Pleurisy

(ploo're-se,) or PLEURITIS. [Gr. pleuritis.] (Med.) An inflammation of the pleura, or membrane that covers the inside of the thorax. It is accompanied with fever, pain, difficult respiration, and cough. Pleuronectidæ,(ploo-ro-něk'te-de.) [From Gr. pleura, the side, and něltes, a swimmer.] (Zool.) The Flounder fam., comprising fishes which have the body flat, being compre ed vertically, both eyes on the same side of the head, sides of the mouth unequal, and a dorsal extending the whole length of the back. The side upon which the eyes are placed is always uppermost when the animal is swimming, and is deeply colored; while that on which the eyes are wanting is always whitish. They have no natatory bladder, and seldom quit the bottom. The want of symmetry between the two sides of theP. is seen in no other vertebrates. This fam. embraces the Flounders proper, which are from 6 to 25 inches long; the Halibuts; the Brills; the Plaices; the Soles; and the Turbots. Plicate. (plī'kāt.) [From L. plica, a fold.] (Bot.) Plaited lengthwise, like a lady's fan. The term is usually employed in speaking of æstivation. Plinth, (plinth.) [FromGr. plinthos, a brick.] (Arch.) Aflat square member used as the foundation of columus, being the flat square table under the moulding of the base and pedestal at the bottom of the order. The P. of a wall signifies two or three rows of bricks projecting from the wall in form of a plat band; and, in general, any flat broad moulding that serves in a front wall to mark the floors, . Pliny, (pline,) styled THE ELDER (CAIUS PLINIUS SECUND US), an eminent Roman naturalist, B. at Verona, 23 A. D. Originally a pleader in the Forum, he became procurator in Spain under Nero, and enjoyed the favor of Vespas i an. He perished 79 A. D., during that eruption of Mt. Vesuvius (as is supposed) which destroyed the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. His Natural History is esteemed one of the most precious monuments of cla ic erudition extant. - P. (known as THE YOUNGER), (CAIUS PLINIUS CECILIUS SECUND US,) adopted son of the preceding, was B. at Comum, 61 B. c., studied rhetoric under Quintilian, and practised law at Rome. In 103 he became pro-consul of Bithynia. He wrote a Panegyric on Trajan, and Letters (in 10 books); both productions of high value. [s. 716]