quired, any astringent solution or powder will restrain them; and an exposure of the parts to the air will generally control their growth. Poultices made of bran are frequently usefully applied to wounds to promote suppuration, and to mitigate inflammation; and an ointment made of lard and turpentine is, perhaps, one of the best for digesting wounds, when required, for use, on the horse. Simple and slight wounds of the skin, when recent, may generally be cured by the application of Friar's balsam, which can be laid on with a feather, or applied on lint or a linen rag; or by Olden's horse application. WRENCH. See SHOULDER, STRAIN. WRESTLING. This is an exercise of very great antiquity and fame. It was in use in the heroic age. It continued a long time in the highest repute, and had considerable rewards and honours assigned to it at the Olympic games. In the ages of chivalry, to wrestle well was accounted one of the accomplishments which a hero ought to possess. In the "Cornish hug," Mr. Polwhele perceived the Greek palæstral attitudes finely revived: two Cornishmen in the act of wrestling bear a close resemblance to the figures on old gems and coins. In old time, says Stow, wrestling was more used than it has been of later years. In the month of August, about the feast of St. Bartholomew, adds this very accurate historian, there were divers days spent in wrestling; the lord mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs being present in a large tent pitched for that purpose near Clerkenwell; upon this occasion the officers of the city, namely, the sheriffs, serjeants, and yeomen, the porters of the king's beam, or weighing-house, and others of the city, gave a general challenge to such of the inhabitants of the suburbs as thought themselves expert in this exercise; but of late years, continues he, the wrestling is only practised on the afternoon of St. Bartholomew's day. The latter ceremony is thus described by a foreign writer, who was an eye-witness of the performance: "When," says he, "the mayor goes out of the precincts of the city, a sceptre [the mace], a sword, and a cap, are borne before him, and he is followed by the principal aldermen in scarlet gowns, with golden chains; himself and they on horseback. Upon their arrival at a place appointed for that purpose, where a tent is pitched for their reception, the mob begin to wrestle before them two at a time." He adds a circumstance not recorded by Stow: " After this is over, a parcel of live rabbits are turned loose among the crowd, which are pursued by a number of boys, who endeavour to catch them with all the noise they can make." The manner in which this pastime was exhibited in the western parts of England, at the distance of two centuries, is thus described by Carew, an author then living. "The beholders then cast, or form themselves into a ring, in the empty space whereof the two champions step forth, stripped into their dublets and hosen, and untrussed, that they may so the better command the use of their lymmes; and first shaking hands, in token of friendship, they fall presently to the effect of anger; for each striveth how to take hold of the other with his best advantage, and to bear his adverse party downe; wherein, whosoever overthroweth his mate, in such sort, as that either his backe, or the one shoulder, and contrary heele do touch the ground, accounted to give the fall. If he be only endangered, and makes a narrow escape it is called a foyle." He then adds, "This pastime also hath his laws, for instance; of taking hold above the girdle-wearing a girdle to take hold by-playing three pulls for trial of the mastery, the fall giver to be exempted from again playing with the taker, but bound to answer his successor. Sil ver prizes, for this and other activi- | "I have seen in Cornwall more per ties, were wont to be carried about, by certain circumferenci, or set up at bride ales; but time, or their abuse," perhaps I might add both, "hath now worn them out of use.' A humorous description is given in one of the Spectators of a country wake; the author there mentions "a ring of wrestlers. The squire," says he," of the parish always treats the whole company, every year, with a hogshead of ale, and proposes a beaver hat, as a recompense to him who gives the most falls." The inhabitants of Cornwall and Devon have, we are well assured, from time immemorial, been celebrated for their expertness in this pastime, and are universally said to be the best wrestlers in the kingdom. To give a Cornish hug is a proverbial expression. Their hug is a cunning close with their fellowcombatants, the fruits whereof is his fair