_Obs._ Gypseous alabaster is dissolved by water; and the beauty of both varieties is almost irrecoverably destroyed by grease, coloured oils, varnishes, smoke, &c. It is, therefore, unfitted for garden ornaments, or other objects exposed to the rain or weather, unless it be painted or bronzed; and is even then very perishable. Contact with acids, alkalies, and ammoniacal and sulphurous fumes, also injure, and, if prolonged, destroy it. Even an uncorked phial of smelling-salts placed on a mantel-piece beside an alabaster vase will soon destroy its beauty. Thus, all delicate objects in alabaster should be protected by a glass shade. =Alabaster, Orient′al= (Factitious). Figures, basso relievos, &c., of considerable hardness and beauty, may be formed by imitating the process adopted at the baths of San Filippo, before referred to. _Proc., &c._ Moulds of sulphur are placed either vertically or obliquely in an open tub or cistern, having a freely perforated bottom. Surmounting the whole are two or more pieces of wood in the form of a cross or star. The sulphurous calcareous water, falling on this cross, is scattered into spray or streamlets, and losing the gaseous portion which holds the lime in solution, deposits it in the form of oriental alabaster on the surface of the moulds. In from 1 to 4 months, according to the nature of the article, a sufficiently thick deposit is obtained. The object is then removed from the mould, and trimmed and polished. It is found that the more vertical the position of the mould, the finer is the grain of the resulting deposit. The water of the Spring of San Filippo may be exactly and easily imitated by the chemist; and the whole process offers a new and valuable ornamental art for the amusement and profit of the ingenious and enterprising. =Alabaster, Shand’s Chinese.= Carbonate of lime. (Chandler.) =Alabaster Tablets, John Swine’s Chinese.= Carbonate of lime. (Chandler.) =ALAMODE′= (ăl-ăh-mōdé). [Fr., _à la mode_.] According to the prevailing mode or fashion. In _cookery_, applied to several dishes, but more particularly to one of beef (alamode beef), commonly shortened by the lower class of Londoners into “alamode.” See BEEF, STEWING, &c. =ALAN′TINE.= [Eng., Fr., Ger.] _Syn._ ALANTI′NA, L. A substance identical with inulin, found in the roots of garden angelica (‘angelica archangelica,’ Linn.). =ALBA′TA.= [L., Eng.] A name given to several alloys resembling silver. See ALLOYS, GERMAN SILVER, &c. =ALBION= (Parisian). “Will preserve the skin white and free from wrinkles.” An aromatic water with chloride of lead and calomel suspended in it. (Landerer.) =ALBOLITH.= A cement powder prepared by W. Riemann, Breslau. Made with calcined magnesia (obtained from magnesite) and chloride of magnesium. It is recommended for painting walls, stairs, and wooden articles. (Hager.)