Vesuvius
a volcanic mountain in the Bay of Naples; supposed to have been heaved up from the submarine level where it was formed. Besides the shells which indicate its sea origin, it contains erratic blocks of limestone from the higher Apennine offshoot, Monte Somma, which, in an irregular semicircle, surrounds it on the N. and E. The latter was the seat of volcanic activity long before Vesuvius, which first (A. D. 63) became convulsed by earthquakes, repeated at intervals till 79, in which year occurred its earliest known eruption.
VESUVIUS Another memorable outbreak was that of 1822, when the so-called "smoke" from the crater rose to a height of 10,000 feet, emitting flashes of lightning, raining torrents of hot water, and flooding the villages of S. Sebastiano and Massa. In 1855 occurred a terrible eruption, in which the summit of the cone discharged a lava stream which ravaged the fertile and highly cultivated region below. On Dec. 8, 1861, Torre del Greco suffered severely from another visitation, surpassed in turn by that of 1871-1872, when the sudden emission of lava from a crater of 1855 killed 20 spectators on the spot. S. Sebastiano and Massa were again greatly damaged, the cone threw up fragments of rock to a height of 4,000 feet, and the explosions were so loud that the whole countryside fled panic MOUNT VESUVIUS This was followed by others, of which the more memorable are that in 472, when its ashes alighted in Constantinople; in 512, when they were wafted to Tripoli; in 1036; and in 1500; after which ensued a period of inaction, broken in December, 1631, by a destructive outbreak which denuded the mountain of the forest growth with which it had become clothed. The 18th century witnessed many of its eruptions, the most remarkable being that of 1793, when a lava stream 12 to 40 feet thick swept over Torre del Greco and penetrated the sea to a distance of 380 feet, by which time its volume was 1,204 feet wide and 15 feet high. This stream was so liquid that to leave the crater and enter the sea-a journey of 4 miles took only six hours. stricken to Naples. Another outbreak occurred in April, 1906, and endangered several villages with lava streams. From the observations of many years the following characteristics of the volcanic activity of Vesuvius have been summarized by Professor Palmieri: (1) The filling up of the crater portends an imminent eruption, and its full discharge is followed by a period of repose. (2) The narrowing of the mouth of the crater by accumulated debris impedes the flow of the lava, and this impediment leads to the outburst of lateral openings which from their greater proximity to the source of heat emit the lava in a more liquid condition, whereby its flow becomes that of a continuous stream. (3) When the internal channel is blocked by solid débris, the effort of the elastic vapor to clear it is supposed to cause the earthclear it is supposed to cause the earthquakes by which the greater eruptions are preceded and accompanied. (4) What is called "smoke" from the crater is simply steam more or less blackened with incinerated dust. When the dust is in excess it accelerates the fall of the steam, which, having become water by condenture of the visitation in which Pompeii ing the ground. This was a notable feaperished. (5) During an eruption what perished. (5) During an eruption what ter is really the reflection of the molten lava within the crater on the steam and upon the ashes suspended in the steam accumulated above it. (6) The rapid condensing of vapor into water, and the conversion of this into steam, generates electricity, which explains the lightning- effects visible on the edges of the clouds overhanging the crater. Vesuvius is reckoned by geologists the most instructive object lesson on volcanoes in general, and the University of Naples, by an admirable assortment of specimens of its structure, has greatly facilitated its study. Professor Secchi numbers 40 species of minerals found in it, of which augite, hornblende, mica, sodalite, breislakite, magnetic iron, and leucite are the most abundant. The fertility of its slopes, since Martial's famous epigram on the destruction of Pompeii, has passed into a proverb, its chief product being the wine called Lacrima Christi. Its observatory (1844) has acquired a European reputation from the meteorologist Melloni, and still more from his successor, Professor Palmieri, who directed it with equal sagacity, skill and daring from 1854 till his death in 1882. The so-called railway, but rather cable road, from the base to near the summit, was opened in 1880. See PoΜΡΕΙΙ. from the base to near the summit, was a town of Hungary, at the N. end of Platten See; 22 miles W. of Stuhlweisa town of Hungary, at the N. end of cent building of the 14th century, the episcopal palace with the chapel of Queen Gisela, a gymnasium, a college tion. Breweries, corn mills, flannel weaving, spinning, and iron works are the chief industries. The vine is cultivated. Veszprem, which under the Roweaving, spinning, and iron works are once a royal residence. The Hungarians took it in 14 1491, the Turks in 1552, and it was joined to the empire in 1683.
Pop. about 15,000. took it in 1491, the Turks in 1552, and it was joined to the empire in 1683.
Pop. about 15,000.
VETERINARY MEDICINE or diffuse herbs, distributed through temperate regions of the Northern Hemi- Vicia. This genus, belonging to the Pasphere and South America. The comconsists of about 100 species of climbing or diffuse herbs, distributed through temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and South America. The common bean is frequently classed under Vicia as V. Faba. The next most implants, but is only of one or two years' duration; it is important also for green manure, and as a companion crop with tioned. It is one of the best fodder plants, but is only of one or two years' duration; it is important also for green manure, and as a companion crop with clovers. The practice of sowing it along with oats or barley is strongly recommended, insuring a greater bulk of produce, and preventing the crop from massing and rotting in wet weather. V. species of the same group as V. sativa, are all relished by cattle, and some of them are cultivated in southern Europe. are all relished by cattle, and some of species of the same group as V. sativa, them are cultivated in southern Europe.
Twelve species of Vicia (including therebranch of medical science which em- VETERINARY MEDICINE, that branch of medical science which embraces the treatment of diseased dotheir health. It has evidently been practiced from the earliest times; and their health. It has evidently been practiced from the earliest times; and the study of disease in the inferior animals was applied, on comparative printhe study of disease in the inferior ani- For many centuries, human subject. the inferior animals alone were used for purposes of scientific dissection. Among domestic animals, and of the remedial agents applicable to such diseases, was the Greeks, the study of the diseases of directly applied to the practice of medi- cine, and it was compulsory on anyone agents applicable to such diseases, was cine, and it was compulsory on anyone making a new discovery regarding such curative agents, to divulge it for the public good. Physicians were presumed to be acquainted with veterinary medicine, and Hippocrates, the most celebrated physician of early times, wrote a treatise on the curative treatment of horses. Columella and Vegetius, Latin authors, the latter of whom flourished about A. D. 300, wrote books on the subabout A. D. 300, wrote books on the subes, however, veterinbest of all that was previously known. ary medicine was utterly neglected, and In the Middle Ages , desolating plagues swept away nearly the entire herds and flocks of the great epidemics of the Middle Ages countries they visited, precisely as the swept away vast numbers of human provinces of Europe. Indeed, cattle ciples, to the treatment of disease in the Vol. X VETERINARY MEDICINE plagues were not infrequently the forerunners of great epidemics, and though they may have had no connection as cause and effect, they may have had some co-relation, as affecting the food supplies of human beings and ushering in periods of famine, which would give intensity to epidemic diseases.
During the 16th century veterinary medicine became again a subject of study, and the Constantine collection of works were translated from the original Greek into Latin by the order of François I., and from the Latin they were soon afterward translated into Italian, French and German. During the 17th century, the more important works which appeared were Fiarchi's Italian treatise on "Horsemanship," and the "Infermita e Suoi Remedii, del Signor Carlo Ruini," published in Venice, in 1618. In 1654 the "Grand Marêschal François" was published; and, toward the close of the century, the elaborate work of Sollysel. In Great Britain, Blundeville and Gervase Markham published works on farriery; and Snape, farrier to Charles II., published an anatomical treatise on the horse, his plates being copied from those of Ruini.
The 18th century produced numerous authors on veterinary medicine, more especially in France, an impetus having been given to the study by the establishment in 1761, under royal patronage, of the Veterinary Seminary at Lyon under Professor Bourgelat. In 1766 another school was opened at Alfort, near Charenton; and others were subsepelier, and in almost every European quently opened at Strassburg and Montcity of note, as Vienna, Dresden, Leipsic, uropean Berlin, Copenhagen, Prague, Munich, Hanover, Naples, London, etc. In 1754 La Fosse, a contemporary of Bourgelat, published his numerous memoirs in one volume, which was soon afterward translated into most of the European languages. George I., The most celebrated French writers of the beginning of the 19th century were Chabert, Flandrin, Gilbert, Vicq-d'-Azyr, and Huzard. In the reign reign of Georg Sollysel's work was translated from the French into English by Sir William Hope; and about the middle of the 18th century, Gibson who was formerly surgeon to a regiment of cavalry published his treatise on farriery, the best which had then appeared in the English language. The other writers of this period are Bracken, Bartlet, and Osmer, who had been educated as medical practitioners.
In 1791 the Veterinary College of London was instituted under the presidency VETO of the Duke of Northumberland. In Queen Victoria's reign a charter was granted to the veterinary body at large, forming a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, empowered to examine candidates and grant diplomas. In 1819 the first course of lectures on the subject in Scotland was delivered by Mr. Dick, and a systematic course under the auspices of the Highland and Agricultural Society and the Senatus Academicus of Edinburgh in 1823. At his death, in 1866, Mr. Dick bequeathed to the city of Edinburgh his entire fortune, to be devoted to the teaching and improvement of veterinary medicine. In 1857 Mr. John Gamgee established a new veterinary college in Edinburgh; and since 1861 a veterinary school has been conducted in Glasgow by In the United States James McCall. there are some 22 schools of veterinary medicine, with about 400 instructors and over 3,000 students. Most of these are connected with well-known colleges and universities.