0 AN ENCYCLOPÆDIA OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY: COMPRISING SUBJECTS CONNECTED WITH THE INTERESTS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL; SUCH AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOMESTIC EDIFICES; FURNITURE; CARNIAGES, AND ALSO, ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES USED AS FOOD, AND THE METHODS OF PRESERVING AND PREPARING THEM BY COOKING; RECEIPTS, T PRESERVATION OF HEALTH; DOMESTIC MEDICINES, &c., &c. BY T. WEBSTER AND MRS. PARKES. EDITED BY D. M. REESE, A.M., M.D. Ellustrated with nearly One Thousand Engravings NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 329 & 331 PEARL STREET, · FRANKLIN SQUARE HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY BEQUEST OF MRS. CHESTER N. GREENOUGH V Tec 7058,55 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-five, by HARPER & BROTHERS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. 78. PREFACE BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR. THIS invaluable compendium of useful knowledge, on subjects which mtimately relate to domestic happiness, treated in a familiar and prac tical manner, commends itself to the united head of every family as a standard book of reference on the variety of topics which concern our physical nature, each of which is here exhibited with scientific accuracy and in ample detail. The author, or, as he styles himself, the editor of the work, by his official relation to the "Royal Institution of Great Britain for the Application of Science to the Common Purposes of Life," is undoubtedly possessed of singular adaptation for his task, as indeed is manifest in every part of the work. And the very eminent and excellent lady, whose valuable assistance has been secured for certain portions of the book which treat of matters which are specially within the province of her sex, has shown herself to be worthy of the selection by her admirable contributions to the volume. Her son, Dr. Parkes, has furnished the principal portion of the last chapters relating to Domestic Medicine. The American publishers have been induced thus promptly to undertake its publication by a conviction that such a work is greatly needed, and by the concurrent testimony of several gentlemen of intelligence and distinction to whom it has been submitted for examination. The extraordinary number of engravings which illustrate its various departments, notwithstanding their expense, it has been deemed important to retain, so as to preserve the integrity of the original. Such additional cuts as have become necessary by the introduction of new matter in adapting the work to the United States, have been engraved for this edition, and will be found superadded in different parts of the volume, thus increasing its value above the original British work. The American editor has undertaken to introduce such additions to numerous parts of the book as seemed to be called for, in order to conform it to the customs, habits, and taste of this country, and render it useful to the purposes of domestic economy as exemplified practically B |