Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 88

=BERYL'LA*.= See GLUCINUM, OXIDE OF.

=BERYL'LIUM*.= See GLUCINIUM.

=BETAINE.= C_{5}H_{11}NO_{21}. An alkaloid occurring in the juice of the mangold-wurzel. Scheibler prepares it as follows:--The expressed juice of the mangold-wurzel, strongly acidulated with hydrochloric acid, is mixed with a solution of sodium phosphotungstate;[165] the resulting precipitate containing alb.u.men, colouring matter, woody fibre, and a small quant.i.ty of the base, is filtered as quickly as possible, and the filtrate, mixed with a fresh quant.i.ty of the precipitant, is left to itself for eight or ten days. It then gradually deposits on the bottom and sides of the vessel a crystalline precipitate, which is rinsed with a little water and treated with milk of lime, whereby insoluble calcium phosphotungstate is produced, while the betaine remains in solution. The filtered liquid freed from lime by carbonic acid, and evaporated, leaves impure betaine, which may be purified by recrystallisation from alcohol, with help of animal charcoal.

[Footnote 165: Prepared by dissolving sodium bitungstate in ordinary phosphoric acid, adding hydrochloric acid, and decanting the clear solution from the precipitate thereby produced.]

A hydrochlorate, a sulphate, an aurochloride, and a platinic chloride of betaine have been prepared.

=BE'TEL= (be'tl). [Eng., Ger.] _Syn._ BE'TLE, BE'TEL-TREE, B. PEPPER-TREE; BeTEL, Fr.; Wa.s.sERPFEFFER, &c., Ger.; PI'PER BE'TEL (Linn.), CHAVICA BETLE (Miquel), L. A climbing plant of the nat. ord. Piperaceae, common in India and the East. Its leaves, which somewhat resemble those of the citron, are bitter, stomachic, tonic, stimulant, and sialogogue.

=Betel.= A common masticatory in the East, where it is chewed in the same way as tobacco is by Europeans and Americans, but much more generally, being regarded by the Malays, Sumatrans, &c., as an absolute necessary of life. It is commonly formed by dividing areca-nuts[166] into four or six equal parts or slices, one of which is rolled up, with a little chunam,[167] in a sirih or leaf of the piper-betel,[168] and then const.i.tutes a 'quid' ready for use.

[Footnote 166: In many cases suitable pieces of the whole fruit, including the husk, are used; and in others only the husk (PINANG); there being different strengths and qualities of 'betel' employed.]

[Footnote 167: Lime made by burning sh.e.l.ls.]

[Footnote 168: In some cases, the leaf of chavica siriboa (Miq.), which possesses similar properties, is employed.]

_Prop., &c._ Betel, in those accustomed to its use, produces a species of pleasing excitement or intoxication, stimulates the action of the salivary glands, stomach, and kidneys, corrects acidity, diminishes cutaneous perspiration, restrains excessive discharges, increases the power of physical exertion and endurance, moderates the effects of climate, and appears to act as a general tonic on the system. It darkens the teeth, and tinges the saliva as well as the mouth and lips of a bright red colour. In those unhabituated to its use it causes giddiness, astringes and excoriates the mouth and fauces, and temporarily deadens the sense of taste. The Indians conceive that it preserves and fastens the teeth, cleanses and strengthens the gums, sweetens the breath, cools the mouth, a.s.sists respiration, and acts as a general aphrodisiac on both s.e.xes.

Peron states that he preserved his health during a long and very trying voyage by the habitual use of betel, whilst his companions, who did not use it, died mostly of dysentery.[169]

[Footnote 169: 'Voyage aux Terres Australes.']

=BE'TEL-NUT.= _Syn._ ARE'CA-NUT; NUX ARE'Cae CAT'ECHU, N.-BE'TEL, &c., L.

The seed of the catechu-palm (_are'ca_, _cat'echu_, Linn.), divested of the husk or fibrous pericarp. The whole fruit (ARECA-NUT of commerce) is about the size of a small egg; the husked nut is of the size of a large nutmeg. The whole fruit is remarkable for its narcotic or intoxicating power. It has, however, been thought doubtful whether its intoxicating effect is not owing to the piper-leaf in which it is wrapped when eaten (chewed), rather than to any special property of its own. See ARECA CATECHU.

