The Meta-Encyclopedia

Single-source entries: E (12)

Each of these 14 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.

Electrobiology

A mode of producing hypnotism by looking steadily at metallic discs. The process was discovered about the middle of last century, and its fame spread by numerous lecturers in England and America.

Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism

Electrolysis

the decomposition of chemical compounds by electricity. This word is one of the many that have come into common use since electricity has every-day played so important a part in eve affairs, and means the condition which causes decomposition of gas and water pipes buried near the wires of electric railroads. As long ago as 1833 it was discovered that the earth could be used as a part of a circuit to carry electric currents, and until the introduction of electric cars the earth was almost wholly depended upon for the return current required by telephone and telegraph apparatus. Now the best telephone circuits have carefully insulated wires for the return current. The interference with the telegraph is much less than with the telephone from this cause. When electricity passes through moist earth it causes the decomposition of the water and the formation of oxygen and hydrogen gases. The oxygen, reaching metallic pipes, causes oxidation and ultimate destruction. The time required is, of course, wholly dependent upon the conditions, such as the volume of the current, the size of the conductor, and the amount of oxygen liberated.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Electrotype

A cast of metal upon a mould by galvanic action. A wax impression of the type or engraving is coated with black lead, washed with solution of sulphate of copper, and dusted with iron-filings, which leaves a film of copper on the surface, after which it is suspended in a bath of: sulphate of copper 2, sulphuric acid 1, water to stand it at 140 deg. Beaume, and connected with the negative electrode of a battery. The sulphate of copper is decomposed when the circuit is closed, the metallic copper going to the negative plate, which is the plumbago-mould. The deposit or shell is afterwards backed with molten type-metal. See STEREOTYPE; TYPE.

Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding

Electrum

Amber is the subject of some curious legends under this name, but there is also a metallic electrum, known to the French in modern times as Orbas . A cup of this metal, according to Pliny, has the property of discovering poison, by exhibiting certain semi-circles like rainbows in the liquor, which it also keeps sparkling and hissing as if on the fire. A black species of electrum or amber is the proper gargates of Pliny, and the jet of the present day. The occult virtues of electrum are of the tell-tale character.

Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism

Elegy

a variety of lyric poetry which is expressive of grief. The elegy is called forth usually by the death of some individual; but serious reflection upon mortality is also the theme of elegies. Gray's Elegy in a Country Churchyard, Milton's Lycidas, Shelley's Adonais, and Tennyson's In Memoriam are the most noted elegies in the English language. See Poetry

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia

Elemi

gum resins derived from various trees. The American or Brazilian elemi is from Icica Icicariba, the Mexican from Elaphrium elemiferum, and the Eastern or Manila from Canarium commune. In commercial parlance, a brownish yellow resin, from a species of elemi, used to mix with spirit and turpentine varnishes to prevent their cracking as they dry. Distilled with water it yields a transparent colorless oil, which boils at 166°. In pharmaceutical use elemi has an odor like fennel, and a bitter, aromatic taste. It is used to form Unguentum elemi, ointment of elemi, which is applied as a topical stimulant.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Elephant Apple

a tree that grows in India. It is of the orange tribe, and is large and handsome, with pinnate leaves and a large gray fruit with a very hard rind.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Elephant Hawk-Moth

an insect with upper wings olive-brown inclining to olive green, with purpletinged, rose-red markings, a white margin and spot, and a red fringe. Under wings dusky at the base, and reddishpurple posteriorly, with a pure white fringe. The caterpillar feeds on the willowherbs, the vine, etc. The small ele- AFRICAN ELEPHANT phant hawk-moth is one of the smallest species of the genus, being usually but 20 lines long.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Elephant Seal

the proboscis seal, or sea-elephant, the largest of the seal family. There are probably two species, one found only on the coast of California and western Mexico, the other found in Patagonia, Kerguelen Island, Heard's Island, and other parts of the Southern Seas. They vary in length from 12 to 30 feet, and in girth at the chest from 8 to 18 feet. The proboscis of the male is about 15 inches long, but elongates under excitement. The females have no proboscis, and are considerably smaller than the male.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Elephant's Ear

a name sometimes given to plants of the genus Begonia. 1

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Elephanta

an island over 4 miles in circuit, in the harbor of Bombay, 6 miles E. of the city, and 4 miles from the mainland. It owed its European name to a large figure of an elephant which stood near its former landingplace, but which, after 1814, gradually sank into a shapeless mass. Of the island's far-famed Brahmanic rockcaves, four are complete, or nearly so; the most important is the Great Temple, still used by the Hindus on Sivaite festivals. The word is also used to designate the thunder storm that marks the end of the rainy season in the region around Bombay, India.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Elephantiasis

a cutaneous disease, especially prevalent in Egypt. It is so called from its likeness to an elephant's hide.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Elephantine

a small island of Egypt, in the Nile, opposite Assuan. It is covered with ruins piled on each other-Egyptian, Roman, Saracen, and Arabic, the most important being a gateway of the time of Alexander, a small temple dedicated to Khnum and founded by Amenophis II., and the ancient Nilometer mentioned by Strabo. The island gave the 5th dynasty to Egypt.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Eleusinia

A great festival observed by the Lacedaemonians, Cretans, and others every fourth year, and by the people of Athens every fifth year, at Eleusis in Attica , where it was introduced by Eumolpus, в. C. 1356. It was the most celebrated of all the religious ceremonies of Greece. The term Mysteries is often applied to it. The expression Eleusinian mysteries, as applied to anything that is inexplicable, has become proverbial.

Only in 1000 Classical Characters