Spatula

“ Pestle or Muller.—A pestle of glass is the best. The head must be round, not flattish, and have a matt surface.
Spatulas.—It is necessary to have a flexible spatula (palette knife) about 1 cm (3⁄8 in.) wide and a stiff one, an ink or putty knife, about 4 to 5 cm (11⁄2 to 2 in.) wide. ”

“ When you have burnt through, it will be sufficient, in most cases, to make eschars only in the lower part; but if there is no danger of the ulcers passing into one another, and there is a considerable piece of skin between them, a thin spatula is to be pushed through these holes which have been burned, while, at the same time, the skin is stretched, for otherwise the instrument could not pass through ”

“ Then place half of it in a saucepan on the hot stove, and with the spatula mix thoroughly and slowly until it is lukewarm, meanwhile adding a teaspoonful of cold water. Take the éclairs, one by one, and with the hand dip them into this preparation. Lay them on a pastry-grate; let them cool off for five minutes; dress on a dessert-dish with a folded napkin, and serve.
Keep the rest of the preparation for further use. When laid aside in a cool place, and properly taken care of, it will be as good in two weeks’ time as when freshly made. ”

“ This probably means blunt dissection only, as none of the spathomeles found have edges sharp enough to be actually cutting. Large numbers of this instrument have been found. It is the commonest surgical instrument in museums. It must be remembered, however, that not every spathomele is a surgical instrument strictly speaking, as pharmacopolists and even artists used exactly similar instruments.
The average length of twenty specimens measured by me was 16 cm. Of this the nucleus occupies 1·5 cm., the spatula 6 cm. The average diameter of the nucleus is 7·5 mm. ”

“ E.D. A variety of substances has in different times been employed for producing vesication, but no one has been found to answer with so much certainty and mildness as the Lyttæ. All the others are apt to leave ill conditioned ulcers: true it is, that the emplastrum lyttæ will occasionally fail, but this is generally attributable to some inattention, or want of caution on the part of the person who prepares it; in spreading it, the spatula should never be heated beyond the degree of boiling water ”

“ I have seen cases in which stomatitis and diphtheria existed side by side, the latter having invaded the surfaces exposed by the former. The examination of the entire throat is not always easy. Very young children vomit frequently and persistently before the whole surface is exposed to view, and not infrequently repeated examination with the spatula is absolutely necessary. In general, however, the slight attempts at vomiting suffice to cause a great part of the swollen posterior portion of the tonsils to become visible. ”

“ The formation of flatus in the stomach arises from the juices or food being dissolved into vapours by a gentle heat. For cold, as it is not of an attenuating and dissolving nature, does not engender flatulence; whilst a violent heat not only attenuates, but likewise dissipates, and thus prevents the formation of flatulence. But a lesser degree of heat dissolves and changes the food, but not sufficiently, and hence flatus is gendered. Wherefore we must attenuate them by calefacient medicines—boiling in oil the seed of cumin, of parsley, of cow-parsnip, and of carrot. ”

“ When they consume too much grass they suffer from flatulency and colic, and require drastic treatment.
Rather than let some worthy men and women die, ought we not at times to adopt the ranchman’s treatment for flatus? This harsh means, however, might be avoided by inventive science. Overfed, con­sti­pated, inflated man, victim of habitual flatulency, could easily have small gas valves inserted here and there along his gastro-intestinal canal—one, say, to relieve the stomach of toxic gas, another for the appendix region, and still another in the hernial region of the abdomen. ”

“ On tearing open the spathe, our glance first rests upon the apex of the spadix, which has a club-like form, and is of a beautiful violet-red colour. The two rings of sexual organs have much less attraction for the profane; the lower ring, loaded with female flowers, is more prominent than the upper ring, which bears the male flowers.
The root of our Arum also deserves a particular examination. It is a white tubercular stock or stem, containing a quantity of fecula, mixed, as in the West Indian manioc, with an acrid poisonous principle which produces a burning painful heat in the throat. ”

“ Flatulence is an excessive formation of gas in the stomach and bowels leading to distension of the abdomen and the belching of gas, and often the bringing up of a sour, pungent, watery fluid.
Flatulence is seen in infants suffering from intestinal indigestion and the food is nearly always at fault. This condition is the result of the faulty digestion of the sugar and starches—particularly the starch—which should be immediately reduced. In such conditions the addition of a slight amount of some alkaline (such as soda, magnesia or lime water) to the food often produces good results. ”

“ When the expectoration is thin and small in quantity, the disease is not concocted; when the sputa are of moderate consistence and equable, the disease is at its acme; when thick, it is certainly on the decline. Thinness indicates that the humour which occasions the complaint is of a subtle nature; thickness, the contrary. Blackness indicates vehement heat. Green sputa are indicative of the presence of green bile, white of phlegm, and redness of blood. When fetid, they proceed from putrefaction. Black sputa indicate great danger. ”

“ It is well known that these animals, when living, are invariably covered with spines supported by rows of tubercles. These last are only seen after the death of the sea-urchin, when the spines have dropped off. In Fig. 11 a living species of Spatangus, common on our coast, is represented with one half of its shell stripped of the spines. In Fig. 10 a fossil of a similar and allied genus from the white chalk of England shows the naked surface which the individuals of this family exhibit when denuded of their bristles. ”

“ The endodermal spadix (sp.) of the sporosac represents the endoderm of the manubrium; the ectodermal lining of the sporosac (ex.) represents the ex-umbral ectoderm of the medusa; and the intervening layers, together with the sub-umbral cavity, have disappeared. The spadix, as the organ of nutrition for the gonads, may be developed in various ways, being simple (fig. 41, F) or branched (fig. 41, H) ; in Eudendrium (fig. 41, G) it curls round the single large ovum. ”

“ The patient is sometimes able to pass flatus when upon her side, though she may not be able to do so upon her back. Inability to pass flatus is not necessarily a sign of peritonitis or intestinal paralysis. It may be caused by the unaccustomed position, or pain or nervousness may prevent the woman relaxing the sphincter ani.
If the vomiting persists and becomes bilious, relief is sometimes obtained by thoroughly washing out the stomach through the stomach-tube. ”

“ The plants in Figure 423 were found in August or September, on Ralston's Run, near Chillicothe, and were photographed by Dr. Kellerman.
Spathularia. Pers.
This is a very interesting genus, and one that will attract the attention of any one at first sight. It grows in the form of a spathula, from which it receives its generic name. The spore-body is flattened and grows down on both sides of the stem, tapering downward.
Spathularia flavida. Pers. The Yellow Spathularia. Edible. ”

“ Externally a paste of the leaves of the same plants is put around, not on the pimples, to limit the local disease and prevent the inflammation spreading. The pustule itself is treated by dropping the juice of a sedative plant on it. It is left uncovered and freely exposed to the air, and the application made from time to time until the scab falls off. The Kaffir believes, and experience has been his guide, that the pustule must be left alone, and meddling with it, either by incision, excision or irritation is dangerous treatment. ”

“ And we must bind upon them without pressure a piece of sponge which has been soaked in oxycrate, or astringent wine, or the decoction of roses, or the compress called splenium may be used. The best application for procidentia, and all ulcers of the eye, is the collyrium called olympiac or olympus, with the juice of olive, or of knot-grass, or of poley. The same things are applicable to clavus and staphyloma, before they whiten; for after they become white and callous, they are incurable. ”

“ The solid egesta are voided thickly covered with mucus, leaving the end of the bowel dry and clean. The sense of cleanliness can only then be appreciated to the full, for it is internal as well external. Flatus is no longer produced. The urine is inoffensive and seems to be materially changed in quality, as shown by chemical analysis. Uric acid, the chlorides, and, more markedly, aromatic sulphates are reduced in quantity.
Owing to deliberation in eating, necessitated by this new habit, satiety occurs on the ingestion of considerably less food. ”

