Home1823 Edition

OYSTERS

Volume 15 · 166 words · 1823 Edition

Fossil. The largest bed that is known of fossil oysters is that near Riding in Berkshire. Their shape is entire, and they consist of the same substance with recent oyster-shells; and yet since the oldest histories that mention the place have an account of them, we must suppose they have lain there for a long time. They extend over no less than six acres of ground; and just above them is a large stratum of a greenish loam, which some writers call a green earth, and others a green sand. It is composed of a crumbly marle, and a large portion of sand. Under them is a thick stratum of chalk. They all lie in a level bed; and the strata above the shells are natural, and appear never to have been dug through till the time of finding the shells.

OZENA, a foul and malignant ulcer of the nose, distinguished by its fetor, and often accompanied with a caries of the bones of the nose.