Virgo
in astronomy, the Virgin: (1) One of the 12 ancient zodiacal constellations. It is bounded on the N. by Santiago de Cuba, and landed in safety VIRGO, in astronomy, the Virgin: by Corvus, Crater, and Hydra. Its principal star, Alpha Virginis, is called Spica Virginis, or simply Spica. It is in the hand of the imaginary virgin which holds VIRUS ears of corn, typifying the harvest which took place in Greece while the sun passed through this part of the ecliptic. sun enters it about Aug. 23, and leaves it about Sept. 23. (2) The sixth sign of the zodiac. The the Lusitanians, or ancient inhabitants of Portugal, in their struggle for indeof the survivors of his countrymen's the Lusitanians, or ancient inhabitants sun enters it about Aug. 23, and leaves VIRIATHUS, the shepherd leader of pendence against the Romans; was one tania and southern Hispania a success- Thenceforward he carried on in Lusi- massacre by Sulpicius Galba (150 B. c.). of the survivors of his countrymen's ful guerrilla warfare against a succespendence against the Romans; was one sion of Roman proconsuls, winning two pitched battles, and in 141 entrapping massacre by Sulpicius Galba (150 в. c.). the army of Quintus Fabius Servilianus in a mountain pass. Unconditional surrender was followed by alliance and a promise of independence; but within a again took the field, and bribing some Lusitanian envoys, procured the assasdeath the conflict virtually ended. sination of Viriathus (139), with whose promise of independence; but within a a term used in medicine to designate the more specially designates those peculiar themselves under favoring conditions to materies morbi of zymotic diseases. It VIRUS (Latin, "a poisonous fluid"), cobra is a specific virus which, when introduced into the human system, acts poisonous matters which can reproduce is not multiplied within the human subject, and one person affected by the an endless degree. The poison of the to another. In like manner, morbid products from decaying vegetables under as a most virulent poison; but the poison troduced into the human system, acts poison cannot communicate the disease ject, and one person affected by the is not multiplied within the human sub- as a most virulent poison; but the poison rial fever; but the virus is not propagated within the human organism, or, at all events, never in such a form as to render it capable of producing the same the contagious or infectious diseases is animatum, the theory being that the virus consists of living beings or low ordisease in others. By some the virus of render it capable of producing the same all events, never in such a form as to gated within the human organism, or, at rial fever; but the virus is not propa- Reaumur, supposed to be a contagium vivum seu others; and although the theory of a which has ever engaged the attention of disease in others. By some the virus of contagium vivum is not as yet complete, the discussion of it is the most important mur, Linné, né, Henle, Roberts, and men. characteristic of each specific virus is that it can reproduce itself within the human organism, and to an unlimited extent, each virus preserving its own medical specificness. Experience and observawhich has ever engaged the attention of the discussion of it is the most important contagium vivum is not as yet complete, others; and although the theory of a Reaumur, Linné, Henle, Roberts, and The most prominent VISAYAS each specific disease breeds true, though, in the course of 1,000 years, it is possible that the changes within certain limits may take place, as is the case in animals and plants. The natural conclusion follows that diseases of this class do not originate spontaneously, but are propagated each from its own kind, though some contend that they do not originate, even in our own day, spontaneously or autochthonously. Another remarkable peculiarity belonging to many, but not to all, diseases propagated by a specific virus, is that a single attack of the disease successfully surmounted produces absolute or relative immunity for a certain length of time, or even for the remainder of life. See BACTERIA.