Absinthism

( Med. ) A diseased condition arising from over-indulgence in absinthe, its symptoms being vertigo and epileptiform convulsions, hallucinations, and tremors confined chiefly to the muscles of the upper extremities. The cervical portion of the spinal cord is principally affected. Absolute Brightne . ( Ast . ) An expre ion used by astronomers to distinguish between the total amount of light received from a celestial body and the intrinsic lustre of the body's surface. Thus the absolute brightne of Jupiter would be spoken of as nearly equalling that of Venus and surpa ing that of Sirius, though the intrinsic brilliancy of Jupiter's light is far le than that of Venus, and not comparable with the sun-like, intrinsic brilliancy of the light of Sirius. Abstinence, Total, a term applied to abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors. Total abstinence was observed in ancient times by the Nazarites and Rechabites, and was enjoined upon his followers by Mohammed. After the discovery of alcohol, about 1000 A. D., the evil of intemperance greatly increased, and during the eighteenth century and first part of the nineteenth drunkenne became very prevalent in this country. A society was formed in 1808 in Saratoga county, N. Y., which advocated total abstinence from all distilled spirits and wines. In 1813 the "Ma achusetts Society" was formed, and in 1826 the "American Temperance Society," but it was not until 1836 that "total abstinence from all that may intoxicate" was adopted as a principle of the temperance societies, It was given a great impetus by the "Washington i an" movement, beginning in 1841, and is sustained by the several flourishing temperance a ociations now existing. It was advocated at a national temperance meeting in England in 1834, and Father Matthew effectively inculcated it in Ireland; but it failed to make the progre anywhere in Europe that it has in this country, where prohibition of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors has become a constitutional provision Abt, FRANZ, the most popular song writer of Germany, in several states, See ABSTINENCE, p . 18. was born at Eilenberg, Dec. 22, 1819. He studied theology at Leipsic, but eventually devoted himself to music. His reputation was made by his world-famed song, When the Swallows Homeward Fly , which was succeeded by multitudes of others. In 1872 he visited the U. S. and conducted concerts in the principal cities. His songs are remarkable for melody, and continue popular. D. March 31, 1885. Abvacuatio, ( ab - vak -u-ashe-o.) [Lat., from ab , and vacuare, vacuatum , to empty.] ( Med .) An exce ive or colliquative evacuation. Aby in i a, Continued from SEC. I., resisted. In 1889 Menelek, King of Shoa, established himself, with Italian aid, as emperor, succeeding John II. A treaty with Italy followed, by which that country acquired a large district bordering on the Red Sea and a normal protectorate over the whole kingdom. But subsequently Menelek (the Negus Negusti, to give him his home title), repudiated the treaty, and Ru ia and France refused to acknowledge the protectorate. Italy held a coastal territory named Erythria, (or Eritria) whence, in July, 1894, an army under Gen. Bar a tier a advanced into the Soudan, defeated the dervishes, and occupied Ka ala. Thence Bar a tier a marched into Tigre, a northern district of A. , whose governor, Ras Manga sci a, was advancing against him. Ras was defeated (Jany. 1895), and part of Tigre occupied. Menelek soon after took part in the war, and in March, 1896, the Italian army met with a defeat so disastrous as to enforce a relinquishment of all designs of conquest and occupation. A treaty of peace was signed in November, 1896, in which Italy acknowledged the complete independence of A. The prisoners remaining in the hands of Menelek, about 1,500 in number, were afterward released, Italy paying all the costs of their maintenance. A card i oner via, ( a - kar - de - o - nŭrve - ah .) [From Gr. kardia , the heart, and neuron , a nerve.] ( Path .) Want of nervous action in the heart, as indicated by the sounds ceasing to be audible. A cat apos is, (a- kat - a - po's is .) [From Gr., a, priv., and kataposis , deglutition.] ( Path . ) Difficulty of swallowing, which affection may result from spasm of the mus cles, or be caused by a thickening of the mucous mem brane, or enlarged tonsils. When the affection is spasmodic, warm fomentations and warm hip-baths are indicated. In the other cases a plain and very abstemious diet, and a daily ablution, are the e entials of A cat a static, ( a - kat - a - statik .) [From Gr. kadistemi , to determine.] ( Path . ) An epithet given to fevers, ., when irregular in their periods or symptoms.