=BETTNa.s.sEN, Remedy for Incontinence of Urine= (prepared by Dr Kirchhoffer, in Kappel by St. Galle). Thirty powders, each consisting of 2 grammes ferri carbonas, 4 grammes ergotae pulv., 03 grammes extract. sem.

strychni. aquos. The prescription for the embrocation runs--Spirit serpylli 120 grammes, tinct. sem. strychni. 60 grammes, liq. ammon. 15 grammes. (Hager.)

=BET'ULINE= (-u-lin; be-tu). [Eng., Fr.] _Syn._ BETULI'NA, L. A crystalline substance obtained from the bark of the white birch (_be'tula al'ba_, Linn.).

=BE'ZOAR= (-zore). [Eng., L. indecl.; prim. Pers.[170]] _Syn._ BE'ZOAR-STONE; BEZOaR'DUS, LA'PIS BEZOaR'DICUS, &c., L.; BeZOAR, BeZOARD, Fr.; BEZOARSTEIN, Ger. The name of preternatural concretions found in the stomach, intestines, &c., of certain animals, and formerly supposed to possess the most extraordinary antidotal power and medicinal virtues. So far, indeed, did this belief extend, that other substances regarded as antidotes were called BEZOAR'DICS, or otherwise named after them; whilst the adj. BEZOAR'DIC (bez-) and BEZOAR'TICAL (bezoardique, Fr.; bezoar'dicus, L.), came to be synonymous with antidotal. Certain bezoars were once valued at even ten times their weight in gold. They were not only taken internally, but also worn as amulets. They have, however, long since fallen into disuse in this country.

[Footnote 170: Some authorities derive this word from _badzahr_ or _pazahar_, Persian compounds implying 'antidote to poison,' others, from _paseng_, or _pasahr_, the name of the goat in Persia. Mayne's notation--_bez oar_, is unusual; and several of his a.n.a.logues, synonymes, &c., are incorrectly given (? misprinted).]

Among the leading bezoars of old medicine are--

=Bezoar, Ger'man.= _Syn._ BE'ZOaR GERMAN'Ic.u.m, B. CAPRI'NUM, L. From the Alpine goat.

=Bezoar, Hu'man.= _Syn._ B. HOM'INIS, L. Falsely stated to be found occasionally in man.

=Bezoar, Microcos'mic.= _Syn._ B. MICROCOS'MIc.u.m, L. Human urinary calculi.

=Bezoar, Mon'key.= _Syn._ B. SIM'ae, LA'PIS S., L. From certain species of ape or monkey, obtained by giving an emetic.

=Bezoar Occiden'tal.= _Syn._ WEST'ERN B.; B. OCCIDENTA'LE, L. Found in the fourth stomach of the chamois or wild goat of Peru, &c.; or, according to others, of a species of antelope.

=Bezoar, Orien'tal.= _Syn._ EAST'ERN B.; B. ORIENTA'LE, LAPIS B.

ORIENTA'LIS, L. From the fourth stomach of _ca'pra aega'grus_, a species of goat inhabiting the mountains of Persia, &c.

=Bezoar, Ox.= _Syn._ B. BOVI'NUM, L. From the ox, and other bovine animals.

=Bezoar, Por'cupine.= _Syn._ B. HYS'TRICIS, B. HYS'TRICUS, LA'PIS H., L.

PORCI'NUS, &c., L. Said to be found in the gall-bladder of the Indian porcupine. Chiefly from Malacca. Has an intensely bitter taste, which it imparts to water.

=Bezoar, West'ern.= See OCCIDENTAL BEZOAR (_ante_).

