pint of water boiling on the fire.
Stir it well, and boil it quick, but do not suffer it to boil over. In a
quarter of an hour strain it off, add salt and a bit of butter when
eaten, and stir it together till the whole is incorporated. To make it
however in the quickest manner, mix a spoonful of ground oatmeal very
smooth, with as much hot water as will just liquify it. Then gradually
pour upon it a pint of boiling water, stirring it all the time to keep
it smooth. It may be cooled by pouring it from one basin to another till
it is fit to drink. Water gruel made in this way is very smooth and
good, and being prepared in a few minutes, it is particularly useful
when wanted in haste, to assist the operation of medicine.

WATER PIPES. To prevent their freezing when full of water, preserve a
little circulation by leaving the cock dripping; or by tying up the ball
cock during the winter's frost, the water may be preserved for use. Care
should be taken however to lay the pipe which supplies the cistern in
such a position as not to retain the water, and of course it will not be
liable to freeze.

WATER SOUCHY. Stew two or three flounders, some parsley leaves and
roots, thirty peppercorns, and a quart of water, till the fish are
boiled to pieces, and then pulp them through a sieve. Set over the fire
the pulped fish, the liquor that boiled them, some perch, tench, and
flounders, and some fresh leaves or roots of parsley. Simmer them
together till done enough, and serve in a deep dish. Slices of bread and
butter are to be sent to table, to eat with the souchy.

WAX. Bees' wax is obtained from the combs, after the sweet and liquid
parts are extracted, by heating and pressing them between iron plates.
The best sort is firm and hard, of a clear yellow colour and an
agreeable odour, similar to that of honey. New wax is tough, yet easily
broken; by long keeping it becomes harder and more brittle, loses its
colour, and partly also its fragrance. With a view to bleach the wax, it
is cut into small pieces, melted, and poured into cold water. In this
state it is exposed to the sun, afterwards melted again, poured into
water, and exposed to the air, two or three times over, till it is
perfectly blanched. It is then dissolved for the last time, cast into
flat moulds, and again exposed to the air for a day or two, in order to
render it more transparent.

WAX PLASTER. This is made of a pound of yellow wax, half a pound of
white ro