Atrophy
a wasting of the flesh due to some interference with the nutritive processes. It may arise from a variety of causes, such as permanent, oppressive and exhausting passions, organic disease, a want of proper food or of pure air. In old age the whole frame except the heart undergoes atrophic change, and it is of frequent occurrence in infancy as a consequence of improper, unwholesome food, exposure to cold, damp or impure air, etc. Single organs or parts of the body may be affected irrespective of the general state of nutrition. line alkaloid obtained from the deadly
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Atropin
or ATROPINE, a crystalnightshade (atropa belladonna). It is very poisonous and produces persistent dilation of the pupil.
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Attalea
a genus of American palms, comprising the piassava palm, which produces coquilla nuts.
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Attalus
the names of three kings of ancient Pergamus, 241- 133 b. c., the last of whom bequeathed his kingdom to the Romans. They were all patrons of art and literature.
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Attar
or OTTO, OF ROSES (oil of roses), an essential oil obtained from the etals of three species of roses, viz., rosa petals centifolia, moschata and damascena. The rose gardens of Ghazipur, in India, have long been famed for the production of this precious liquid. These gardens are large fields, planted with rows of small rose bushes. The blossoms, which unfold in the morning, are all gathered before noon, and their petals are at once transferred to clay stills, and distilled with twice their weight of water. The rose water which comes over is placed in shallow vessels covered with moist muslin to exclude dust, and exposed all night to the cool air. In the morning the thin film of oil which has collected on the top is carefully swept off with a feather and transferred to a small vial. This process is repeated morning after morning, till nearly the whole of the oil is separated from the water. Attar is also imported from Syria, Persia, Turkey, and Bulgaria. It is frequently adulterated with spermaceti and a volatile oil, which appears to be derived from one or more species of andropogon, and which is called oil of gingergrass, or oil of geranium. Pure attar of rose, carefully distilled, is at first colorless, but speedily becomes yellowish. It congeals below 80°; melts at 84°. ATTENTION. See PSYCHOLOGY.
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Attar of Roses
a fragrant oil obtained from the petals of roses. The fragrance of a rose is due to microscopic globules of oil that evaporate freely. Attar is combustible. A district near Benares, India, is famous for rose gardens. Attar of roses is extensively produced near Damascus and in Cashmere. It is a favorite perfume of the wealthy Turks, Persians, and Hindus. The attar requires so many roses that it is exceedingly expensive. Some 400,000 roses are required to produce an ounce of pure attar worth perhaps $80 or $100. Only a few of the cultivated varieties of roses are used in producing the oil. During the season the roses are gathered daily. Buds that open in the morning are picked before the midday sun dissipates the fragrance. The fragrant portions of roses are put into a closed still, and are boiled in water,--in a teakettle with a tight lid, as it were. The minute globules of fragrant oil in the petals are broken up and the oil escapes with the steam through a pipe into another receptacle, where, on the steam cooling, the oil floats on the water and may be poured off into small vials for shipment. The water the petals are boiled in also retains a part of the fragrant oil and may be sold as rose water. See Perfumes
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Attic Bee
an epithet applied in ancient times to Sophocles, on account of the sweetness and beauty of his writings. For a somewhat different view, see article on SOPHOCLES.
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Attic Mysteries
(See Mysteries ). Attwood, Mrs. : The author of a work entitled, A Suggestive Inquiry with the Hermetic Mystery, published anonymously at London, in 1850. Owing to the circumstance that it was supposed to have revealed certain alchemical secrets, it was shortly afterwards withrdawn from circulation.
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Atticus
TITUS POMPONIUS (at' ēkus), a noble Roman, the contemporary of Cicero and Cæsar. He displayed such address and tact that, during the war between Cæsar and Pompey, he managed to remain neutral; sent money to the son of Marius, while he secured the attachment of Sylla; and, when Cicero and Hortensius were rivals, was equally intimate with both. When young, he resided at Athens. He was an author and poet, and reached the age of 77, without sickness. When at last he became ill, he refused all nourishment, and, therefore, ended his life by voluntary starvation. Died 32 b. c. He was a disciple of Epicurus.
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Attleboro
a town in Bristol co., Mass., on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad; 32 miles S. W. of Boston. It was incorporated in 1694; contains nearly a dozen villages; and is principally engaged in the manufacture of jewelry, watches and clocks, silverware, hats, buttons, and cotton and woolen goods. It has a National bank, high school, public library, and daily newspapers. Pop. (1910) 16,215; (1920) 19,731.
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Attorney
a person appointed to do something for and in the stead and name of another. An attorney may have general powers to act for another; or, his power may be special, and limited to a particular act or acts. A special attorney is appointed by a deed called a power or letter of attorney, specifying the acts which he is authorized to do. An attorney at law is a person qualified to appear for another before a court of law to prosecute or defend any action on behalf of his client. The rules and qualifications, whereby one is authorized to practice as an attorney in any court are very different in different countries, and in the different courts of the same country.
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Attucks
CRISPUS, a mulatto or half-breed Indian, born about 1720; was a leader of the crowd of people, who, on March 5, 1770, provoked the British soldiers in Boston to open fire, which resulted in the death of Attucks and others and created the incident known as the Boston massacre. The British officer of the day and six of his men were tried for murder and acquitted by a jury.
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