“ In health the stomach and intestines always contain a moderate quantity of gas that is nearly pure nitrogen. This appears to be secreted by the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, and, in excessive amount, is one of the most troublesome kinds of flatulence. The other kind arises fermentation or putrefactive change of the food, and contains carbonic acid, and sometimes sulphurated hydrogen, as well as nitrogen. ”

“ Inside of the spathe is the spadix, also green or purple, which is club shaped, rounded at the summit, and narrowly contracted at the base, where it is surrounded by either the male or female flowers or both, in the latter case (the most infrequent) the male flowers being placed below the female flowers. In autumn the fruit ripens in the form of a bunch of bright scarlet, shining berries. The entire plant is acrid, but the root more especially so. ”

“ Cultures. This organism may be isolated from ulcerated Peyer's patches in the intestine, from the liver, the spleen, and the mesenteric glands. Owing to the mixture of bacteria found elsewhere, it is generally best to isolate it from the spleen. The whole spleen is removed, and a portion of its capsule seared with a hot iron to destroy superficial organisms. With a sterilised knife a small cut is made into the substance of the organ, and by means of a sterilised platinum wire a little of the pulp is removed and traced over the surface of agar. ”

“ Similar to the last-mentioned species, but the tail segment is larger than the trunk; in the above it is of the same size. No adhesive cells. The fins are covered with papillae, and with a number of serrated spines pointed at both ends.—Spadella pontica.
(iv.) Tactile organs and adhesive cells are unmodified epidermal cells. Anus dorsal. Orifice of oviducts ventral. No olfactory organ. Epidermis colourless. Lateral fins without rays. A pair of ganglia at the postero-lateral angle of the brain.—Spadella marioni. ”

“ The Spahi's face expressed a mixture of acute pain and intense lechery; all the nerves of his body seemed stretched and quivering, as if under,the action of a strong battery; his eyes were half closed, and the pupils had almost disappeared, his clenched teeth were gnashed, as the bottle was, every now and then, thrust a little further in. His phallus, which had been limp and lifeless when he had felt nothing but pain, was again acquiring its full proportions; then all the veins in it began to swell, the nerves to stiffen themselves to their utmost. ”

“ Pustules of the small Intestines.—From δοθη, a pustule, and εντερον, an intestine. This name is given to a disease which has been described by M. Bretonneau, of Tours, and, after him, by Serres, Broussais, Andral, and several others, and consists in pustules, generally situated at the lower end of the ileum.
We are constantly lamenting to ourselves the contracted bounds allotted to our Quarterly Summary. ”

“ Herbs mostly with basal long-petioled simple or compound leaves, and spathaceous inflorescence, the spathe enclosing or subtending a spadix. Rootstock tuberous or a corm, in our species mostly with an acrid or pungent sap. Spadix very densely flowered, the staminate flowers above, the pistillate below, or the plants wholly dioecious, or with perfect flowers in some species. ”

“ Spatzen.—Stir flour into cold water or milk, with a little salt, to make a thick batter, beat it well with a wooden spoon; drop little flakes or buttons into boiling water. This is easiest done by putting some of the batter on a trencher or flat plate and flaking it quickly off into the pot with a knife, dipped constantly in the water. Boil them 5 minutes; they will swim on the top when done; strain and dish them. Have ready a piece of butter melted in a stewpan, and a handful of crumbs in it, crisped brown; pour this over the spatzen, and serve while they are light and hot. ”

“ If it is decided that they are to be brought on at the end of supper, then it follows, that when a great deal of food has already been put into the stomach and bowels, the nuts which are eaten afterwards as provocatives of drinking, get entangled with the rest of the food, and produce flatulence, and also cause what has been eaten to turn on the stomach, because it is followed by what is by nature unmanageable and indigestible ”