Baquet
A large circular tub which entered largely into the treatment which D'Eslon, the friend and follower of Mesmer, prescribed for his patients. Puységur tells us in his book Du Magnétisme Animal, that in the baquet were placed some bottles, arranged in a particular manner, and partly covered with water. It was fitted with a lid in which were several holes, through which passed iron Bassantin rods, connecting the patients, who sat round the contrivance, with the interior of the tub. The operator was armed with a shorter iron rod. While the patients waited for the symptoms of the magnetic treatment, someone played upon a pianoforte, a device which is frequently adopted at séances. The symptoms included violent convulsions, cries, laughter, and vomiting. This state they called the crisis, and it was supposed to hasten the healing process. A commission appointed in 1784 by the French government through the Faculté de Médecine and the Societé royale de Médecine, reported that such practiceswere exceedingly dangerous, and in nowise proved the existence of the magnetic fluid. Dı. Bell a "professor of animal magnetism" set up a similar institution in England in 1785, using a large oak baquet.
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Bar Association
AMERICAN, an organization formed for the purpose of advancing the science of jurisprudence, promoting the administration of justice, securing uniformity of legislation, and upholding the honor of the legal profession. The National association has affiliated associations in most of the States. Meetings are held annually in which jurists and lawyers present subjects relating to the purposes of the association. There are about 11,000 active and 15 honorary members. The State Bar Associations number 38.
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Bar Harbor
a popular summer resort in Hancock co., Me.; on the E. shore of Mt. Desert Island, and opposite Porcupine Islands. It derives its name from a sandy bar which connects Mt. Desert with the largest of the Porcupine group. The village is known locally as East Eden. The surrounding scenery is very pleasing, and within a short distance are many points of interest readily accessible to the tourist. Among are the summit of Green Mountain, Eagle Lake, Mt. Newport, Kebo, The Ovens, Great and Schooner Heads, Spouting Horn, Thunder Cave, and Eagle Cliff.
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Bar Movement
A watch movement having no top plate, but in lieu thereof are bars, in which the upper pivots are carried. This is a favorite form among Swiss watch manufacturers and is used largely in Jurgenson and other fine repeaters. See Fig. 30.
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Bar-Le-Duc
a city in France, the capital of the department of Meuse. It is on the Ornain river and the Marne canal, about 160 miles E. of Paris. Among other notable buildings are a 15th century church, the city hall, a commercial museum, a library, and the ater. The city suffered severely during the World War. Prior to that time it had important manufactures, including cotton and woolen mills, breweries, paper mills, foundries, etc. Pop. about 20,000.
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Barabbas
noted robber in a Christ's time, who was imprisoned and awaiting death for the crimes of sedition and murder. It was a custom of the Roman government, for the sake of conciliating the Jews, to release one Jewish prisoner, whom they might choose at the yearly Passover. Pilate desired thus to release Jesus, but the Jews demanded Barabbas (Matt. xxvii:16-26).
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Baraboo
city and county-seat of Sauk co., Wis.; on the Baraboo river and the Chicago and Northwestern railroad; 40 miles N. W. of Madison. It is in an agricultural region; has important manufacturing interests, which are promoted by an excellent water power; is a noted fruit center; and has National
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Barataria Bay
in the S. E. part of Louisiana, extending N. from the Gulf of Mexico, between the parishes of Jefferson and Plaquemine. This bay is about 15 miles long by 6 wide. It and the lagoons branching out of it were rendered notorious about the years 1810- 1814 as being both the headquarters and rendezvous of the celebrated Lafitte and his buccaneers.
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Barbacan
or BARBICAN, a projecting watch tower, or other advanced rk, before the gate of a castle or work, fortified town. The term barbacan was more especially applied to the outwork intended to defend the drawbridge, which in modern fortifications is called the tête du pont or bridge head.
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Barbacena
a flourishing town of Brazil, in the state of Minas Geraes, 125 miles N. W. of Rio de Janeiro. It is situated in the Mantiqueira Mountains, about 3,500 feet above the sea. Pop. about 6,000.
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Barbados
bar-ba'doz, an island of the West Indies . It belongs to the United Kingdom . It lies at the eastern entrance to the Caribbean Sea and is the headquarters for British troops in the West Indies. The entire area is about 166 square miles. The population is 196,000. The capital is Bridgetown with 35,000 people. About 100,000 acres are under cultivation, planted chiefly with sugarcane. The island is well provided with churches, schools, and courts. There are well built wagon roads, telephone lines, and one narrow gauge railway, twenty-one miles in length. The little island publishes several newspapers, including three dailies. The exports are sugar, rum, petroleum for fuel, vegetables, and fish.
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Barbara Frietchie
a juvenile poem by John G. Whittier, written in 1863. The poem is based on an incident supposed to have occurred at Frederick, Maryland, during the Civil War. Doubt has been expressed by many as to the truth of the story. Lossing, none too accurate, in his Pictorial History of the War, accepts it as fact. The poem is partisan. Terms are used that Whittier would have avoided when the years of strife were over, but the lines are spirited and give credit for character on both sides of the contest. Early in September, 1862, General Lee swept into Frederick City on the march that led to Antietam: Forty flags with their silver stars, Forty flags with their crimson bars, Flapped in the morning wind; the sun Of noon looked down, and saw not one. Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then, Bowed with her fourscore years and ten; Bravest of all in Frederick town, She took up the flag the men hauled down; In her attic-window the staff she set, To show that one heart was loyal yet.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia