Drachmann
HOLGER (dräch' man), a Danish poet, painter, and novelist; born in Copenhagen, Oct. 9, 1846. His works show a lively fancy and excel in descriptions of the life of the common people, especially fishermen and mariners. His "Poems" appeared in 1872. His novels include "Condemned," "Once Upon a Time," and "Sea Tales." His best known painting is "From Hamburg Harbor," which was presented by the Danes in Hamburg to the King and Queen of Denmark. Drachmann visited the United States in 1898. He died Jan. 13, 1908.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Draconites
otherwise dentrites, draconius, or obsianus, is described by Albertus Magnus as a shining black stone of pyramidal figure. It is not very easy to obtain, as it must be taken out of the head of a dragon, cut off while the beast is still panting. It subdues all sorts of poison, and endows its possessor with invincible courage. The kings of the East esteemed it a great treasure.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Dracontium
a genus of Orontiaceæ. D. polyphyllum is an antispasmodic and an expectorant. It grows in India, Japan, etc. The American skunk cabbage was formerly referred to this genus; it is now called Symplocarpus fœtidus.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dracut
a town of Massachusetts, Middlesex co. in It is the center of an important agricultural region and its industries include woolen mills. Pop. (1910) 3,461; (1920) 5,280.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Drago
LUIS MARIA, an Argentine . He lawyer was born at Buenos Aires, 1859, and was educated at the university of that city. He practiced law and became a judge at Buenos Aires, afterward being elected to Congress. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs under President Roca, and while in that position sent to the Argentine Minister in Washington the instructions known as the Drago Doctrine (1902). He was Argentine delegate to the Second Peace Conference and was one of the arbitrators nominated by agreement between Great Britain and the United States for the hearing of differences regarding fisheries off the North Atlantic coast. His works include: "La Literatura del Slang"; " La Idea del Derecho"; "Cobro Coercitivo de Deudas Publicas," etc.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dragon's Blood
in botany a wingleaved, slender-stemmed palm, similar in habit to that which furnishes the chair It is a native of Sumatra and canes. other Malayan islands. The fruits, which grow in bunches, are about the size of a cherry, and are covered with imbricating scales of a red color, coated with a resinous substance, which is collected by placing the fruits in a bag and shaking them; the friction loosens the resin, which is then formed into sticks or cakes, and constitutes the best dragon's blood of commerce. In commerce, sanguis draconis, a resin, so called on account of its red color. It exudes from various trees, either spontaneously or from incisions. There are three kinds in commerce: (1) East Indian dragon's-blood, which is found on the ripe fruits and leaves of several palms of the genus Calamus viz., C. rotang, C. draco and C. Petrœus; (2) American, obtained from incisions in Pterocarpus draco, indigenous to the West Indies; and (3) Canary dragon'sblood from 'Dracena draco. Dragon'sblood is dark-red brown, opaque, tasteless, scentless, and brittle. When pure it dissolves with a fine red color in alcohol and in ether, and in oils both fixed and volatile; alkalies also dissolve it more or less completely. Nitric acid oxidizes dragon's-blood, forming oxalic acid, but dilute nitric acid heated with the resin, yields nitrobenzoic acid. Dragon's-blood is used for coloring varnishes, for preparing gold lacquers, for tooth tinctures, and for giving a fine red color to marble.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dragon's Head
a genus of Labiatæ, common in gardens, so called from the form of its corolla.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dragon's Mouth
a popular name for antirrhinum, generally replaced in common usage by that of snap-dragon. DRAGON TREE. See DRACÆNA.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dragonet
a genus of spiny-rayed fishes bony near the Goby, remarkable for having the gill openings reduced to a small hole on each side of the and the ventral fins placed under the nape, throat, separate , and larger than the pectorals. The species are numerous, widely dis distributed in the temperate of the Old World, and generally finely seas colored. The gemmeous dragonet (C. lyra) of the British coasts-called gowdie ( gowd, "gold") in Scotland-is a fish about 10 or 12 inches long, and of a prevailing yellow color varied with spots of brown. At the reproductive season the male becomes very gorgeously adorned with blue and violet spots and This fish is also called skulpin or sculpin stripes. -a name given in the United States to a marine bullhead or cottus.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dragoon
a kind of mounted soldier, so called originally from his musket (dragon) having on the muzzle of it the head of a dragon. At one time dragoons served both as mounted and foot soldiers, but now only as the former. In the British army there are heavy and light dragoons. The first dragoon regiment, the Scots Greys, was formed in 1681.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dragoon Bird
same as umbrella bird.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Drain
A hole sunk beneath a mould in the pit when there is danger of water accumulating there. A well can be sunk some distance away, into which the water will flow, to be expelled by means of a pump. Cinder-beds may be made to answer as drains by laying them on a slant and providing a well at their lowest point for the water to collect in. See CINDER-BED. Dram is the same as drachm. The avoirdupois dram is equivalent to 27 1/3 1/2 grains troy; the apothecaries' dram is equivalent to 60 grains troy.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Drainage Tubes
in surgery, are an important addition to the surgical appliances for which this profession is indebted to a distinguished French surgeon, M. Chassaignac. They are composed of india-rubber, from one-eighth to threeeighths inch in diameter, perforated with numerous holes, and of various lengths. They are especially useful in chronic abscesses, but also in large wounds. navigator, born in Tavistock, in Devon-
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Drake University
a coeducational institution in Des Moines, Ia.; founded in 1891, under the auspices of the Christian Church; reported at the end of 1919: Professors and instructors, 60; students, 1,460; president, Arthur Holmes.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Drama League of America
an organization founded in 1910 at Evanston, Ill. The purpose of the League is to encourage the production of highclass drama by educating the public and by pledging the support of its members to plays approved by the organization. This latter takes the form of assuring the author support for the first ten days of the showing. The idea being that of giving the play a good introduction to the public. In addition to these steps the League issues a bulletin which it sends to all of its members, listing the good plays which are playing in their city and giving some idea of their general nature. The poor plays are not attacked, they are just ignored. The organization has had a rapid development and now has members in most of the cities in the United States.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia