Beeton's illustrated dictionary of the physical sciences including astronomy, botany, chemistry, geology, physiology, electricity, acoustics, light, heat, etc. : illustrated with pictorial and explanatory woodcuts / [Samuel Orchart Beeton].

  • Samuel Orchart Beeton
Date:
[1886?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Beeton's illustrated dictionary of the physical sciences including astronomy, botany, chemistry, geology, physiology, electricity, acoustics, light, heat, etc. : illustrated with pictorial and explanatory woodcuts / [Samuel Orchart Beeton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    bein ’Sat. It is one of the products, of the slow oxidation of alcohol vapour under the influence of finely-divided platinum. ACETARIOUS PLANTS, a-se-tair'-e-us, (Lat., acetaria, a salad), plants such as endive, mustard-and-cress, lettuce, &c., used for salads. ACETATE, a'-se-tait, in Chem., a compound formed by the union of a base with acetic acid. Many of the acetates are of great importance in the arts. The most important is acetate or sugar of lead. All the acetates are soluble in water. ACETIC ACID, a-set'-ik, in Cliem., is pro- duced by the oxidation or destructive distillation of organic bodies containing its elements car- bon, hydrogen, and oxygen. When pure, it is a colourless liquid of specific gravity i '064, which crystallizes at a temperature below 6o° F. It has a pungent smell, and is highly corrosive. Vinegar and pyroligneous acid are impure varieties of acetic acid. (See Vinegak.) The crude acetic acid, known as pyroligneous acid, is one of the liquid products of the destructive distillation of wood. Oak and beech are the woods most com- monly used in the manufacture, and the distilla- tion is generally conducted in large iron cylinders. By a beautiful but tedious process, the acetic acid contained in the impure product is made to unite with soda, so as to form pure acetate of soda. This salt, when distilled with concentrated sulphuric acid, yields a colourless liquid, which is acetic acid. A portion of this crystallizes at a temperature of from 400 to 50° F., constituting what is called glacial acetic acid. The chemical composition of acetic acid is represented by the symbol C4H404. Its uses are numerous and im- portant. In the Arts, it is employed for the pre- paration of the various acetates, especially those of iron and alumina, which are the chief mordants of the calico-printer, for dissolving gums in mak- ing varnishes, and for photographic purposes. In Medicine, it is used externally as a local irritant, and internally as a febrifuge. ACETONE, a-se-tone', in Chem., a colourless volatile fluid, having the composition C6He06, obtained by the distillation of the acetates of the alkaline earths. It has a peculiar odour, and is very inflammable. It is sometimes called pn/roacetic spirit. As a remedy for asthma, it is occasionally used in medicine. In a pure state, it is a colourless mobile fluid which boils at 1330 F. ACETYL, a'-se-til, in Chem., a term applied to the supposed basis of vinegar and other acids. It is known also as Acetoxyl and Othyl. ACETYLENE, a'-set-e-leen, a luminous hy- drocarbon gas, resembling coal-gas, discovered by Berthelot, the eminent French chemist. ACHENIUM, a-ke'-nc-um, in Bot., a one- seeded fruit, having a dry shell, or pericarp, which is closely applied to the seed, though separable from it. This pericarp is indehiscent, that is to say, it remains closed, and the seed can only be- come free by its decay. The little hard bodies scattered over the surface of the strawberry, and those we find clustered together in the centre of the buttercup, are achienia. ACHATMA, a-kal’-ma, in Zool., a genus of terrestrial gastropods. ACHERONTIA, a-ke- ron'-shc-a, a gonus of Lepidopterous insects, fam. Sphingidce, which embraces some of the largest European Lepidop- tera, the most remarkable of which is the Ache- rontia atropos, or Death’s-head Hawk-moth (which see). ACHILLEA, a-kil'-lc-a, in Bot., a genus of plants belonging to the natural order ComposiUe. The Achillea Millefolium, commonly called the Yarrow, or Milfoil, is the most important British species. Its white or rose-coloured flowers adorn many of our meadows, particularly those with silicious soils, from June to September. From these flowers an essential oil is obtained, and an infusion of the leaves and flowering heads is said to be a valuable stomachic. The leaves are in repute with some country people for healing wounds. The pretty garden plant known as white bachelor’s buttons is a cultivated variety of a species of achillea. The familiar sneezewort and the aromatic genipp of the Alpine districts are other varieties. The generic name is derived from Achilles, who, in the Homeric legend, is said to have discovered the medicinal properties of the milfoil while studying botany under Chiron. ACHILLES’ TENDON, a-kil'-lees ten'-don (Lat., tendo Achillis), in Anat., a tendon which connects the muscles of the calf of the leg with the bone of the heel. It takes its name from the fable of the mother of Achilles dipping him in the river Styx to render him invulnerable. During this operation she held him by the heel, which was consequently untouched by the water, and there he subsequently received his death-wound. ACHILLEUM, a-kil'-le-um, a genus of fossil Spongiadce, of which there are two species found in the cretaceous strata of England. (See Spon- GIADJE.) ACHLAMYDEOUS, a-kla-mi'-de-us (Gr., a, without, and chlamus, a cloak), in Bot., a term applied to flowers which have only stamens and pistils, the floral envelopes being wanting. The naked flower of the common ash is an example. This consists merely of the essential organs of reproduction, and has neither calyx nor corolla. ACHRAS, ak' -ras, in Bot., a genus of plants- belonging to the order Sapotacecs, or Sappodilla family. They are natives of the tropical parts of India, Africa, and America. Several species yield luscious fruits; thus, the A. sapota produces the sapodilla plum, and the A. mammosa the marma- lade. The barks of certain species are used medi- cinally in the treatment of fevers, and the milky juices of others yield substances resembling gutta- percha. (See Sapotace.e.) ACICULAR, a-sik'-u-lar, in Bot., a term signifying needle-shaped, applied to narrow leaves, like those of the fir. The term linear is more commonly used, and is to be preferred. ACIDASPIS, as-sid-as'-pis, a genus of fossil Crustacea, of the group Trilobites, found in the Wenlock limestone. ACIDIFIABLE BASES, a-sid'-e-fi-a-bl, in Chem., substances which are capable of being converted into acids; also termed radicals. ACIDS, as'-sid (Lat., acidits, sour), a numer- ous and important class of chemical bodies, which arc distinguished by the property of combining with alkaline bases to form salts, which have neither acid nor alkaline characters. (See Base and SALTS.) Acids are generally sour to the taste; in most instances they have a great affinity for water, and arc solublo in it; they redden nearly
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