt together by a gentle heat, add of camphor (in small pieces), 1 _oz._; when dissolved, stir until partly cold, and then pour it into moulds, as directed under ALMOND-CAKES (_above_).

2. Clarified suet, 1 _lb._; spermaceti and white wax, of each, 3 _oz._; camphor, 2 _oz._; as before.

3. Spermaceti cerate (Ph. L.), 1 _lb._; spermaceti, 2 _oz._; camphor, 1-1/2 _oz._; as before.

4. To either of the above add of balsam of Peru, 1/4 to 1/2 _oz._; and, after solution, either strain the mixture through muslin, or allow it to settle, and decant the clear portion from the dregs.

_Use, &c._ A popular preventive of chapping and chilblains. A little is well rubbed into the skin, previously washed clean and wiped dry. Some persons add colour and scent; but they are generally sold without either.

The only suitable colours are amber, pink, or yellow. The best perfumes are allspice, ambergris, ca.s.sia, cloves, mush, nutmeg, rondoletia, vanilla, and violets. See b.a.l.l.s, ALMOND (_ante_).

=b.a.l.l.s, Clothes.= See b.a.l.l.s, SCOURING.

=b.a.l.l.s, Contrayer'va.= _Syn._ LA'PIS CONTRAYER'Vae, GLOB'ULI C., L.

Compound contrayerva-powder made into b.a.l.l.s with gum-water. An obsolete preparation, once in great repute as a stimulant, tonic, diaph.o.r.etic, and absorbent.

=b.a.l.l.s, Cop'ying.= These have a similar composition to 'heel-b.a.l.l.s' (see _below_). For BLACK, the best colouring matter is lamp-black or plumbago with about half its weight of indigo; for a BRONZE-COLOUR, bronze-powder is subst.i.tuted; and for a mellow BROWN, burnt terra di Sienna. These should be all in very fine powder. The semi-fluid ma.s.s is poured into small flat cylindrical moulds--paper pill-boxes answer the purpose well.--Used by artists and amateurs to copy inscriptions, monumental bra.s.ses, and other slightly raised or sunken patterns; the ball being rubbed over the paper previously laid flat on the design, and held securely in its place. They are sometimes rendered more permanent by damping the wrong side with a sponge dipped in water, strong spirit, or oil of turpentine; or by pa.s.sing the wrong side over a hot iron held with the face upwards.

=b.a.l.l.s, Cosmet'ic.= See SAVONETTES, &c. (also _above_).

=b.a.l.l.s, Cream.= See SAVONETTES, SOAP b.a.l.l.s, &c.

=b.a.l.l.s, Dog.= See DOGS.

=b.a.l.l.s, Gas'coign's.= _Syn._ GLOB'ULI GASCOIG'NII, L. Gascoign's powder made up into small b.a.l.l.s with thin mucilage. See POWDERS.

=b.a.l.l.s, Heel.= _Prep._ 1. (Ullathorne's.) Bees' wax, 1 _lb._; suet, 4 _oz._; melt together, and stir in of ivory-black (very finely powdered), 4 _oz._; lamp-black (sifted), 3 _oz._; gum arabic and sugar-candy, of each (in very fine powder) 2 _oz._; and, when thoroughly mixed and partly cold, pour the composition into tin or leaden moulds.

2. To the last add of resin, 3 _oz._; oil of turpentine, 2 _oz._

3. Hard suet and bees' wax, of each 4 _oz._; powdered gum, sugar candy, and Venice turpentine, of each 1 _oz._; ivory-black and lamp-black, of each 2 _oz._; as before.

4. Suet and bees' wax, of each 4 _oz._; lamp-black and brown sugar, of each 8 _oz._; common size, 5 _oz._; melt together and stir until incorporated.

_Uses, &c._ Employed to black leather, and more especially by shoemakers for the edges of the soles; the ball being first rubbed on, and the part afterwards smoothed over with a burnisher or polished iron tool gently heated. Also used by artists to copy inscriptions, ba.s.so relievos, &c. To produce a good article, the gum, colouring matter, and sugar, must be in the state of extremely fine powder, and the mixture very carefully made; no lumps being left. Some persons dissolve the gum in a little water, and then stir the mixture over the fire until it acquires the proper consistence for moulding (as in No. 4, _above_); but the first is accounted the best method.

=b.a.l.l.s, Horse.= See VETERINARY MEDICINE, &c.

=b.a.l.l.s, Martial.= _Syn._ GLOB'ULI MARTIA'LES, L. _Prep._ 1. Those of the P. Cod. consist of tartarised iron mixed with aromatics, and made up into small globular ma.s.ses.

2. (BOULES DE NANCY.) Equal parts of iron filings and red tartar, in fine powder, made into b.a.l.l.s with proof spirit or brandy. Both are used as chalybeate tonics, either in the form of pills or dissolved in hot water.

Seldom employed in England.

=b.a.l.l.s, Physic.= (Vet. Med.) See Ma.s.sES.

=b.a.l.l.s, Poultry.= See POULTRY.

=b.a.l.l.s, Scent.= See PASTILS (Toilet), PERFUMERY, POMAMBRA, SCENTS, &c.

=b.a.l.l.s, Scouring.= _Syn._ BREECH'ES b.a.l.l.s, CLOTHES B., CARPET B., &c.

