(from alo, to nourish), implies food both solid and liquid: from which, by the process of digestion, is prepared a very mild, sweet, and whitish liquor, resembling milk, and distinguished by the name of chyle; which being absorbed by the lacteal veins, by them conveyed into the circulation, and there assimilated into the nature of blood, affords that supply of nutrition which the continual waste of the body is found to require.—Next to air, food is the most necessary thing for the preservation of our bodies: and as on the choice thereof our health greatly depends, it is of great importance to understand, in general, what is the properest for our nourishment; and, in particular deviations from health, what is the best adapted to restore us. The blood and fluids naturally incline to waste and diminish: fresh chyle, duly received, prevents this waste and diminution, and preserves in them that mild state which alone consists with health. An animal diet affords the most of this bland nutritious mucilage; watery fluids dilute the too gross parts, and carry off what is become unfit for use. It is only the small portion of jelly which is separated from the farinaceous parts of vegetables, that, after being much elaborated, is converted into the animal nature; yet the use of vegetables prevents both repletion and a too great tendency to a putrescent acrimony of the blood. In hot climates, as well as against the constitutional heat of particular persons, vegetables are demanded in the largest proportion. Animal substances afford the highest relish while our appetite continues; but will sate the appetite before the stomach is duly filled. Vegetables may be eaten after either flesh or fish: few herbs or fruits satiate so much as that the stomach may not be filled with them, when it is already satisfied with flesh or fish; whence it may be observed, that no diet which is very nourishing can be eaten to fulness, because its nutritious parts are oily and satiating. Health depends almost wholly on a proper crisis of the blood; and to preserve this, a mixture of vegetables in some degree is always required, for a loathing is soon the consequence of animal food alone: hot acid habits, too, receive from milk and vegetables the needful for correcting their excesses; but in cold, pituitous, and nervous habits, who want most nourishment from least digestion, and from the smallest quantity of food, animal diet is to be used more freely.

Thus much being offered as general principles with respect to the matter and quality of our aliment, the valetudinarian may easily regulate his diet with some advantage to himself by an attention to the few ensuing particulars. In winter, eat freely, but drink sparingly: roast meat is to be preferred, and what is drank should be stronger than at other seasons. In summer, let thirst determine the quantity to be drunk; cold stomachs never require much: boiled meats and vegetables, if not otherwise contraindicated, may now be more freely used. Lax habits require the winter's diet to be continued all the year, and rigid ones should be confined to that of summer. Fat people should fast at times, but the lean should never do so. Those who are troubled with eructations occasioned by their food should drink but little, and use some unaccustomed exercise. The thirsty should drink freely, but eat sparingly. In general, let moderation be observed; and though no dinner hath been had, a light supper is at all times to be preferred. After very high seasoned meats, a glass of water acidulated with the acid elixir of vitriol, or in very weak stomachs the sweet elixir of vitriol, is far more assistant to the work of digestion than brandy. See Food and Drink in this work, and Dietetics in the Supplement.

Obligation of Aliment, in Scots Law, the natural obligation on parents to provide their children with the necessaries of life, &c. See Law Index.

Alimentarium Pueri, &c., were certain children maintained and educated by the munificence of the emperors, in a sort of public places, not unlike our hospitals.—Trajan was the first who brought up any of these alimentary boys. He was imitated by Adrian. Antoninus Pius did the same for a number of maids, at the solicitation of Faustina; and hence, in some medals of that empress, we read PELLAE FAVSTINIANAE.—Alexander Severus did the like at the request of Mammea; and the maids thus educated were called Mammeae.

Alimentary Duct or Canal, is a name given by Dr Tyson and some others to that part of the body through which the food passes from its reception into the mouth to its exit at the anus; including the gula, stomach, and intestines. See Anatomy.

