BOW-net, or BOW-wheel, an engine for catching fish, chiefly lobsters and craw-fish, made of two round wicker baskets, pointed at the end, one of which is thrust into the other; at the mouth is a little rim, four or five inches broad, somewhat bent inwards. It is also used for catching sparrows.
BOW-legged or Bandy-legged. Some children are bow-legged from their birth: others become so from setting them on their feet too early. The tibia of some is crooked; the knees of others are distorted; from a fault in the ankle, the feet of some are turned inwards. These are called varri; and in others, who are called valgus, they are turned outwards. The best method of preventing these disorders in weakly children is to exercise them duly, but not violently, by dancing or tossing them about in one's arms; and not setting them much upon their feet, at least not without properly supporting them: if the disorder attends at the birth, or increases after it is begun, apply emollients, then apply boots of strong leather, wood, &c. so as gradually to dispose the crooked legs to a proper form; or other instruments may be used instead of boots, which, when not too costly, are usually to be preferred.
Slighter instances of these disorders yield to careful nursing, without instruments.