enotes the lath, or iron, of a pair of scales: sometimes the whole apparatus for weighing of goods is so called: Thus we say, it weighs so much at the king's beam.

**Beam of a Plough,** that in which all the parts of the plough-tail are fixed. See Plough, Agriculture Index.

**Beam,** or **Roller,** among weavers, a long and thick wooden cylinder, placed lengthwise on the back-part of the loom of those who work with a shuttle. That cylinder, on which the stuff is rolled as it is weaved, is also called the beam or roller, and is placed on the fore-part of the loom.

**BEAMINSTER,** a town of Dorsetshire in England, seated on the river Bert. Population 2290 in 1811. W. Long. 2. 50. N. Lat. 52. 45.

**BEAN.** See Vicia, Botany Index.

The ancients made use of beans in gathering the votes of the people, and for the election of magistrates. A white bean signified absolution, and a black one condemnation. Beans had a mysterious use in the *lemuralia* and *parentalia*: where the master of the family, after washing, was to throw a sort of black beans over his head, still repeating the words, "I redeem myself and family by these beans." Ovid gives a lively description of the whole ceremony in verse.

Abstinence from beans was enjoined by Pythagoras, one of whose symbols is κυκλος αναγκης, abstine a fabis. The Egyptian priests held it a crime to look at beans, judging the very sight unclean. The flamen dialis was not permitted even to mention the name. The precept of Pythagoras has been variously interpreted: some understand it of forbearing to meddle in trials and verdicts, which were then by throwing beans into an urn, others, building on the equivocation of the word συστελεχθαι, which equally signifies a bean and a human textile, explain it by abstaining from venery. Clemens Alexandrinus grounds the abstinence from beans on this, that they render women barren; which is confirmed by Theophrastus, who extends the effect even to plants. Cicero suggests another reason for this abstinence, viz. that beans are great enemies to tranquillity of mind. For a reason of this kind it is, that Amphiaras is said to have abstained from beans, even before Pythagoras, that he might enjoy a clearer divination by dreams.

Beans, as food for horses. See FARRIERY.

Bean-Caper. See ZYGOPHYLLUM, BOTANY Index.

Bean-Cod, a small fishing vessel, or pilot-boat, common on the sea-coasts and in the rivers of Portugal. It is extremely sharp forward, having its stem bent inward above into a great curve: the stem is also plated on the fore-side with iron, into which a number of bolts are driven, to fortify it, and resist the stroke of another vessel, which may fall athwart-haused. It is commonly navigated with a large lateen sail, which extends over the whole length of the deck, and is accordingly well fitted to ply to windward.

Bean-Flour, called by the Romans lomentum, was of some repute among the ancient ladies as a cosmetic, wherewith to smooth the skin, and take away wrinkles.

Bean-Fly, in Natural History, the name given by authors to a very beautiful fly, of a pale purple colour, frequently found on bean-flowers. It is produced from the worm or maggot called by authors mida.

Bean-Goose. See ANAS, ORNITHOLOGY Index.

Kidney-Bean. See PHASEOLUS.

Malaccu-Beans, or Anacardia, the fruit of a tree growing in Malabar and other parts of the East Indies, supposed by some to be the AVICENNIA Tomentosa; by others, the BONTIA GERMINANS. The fruit is of a shining black colour, of the shape of a heart flattened, about an inch long, terminating at one end in an obtuse point, and adhering by the other to a wrinkled stalk: it contains within two shells a kernel of a sweetish taste: betwixt the shells is lodged a thick and acrid juice.

The medicinal virtues of anacardia have been greatly disputed. Many have attributed to them the faculty of comforting the brain and nerves, fortifying the memory, and quickening the intellect: and hence a confection made from them has been dignified with the title of confectio sapientum: others think it better deserves the name of confectio stultorum, and mention instances of its continued use having rendered people maniacal. But the kernel of anacardium is not different in quality from that of almonds. The ill effects attributed to this fruit belong only to the juice contained betwixt the kernels, whose acrimony is so great, that it is said to be employed by the Indians as a caustic. This juice is recommended externally for tetter, freckles, and other cutaneous deformities; which it removes only by exulcerating or excoriating the part, so that a new skin comes underneath.