Browne, Sir

THOMAS, an English physician and author, B. in London, in 1605. Having taken his degrees in arts, he went to Leyden, where he became an M.D., and in 1642 published his famous book, the Religio Medici. In 1646 appeared his book on Vulgar Errors, in folio. Charles II. honored him with knighthood in 1671. D. 1682. His life has been written by Dr. Johnson. Brown'field, in Maine, a post-township of Oxford co., 60 m. S.W. of August a. Brown'helm, in Ohio, a post-township of Lorain co., on Lake Erie, 25 m. E. by S. of the city of Sandusky. Brown Hill, in Pennsylvania , a P. O. of Crawford co. Brownie, ( brou'ne .) A kind of fairy, formerly believed in in the He brides and North of Scotland. He was an obliging sort of elf, that used to come into houses by night, and perform lustily any piece of work that might remain to be done. At one time every family of importance believed that they had a special brownie, and they gave him offerings of the various products of the place. Thus, some, when they churned their milk, or brewed, poured some of the milk or wort through the hole of a stone called the brownie's stone. The brownie of Scotland bore a very striking resemblance to the Robin Goodfellow of England. Brown'ing, n . (Chem.) A proce by which the barrels of muskets and rifles are partially oxidized and sulphurized, and so prevented from being easily rusted. The barrel being brightened and cleaned thoroughly from oil, a mixture of nitric acid, chloride of iron, sal ammoniac, and sulphate of copper, is laid on, and allowed to remain several hours. The proce is repeated several times, and the barrel is cleaned ultimately with alkaline water, and polished.