Of the preceding, those from the stomach of ruminants vary in size from that of a bean to that of a hen's egg, and have a composition and appearance closely imitated by the following formula, the product of which is commonly sold for them:--

=Bezoar, Facti"tious.= _Prep._ From pipe-clay, or clay and chalk, equal parts, made into a stiff paste with ox-gall; a little hair or wool being added, and the resulting mixture pressed by the hands into small ma.s.ses of a flattened spheroidal or egg-like form. These give a yellow tint to paper rubbed with chalk, and a green one to quick-lime, which tests are used for genuine bezoars. Like the latter, they are antacid or absorbent, which is probably the only virtue they possess.

Amongst 'chemical bezoars' now obsolete even on the Continent were--

=Bezoar, Ar'gentine=; B. LUNA"RE, L. Made by distilling b.u.t.ter of antimony with a solution of nitrate of silver. Once highly esteemed in epilepsy and head diseases.

=Bezoar, Min'eral=; B. MINERA'LE, L. Powder of algaroth deflagrated with nitre in a red-hot crucible, and then well washed with water. Once used as a diaph.o.r.etic. Other similar preparations were B. JOVIA'LE (from tin), and B. MARTIALE (from iron).

=Bezoar, Sat'urnine=, B. OF LEAD; B. SATUR'NI, L. Made by distilling a mixture of oxide of lead, b.u.t.ter of antimony, and nitric acid. Once highly esteemed in diseases of the spleen.

=BHAURTA.= In Indian cookery, a dish made of mashed potatoes and onions, strongly spiced with capsic.u.m, and sometimes also with curry-powder, shaped in a mould, and then slightly baked.

=BIBAS'IC.= _Syn._ BIBAS'ICUS, L.; BIBASIQUE, Fr. In _chemistry_, having two bases, or two atoms of the base or basic radical in its composition.

See ACID, NOMENCLATURE, SALT, &c.

=BIB'ERON= (bib'-ron_g_). [Fr.] A sucking-bottle or 'artificial mother.'

See BOTTLES.

=BI'BIRINE= (be'-). See BEBEERINE.

=BIB'ULOUS= (-u-). _Syn._ BIB'ULUS, L.; SPONGIEUX, Fr. Absorptive; spongy.

=BICAR'BONATE.= A salt in which only half the hydrogen in (hypothetical) carbonic acid (H_{2}CO_{3}) is replaced by a metal, _e.g._ bicarbonate of sodium, NaHCO_{3}.

=BICE= (bise), _Syn._ BLUE BICE. See BLUE PIGMENTS.

=Bice, Green.= See GREEN PIGMENTS.

=BICKEL'SCHER THEE=, for constipation, flatulence, hemorrhoids, loss of appet.i.te, stomach complaints, and similar diseases. Ca.s.sia lignea and anise, of each 3 parts; c.u.min and fennel seed, each 4 parts; senna leaves, 20 parts; to be bruised together. (Selle and Hager.)

=BI'DERY= (be'-). _Syn._ VI'DRY. An alloy of which the chief seat of the manufacture is the city of Bider', near Hyderabad, India. It was first brought under the notice of the British public at the International Exhibition of 1851, where many articles made of it were greatly admired for the elegance of their forms, and the gracefulness of their engraved and enchased patterns.

_Prep._ 1. Zinc, 31 parts; copper and lead, of each 2 parts; melted together, with the usual precautions, under a mixture of resin and beeswax, to prevent oxidation.[171]

[Footnote 171: These are very nearly the proportions which Dr Hamilton says he saw used in India.]

2. (Dr Heyne.) Copper, 8 parts; lead, 2 parts; tin, 1 part; melted together, as before. For use, the resulting alloy is remelted, and to every 3 parts of it 16 parts of zinc are added.

_Prop., &c._ Colour between that of pewter and zinc; does not corrode by exposure to air or damp; yields little to the hammer, and can only be broken by extreme violence. It possesses a convenient degree of fusibility, above that of zinc and tin, but much lower than that of copper. For the turner it is usually cast in moulds of baked clay; but otherwise in moulds of iron or other hard metal. The beautiful black colour which the finished articles possess is imparted by dipping them into a solution of sal-ammoniac, saltpetre, sea-salt, and blue vitriol.