_Prep._ 1. Curd soap (sliced), 1 _lb._; water, 2 _oz._; melt in a water bath, or a glue-pot, and when cooled a little, add ox-gall and oil of turpentine, of each, 5-1/2 _oz._; mix well and roll or mould the ma.s.s into b.a.l.l.s or cakes.

2. Fuller's earth, 2 _lbs._; curd-soap, 1 _lb._; beat to a stiff paste with ox-gall, q. s.

3. Soft soap and fuller's earth, equal parts, beat up with a little oil of turpentine, and either with or without a little essence of lemons.--_Obs._ The above are used to remove paint, grease, and dirt from cloth, carpets, &c. The spot, first moistened with hot water, is rubbed with the cake, and allowed to soak a few minutes, or to become nearly dry, when it is well rubbed with a little warm water and a brush or piece of woollen cloth, and afterwards rinsed in clean water, and finally rubbed dry and smoothed off with a piece of dry cloth or a dry brush. The last formula produces the composition so commonly vended about the streets of London in penny cakes.

4. Whiting and pipe-clay, equal parts; water, q. s. Used for soldiers'

belts, trousers, &c.

5. Pipe-clay, 2 _lbs._; fuller's earth, 1 _lb._; whiting, 1/2 _lb._; water, q. s.

6. Bath brick, 1 _lb._; pipe-clay, 2 _lbs._; soft soap, 1/4 _lb._; ox-gall, 1/2 pint.

7. To the last add of pumice-stone, in very fine powder, 6 _oz._--_Obs._ The last four are used for cloth and leather, especially for drab and light-coloured coats, trousers, leather breeches, belts, and gloves. Rose pink, yellow ochre, umber, Irish slate, or other like colouring matter, may be added to produce any desired tint. White pepper, cloves, &c., are also occasionally added to drive away moths and insects; and orris root, or essence of bergamot or of lemon-gra.s.s, as perfume.

=b.a.l.l.s, Sweet.= See b.a.l.l.s, SCENT (_ante_).

=b.a.l.l.s, Tan.= The muddy sediment of tan-pits made into b.a.l.l.s or lumps.--Used by the poor for summer fuel.

=b.a.l.l.s, Wash.= See SAVONETTES, SOAP, &c.

=BALM= (bahm). _Syn._ BAL'SAMUM, L.; BAUME, Fr.; BALSAM, Ger. Primarily, balsam (of which it is a contraction); formerly and still popularly applied to anything a.s.sumed to be soothing, healing, or genial in its action, particularly if also aromatic or fragrant; but chiefly to medicines and liqueurs, supposed to possess these properties. See BALSAMS, LIQUEURS, QUACK MEDICINES, &c.

=Balm.= _Syn._ COM'MON BALM, GAR'DEN B.; MELIS'SA, L.; BAUME, MeLISSE, Fr.

The _melis'sa officina'lis_ (Linn.), an aromatic perennial herb, a native of the south of Europe, but commonly cultivated in our gardens. It is reputed to be diaph.o.r.etic, diuretic, emmenagogue, exhilarating, nervine, and stomachic; and under the form of infusion (BALM-TEA) has long been a popular remedy in hypochondriacal, hysterical, and nervous affections, and in amenorrha and chlorosis. It is still sometimes ordered as a drink in fevers and in hypochondriasis.

=Balm of a Thousand Flowers.= Chandler says this is a thick yellow emulsion, free from injurious metallic ingredients.

=Balm of White Lilies=, for preserving and beautifying the skin (H. A.

Hoadley, New York). This, also according to Chandler, is a red-coloured water containing a large quant.i.ty of chalk in suspension, but with no injurious metallic ingredient.

=BAL'SAM= (bawl'-sam; -sum----Knowles, Walker). [Eng., Ger.] _Syn._ BAL'SAMUM (bal'-), L.; BAUME, Fr. Originally, any strong-scented oleo-resinous vegetable juice or exudation, of about the fluidity of treacle, and supposed to possess medicinal virtues. In _modern chemistry_ and _pharmacy_, any vegetable production which is either semi-liquid, or which naturally becomes concrete, and which contains either benzoic acid, or cinnamic acid, combined with resin and aromatic essential oil. Several of the substances popularly termed balsams contain no benzoic acid, and are consequently now cla.s.sed with the turpentines. This distinction, however, is far from being universally adopted, and a late high authority defines balsams to be "Exudations from plants, which are liquid or soft solid, and consist of a substance resembling a resin, either combined with benzoic acid, or with an essential oil, or both." (Brande.)

The leading properties of the true natural balsams are--Insolubility in water, almost entire solubility in alcohol, and partial solubility in ether and in the volatile and fixed oils; the possession of a powerful, and generally, an agreeable odour, a hot, resinous or terebinthinate taste, and the usual stimulant and tonic properties of the milder turpentines. Distilled with water, ethereal oil and some acid pa.s.s over, and the residuum consists chiefly or entirely of acid-resin.

The TRUE BALSAMS, as those of benzoin Peru, styrax, and tolu, and the celebrated Chinese varnish-balsam, contain either benzoic or cinnamic acid. Among those falsely termed balsams, are copaiba, opobalsam, j.a.pan lac-varnish, and some of the turpentines.

The following list includes most of the substances, natural and artificial, which pa.s.s, or have pa.s.sed, under the name of balsams:[105]--