fall, or foil at the least. They learned the art at an early period of life, for you shall hardly find," says Carew," an assembly of boys in Devon and Cornwall, where the most untowardly among them will not as readily give you a muster (or trial) of this exercise as you are prone to require it." sons present when the prize has been only a gold-laced hat, a waistcoat, or a pair of gloves, than ever attend the sports of Devon (where the prizes are very liberal-for men don't like to be kicked severely for a trifle), or even at the famed meetings of later days in London, at the Eagle in the City road, or the Golden Eagle, at Mile End." The mode of wrestling in Cornwall is very different from that of Devonshire; the former is famous in the "hug," the latter in kicking shins. No kicks are allowed in Cornwall unless the players who are in the ring mutually agree to it. A hat is thrown in as a challenge, which being accepted by another, the combatants strip, and put on a coarse loose kind of jacket, of which they take hold, and of nothing else: the play then commences. To constitute a fair fall, both shoulders must touch the ground at, or nearly, the same moment. To guard against foul play, to decide on the falls, and manage the affairs of the day, four or six sticklers (as the umpires are called) are chosen, to whom all these matters are left. Sir Thomas Parkyns, author of a book entitled "The Cornish Hug Wrestler," was remarkable for his skill in this exercise; he trained many of his servants and neighbours to it, and when those manly (though now thought unpolished) diversions were in fashion, he exhibited his pupils in public with no small eclat. By his will, he left a guinea to be wrestled for at Bradmore, Notting We gather from that valuable depository of "useful knowledge," Hone's Every-Day Book, that with a view of maintaining the superiority in amusements in which the Cornish delight, John Knill, Esq., of St. Ives, bequeathed the income of an estate to trustees, that the same might be distributed in prizes to those who should excel in wrest-hamshire, every Midsummer-day, ling, racing, and rowing. These games he directed should be held every fifth year for ever, around a mausoleum which he erected, in 1782, on a high rock, near the town of St. Ives. The first celebration took place in July, 1801. In an interesting paper, entitled " Wrestling in Cornwall and Devonshire," in the second volume of Hone's Table Book, p. 499, the author says, and money to the ringers, of whom Here lies, O Time! the victim of thine His nervous arm each bold opposer Westmoreland are both famed for their skill in this art. From the time, however, that wrestling became unfashionable, and was rarely practised by persons of In 1823, a small volume was opulence, it declined also among the published, at Whitehaven, entitled populace, but by slower degrees; "Wrestliana; or, an Historical and at present is seldom seen exAccount of Ancient and Modern cept at wakes and fairs, where it Wrestling," by William Litt. We still continues to be partially exhimay add, that Cumberland and bited. Y YELLOWS. See JAUNDICE. leaves of the yew-tree, on an empty YEW (Taxus baccata). The com- stomach, it will destroy him in a mon yew is an evergreen tree, a few hours, and but a very slight apnative of Britain, France, Switzer-pearance of inflammation will the land, &c. and of North America. stomach exhibit, in spots of the size The wood is reddish, full of veins and flexible, very hard and smooth, and almost incorruptible. Its hardness renders it very proper for turners and cabinet-makers; and also for bows. It produces berries, which are red, mucilaginous, and have a sweet, mawkish taste. They are often eaten by birds, and are therefore not poisonous; but it is a common opinion that the leaves are so to cattle, and many facts are mentioned of horses and cows having died from eating them. Others, however, deny this. Mr. Bracy Clark observes, in a communication to that truly valuable periodical The Veterinarian (vol. v. p. 670), "If you give to a horse four ounces of the of the little finger nail. But if to this quantity of the acrid vegetable you add eight ounces of oats, and mix them together, he will eat the whole, will digest them well, and will not even be incommoded; so that in the former case it must have been destroyed by the influence of the undigested matter on the brain, acting on the nerves of the stomach before the other symptoms attending the suppressed act could have had time to display themselves." The Taxus Canadensis is another species of the yew, found in North America. 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