Bloodroot
a noticeable woodland flower of early spring. The white petals fall off soon after they come out. A large kidney-shaped leaf springs up beside each flower stalk. The leaves, flower stalks, and root-stocks are charged with a yellowish red juice that oozes out wherever they are broken. The blossom makes a handsome starry appearance above the dead leaves. In spite of its disagreeable juice it is endeared to children. "Bloodroots are out," is always hailed as an announcement of the happy flower season and of rambles in the woods. The bloodroot is a member of the poppy family. It is found only in the eastern United States and Canada. The plant has valuable medicinal qualities allied to those of opium. See Poppy
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Bloody Assizes
those held in England, by Judge Jeffreys, in 1685, after the suppression of Monmouth's rebellion. Upward of 300 persons were executed after short trials; very many were whipped, imprisoned and fined; and nearly 1,000 were sent as slaves to the American plantations.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bloody Mary
an epithet popularly applied to Mary, Queen of England, on account of the persecutions of the Protestants during her reign.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bloom
a lump of puddled iron, which leaves the furnace in a rough state, to be subsequently rolled into the bars or other material into which it may be desired to convert the metal. Also a lump of iron made directly from the ore by a furnace called a bloomery.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bloomer Costume
a fanciful fashion of women's dress. It was introduced about the year 1849 by Mrs. Amelia Jenks Bloomer, editor of a woman's rights journal, at Seneca Falls, New York . It consisted of a jacket with close sleeves, a skirt falling a little below the knee, and a pair of Turkish trousers secured by bands at the ankles. This form of dress was adopted with a view to freeing woman from the inconvenience of skirts, but it was ridiculed so universally, both in this country and in Europe, that it was never adopted to any considerable extent. As the result of the movement for reformed dress, however, the short walking skirt that clears the sidewalk was adopted. It also prepared the way for the bicycle costume now worn by women with so much comfort. The present gymnasium suit worn by women is practically a bloomer costume.
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Bloomfield
a township in Essex co., N. J., on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western and the Erie railroads, the Morris canal, and trolley lines connecting with Newark, the Oranges, Jersey City, and other cities; 10 miles N. W. of New York. It was founded in 1685 under the name of Watsessing and received its present name from Gen. Joseph Bloomfield in 1796. It is the seat of a German Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Mountainside Hospital; contains the residences of many New York business men; and is engaged in the manufacture of church and cabinet organs, woolen goods, hats, shoes, rubber goods, tissue and photographic paper, saddlery, hardware, electric elevators, and a variety of brass goods. It has 4 banks and newspapers. Pop. (1910) 15,070; (1920) 22,019.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bloomington
city and county-seat of McLean co., Ill.; on several important railroads; 60 miles N. N. E. of Springfield. It is the seat of the Illinois Wesleyan University (Methodist Episcopal), a Roman Catholic College, two hospitals, four sanitariums, and the general offices of the Chicago and Alton railroad. The Illinois State Normal University and the State Soldiers' Orphans' Home are located at Normal, two miles from the city. Bloomington has electric light and street railway plants, waterworks supplied from an artesian well, public library, National banks, railroad ma manufactories of machinery, shops, and shops, and stoves, farming implements, patent medicines, brick and tile, etc. Pop. (1910) 25,763; (1920) 28,725.
city and county-seat of Monroe co., Ind.; on the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville, and the Indianapolis Southern railroads: 60 miles S. S. W. of Indianapolis. It is in a limestone and quarrying region; is the seat of the Indiana State University; and besides its farming and quarrying interests has important manufacturing concerns, especially in the lines of leather and hardware. The city has the Monroe County Library, a National bank, and several daily and weekly periodicals. Pop. (1910) 8,838; (1920) 11,595.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bloomsburg
a town and countyseat of Columbia co., Pa.; on the Susquehanna river, the Pennsylvania canal, and several railroads; 40 miles W. of Wilkesbarre. It is in an iron and limestone region; contains a number of iron furnace foundries, silk mills, brass and copper tube works, furniture and desk factories, carpet factories, etc.; is the seat of the State Normal School and a literary institute. Pop. (1910) 7,413; (1920) 7,819.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Blouet
PAUL (blö-ā'), (MAX O'- RELL), a French_lecturer and author, born in Brittany, France, March 2, 1848. During his early life he was an officer of cavalry in the French army, but in 1873 went to England and became a teacher. After the publication of his first book, "John Bull and His Island" (1883), he devoted himself to literature. He made several lecturing tours of the United States. His works include "John Bull and His Daughters" Daughters" (1884); "Jonathan and His Continent" (1888, with Jack Allyn); "A Frenchman in America" (1891), etc. He died May 25, 1902.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Blow-Fly
the name popularly given to such two-winged flies as deposit eggs in the flesh of animals, thus making tumors arise. Several species of calliphora do this, so do breeze flies, etc.
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Blow-holes
Another name for blisters, but more correctly meaning such holes as are further removed from the surface, or, perhaps, entire holes from the surface down; while a blister is so called because of the thin skin of metal which covers the hole. See BLISTER; VENTING; PASTE.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Blow-Pipe
Important: Safety Warning
This page describes practices involving highly flammable materials in ways that create a serious risk of fire or explosion.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
A tapering metal tube, used to direct the flame from a lamp or gas jet upon an article for soldering, annealing and similar purposes. Fig. 36 shows the automatic hand blow-pipe, which is used in connection with the foot-blower. One of the rubber tubes shown is connected to the blower and the other to the gas supply. It is self-adjusting, for both gas and air, requiring only a slight motion of the ever, shown under the thumb, to obtain instantly any flame from the smallest to the largest. Fig. 37 shows Poppen's patent soldering blow-pipe lamp. In this lamp the flame is made by igniting the fumes of the gasoline contained in the can and forced through the pipe, as shown in the illustration. Flame can be made any size. Unscrew top A, fill can one quarter with gasoline (this fluid gives best results), handle same as an ordinary blow-pipe. Blowing through pipe B causes the fluid in C to bubble, which separates the fumes from the fluid and at the same time forces them through pipe D to outlet E, then light wick at pipe G. For a small flame insert pin F in outlet E, which is also inserted to preserve the strength of fluid while the blow pipe is not in use.
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler