rgh, in
the year 1778. He commenced his career in London, in 1806, as a lecturer
on Anatomy and Surgery. In 1830, he received the honors of knighthood,
and in 1836 was appointed Professor of Surgery in the College of
Edinburgh. He died near Worcester, in England, April 29, 1842. His
writings are very numerous, and have been much celebrated. Among the
most important of these, to general readers, are, his Illustrations of
Paley's Natural Theology, (which work forms the second and third volumes
of the larger series of 'THE SCHOOL LIBRARY,' issued by the
Publishers of this volume,) and his treatise on 'The Hand, its
Mechanism, and Vital Endowments, as evincing Design.'

_Bergamot_, a fruit, which was originally produced by ingrafting a
branch of a citron or lemon tree, upon the stock of a peculiar kind of
pear, called the bergamot pear.

_Biased_, cut diagonally from one corner to another of a square or
rectangular piece of cloth. _Bias pieces_, triangular pieces cut as
above mentioned.

_Bituminous_, containing _bitumen_, which is an inflammable mineral
substance, resembling tar or pitch in its properties and uses. Among
different bituminous substances, the names _naphtha_ and _petroleum_
have been given to those which are fluid; _maltha_, to that which has
the consistence of pitch; and _asphaltum_, to that which is solid.

_Blight_, a disease in plants, by which they are blasted, or prevented
from producing fruit.

_Blond lace_, lace made of silk.

_Blood heat_, the temperature which the blood is always found to
maintain, or ninety-eight degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer.

_Blue vitriol_, sulphate of copper. See _Sulphate_.

_Blunts_, needles of a short and thick shape, distinguished from
_Sharps_, which are long and slender.

_Bocking_, a kind of thin carpeting, or coarse baize.

_Boston Academy_, see _Academy_.

_Botany_, (from a Greek word, signifying an herb,) a knowledge of
plants; the science which treats of plants.

_Brazil wood_, the central part, or heart, of a large tree which grows
in Brazil, called the _Caesalpinia echinata_. It produces very lively and
beautiful red tints, but they are not permanent.

_Bronze_, a metallic composition, consisting of copper and tin.

_Brulure_, a French term, denoting a burning or scalding; a blasting of
plants.

_Brussels_, (carpet,) a kind of carpeting, so called from the city of
Brussels, in Europe. Its basis is composed of a warp and woof of strong
lin