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Ptolemy (CLAUDIUS a celebrated)

CLAUDIUS, a celebrated astronomer and geographer, who flourished at Alexandria, about A. D. 140-160. He is considered the first astronomer of antiquity. He corrected Hipparchus' catalogue of the fixed stars, and formed tables by which the motions of the sun, moon and planets might be calculated and regulated. He was the first who collected the scattered and detached observations made by the ancients, and digested them into a system; system; this he called the "Great Construction." (See struction" was translated by the Ara- PUBLIC UTILITIES bians into their language about 827, and from this translation, which bears the title of "Almagest," a Latin version, totaled over 400, and hospitals have been established both on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, on the coasts of the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and in other struction" was translated by the Ara- 1871 the bureau was brought more in bians into their language about 827, touch with the Treasury Department and and from this translation, which bears the title of "Almagest," a Latin version, was made by command of the Emperor Frederick II., in 1230. increased till the number of surgeons has was established on a broader basis under a surgeon-general with headquarters in Washington. The staff was gradually the relief stations 120. In the year pre- vious the bureau distributed close on

1,500,000 pamphlets and similar pieces In 1914 the hospitals numbered 24, and of literature dealing with matters of cadaveric poison. places in the more recent possessions. loidal nature, closely allied to the vege- Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and in other table alkaloids; About 150 varieties of ptomaines are a been established both on the Atlantic and known, some being harmless, others very the relief stations 120. In the year preused to denote a writer on current undergo changes that render them harmful, and especially is this so with mussels, clams, oysters, fish, meat, sausage, milk, ice-cream, cheese and canned goods.

These changes are due to the presence of ptomaines. Heat will destroy the ptomaine bacteria, but their poison is not eliminated by cooking. See BACTERIA. PTOSIS, in pathology, a falling; as eliminated by cooking. See BACTERIA.