This duct has been said to be the true characteristic of an animal, or (in the jargon of the schools) in proprium quarto modo; no animal being without it. Plants receive their nourishment by the numerous fibres of their roots: but have no common receptacle for digesting the food received, or for carrying off the recrement. But in all, even the lowest degree of animal life, we may observe a stomach and intestines, even where we cannot perceive the least formation of any organ of the senses, unless that common one of feeling, as in oysters. Phil. Trans. No 269, p. 776, et seq.

Dr Wallis brings an argument from the structure of the alimentary tube in man, to prove that he is not naturally carnivorous; to which Dr Tyson makes some objections. Vid. Phil. Trans. No 260, p. 777.

Alimentary Law, lex alimentaria, was an old law among the Romans, whereby children were obliged to find sustenance for their parents.

Alimony, in Law, implies that allowance which a married woman sues for, and is entitled to, upon any occasional separation from her husband. See Law Index.

Alipilarius, or Aliphilus, in Roman antiquity, a servant belonging to the baths, whose business it was, by means of waxen plasters, and an instrument called volsella, to take off the hair from the arm-pits, and even arms, legs, &c. this being deemed a point of cleanliness.

Alipterium, αλιπτεριον, in antiquity, a place in the ancient palestra, where the athlete were anointed before their exercises.

Aliquant Part, in Arithmetic, is that number which cannot measure any other exactly without some remainder. Thus 7 is an aliquant part of 16; for twice 7 wants two of 16, and three times 7 exceeds 16 by 5.

Aliquot Part, is that part of a number or quantity which will exactly measure it without any remainder. Thus 2 is an aliquot part of 4, 3 of 9, 4 of 16, &c.

Alisanders, or Alexanders, in Botany. See Smyrnium, Botany Index.

Alisontia, or Alisuntia, in Ancient Geography, a river of Belgic Gaul, now Alsitz; which, rising on the borders of Lorraine, and running through that duchy, waters the city of Luxemburgh, and, swelled by other rivulets, falls into the Sur.

Alites, in Roman antiquity, a designation given to such birds as afforded matter of auguries by their flight.

Alkadarii, a sect among the Mahometans who deny any eternal, fixed, divine decrees, and are asserters of free-will. The word is formed from the Arabic akadar, which signifies "decree." The Alkadarii are a branch of Motazalites, and stand opposed to the Algiabarii. See Algiabarii.

Alkahest, or Alcahest, among alchemists, derived from a word which signifies spirit of salt or all spirit, was supposed to be an universal menstruum, capable of resolving all bodies into their principles. Van Helmont pretended he was possessed of such a menstruum.—It is likewise used by some authors for all fixed salts volatilized.

Alkali, in Chemistry, denotes a particular class of salts. The word alkali is of Arabian origin, and was introduced into chemistry after it had been applied to a plant which still retains the name of kali. When this plant is burnt, the ashes washed in water, and the water evaporated to dryness, a white substance remains, which was called alkali. According to Albertus Magnus, who uses the word, it signifies fez amaritudinis, "the dregs of bitterness." Alkali may be obtained from other substances beside kali. Chemists gradually discovered that bodies, differing from one another in several of their properties, had been confounded together under the same name. The word, in consequence, became general, and is now applied to all bodies which possess the following properties: 1. Incombustible. 2. A hot caustic taste. 3. Volatilized by heat. 4. Soluble in water even when combined with carbonic acid. 5. Capable of converting vegetable blues to green.

The alkalies at present known are three in number: 1. Potass; 2. Soda; 3. Ammonia. The two first are called fixed alkalies, because they require a red heat to volatilize them; the last is called volatile alkali, because it readily assumes a gaseous form, and consequently is dissipated by a very moderate degree of heat. See Chemistry Index.

Alkali, or Sal Kali. See Salicornia, Botany Index.

Alkanet. See Anchusa, Botany Index.

Alkekengi, the trivial name of a species of physalis. See Physalis, Botany Index.

Alkenna. See Lawsonia, Botany Index.

Alkermes, in Pharmacy, a compound cordial medicine made in the form of a confection, deriving its name from the kermes berries used in its composition.