a ceremony used by the ancient Romans before they began the sacrifice, which consisted in washing the body. They very probably learned this ceremony from the Jews, as have also the Mahometans, who still practice it with the utmost strictness.

among chemists, the sweetening any matter impregnated with salts, by repeatedly washing it with pure water. See **CHEMISTRY**.

with physicians, is either the washing of any external part by bathing, or of the stomach and intestines by diluting liquors.