Irish Famine
a calamitous scarcity of food that overtook Ireland in 1846. The population of Ireland at the beginning of the year was about 8,000,000. The rural population was dependent largely upon the potato crop for food. Sodden weather brought a blight upon the potato fields in the autumn of 1845 and again in 1846. An appeal for help in food for starving Ireland went out and all Christendom responded. Ship after ship was dispatched from the American shores. Parliament voted sum after sum, but such were the delays of transportation and of distribution in those days that 2,000,000 men, women, and children died before food could reach them. Many thousands, especially the young and vigorous, tramped to seaports and got away. A million immigrants left Ireland for New York during the next four years--the beginning of the great Irish immigration to America. See Famine
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Irish Presbyterian Church
a Presbyterian Church, formerly called the Synod of Ulster, as having its strength mainly within that province of Ireland.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Irish Sea
a body of water lying between the N. of Ireland and the N. of on the N. It is connected with the Atlantic on the N. W. by the North Channel and on the S. by St. George's Channel. Between the coasts of Louth (Ireland) and Lancaster the Irish Sea has a width of 150 miles; its greatest length N. and S. is about the same. Within its boundaries lie the Isle of Man and Anglesey, with Holyhead Island.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Iritis
or IRIDITIS (i-rītis, i-rid-i'tis), an inflammation of the iris, (STAI-DLI-I accompanied by vascularity, change in color and appearance, ce, irregularity and immobility of the pupil, with a visible and varying amount of lymph deposited in, on, and round the iris.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Irkut
a river of Siberia, in the district of Irkutsk, rising in the mountains of Sayansk, near the frontiers miles of China, and after a course of 220 flowing into the Angara at the town of Irkutsk.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Iron Age
in classical mythology, the last of the four great ages of the world described by Hesiod, Ovid, etc. It was supposed to be characterized by abounding oppression, vice, and misery. In scientific archæology, an age, the third in succession, in which weapons and many other implements began to be made of iron, stone having been used for these purposes in the first, and bronze in the second. As the advancement of each tribe or people is not necessarily at the same rate as that of their neighbors, the Iron Age probably did not begin everywhere simultaneously. In Denmark, and perhaps some of the adjacent regions, it may have commenced about the Christian era.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Iron Age, The
The, in Greek mythology, one of the periods of time into which the history of the world was divided. The Iron Age followed the Brazen Age and was the last of the four, or, according to some accounts, the five great ages. In the Iron Age the whole world was given over to crime and misery. Jupiter decided to destroy mankind and start over again with a new and different race. He thought first of burning the world, but, fearing to set heaven also on fire, he decided to send a flood to drown the human family. This he proceeded to do, but Deucalion, a just man, and his good wife, Pyrrha, escaped the waters, and through them the earth was peopled. In archaeology the term iron age is used to designate the period in which iron began to be used for the making of implements and weapons. See Deucalion ; Archaeology ; Hesiod
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Iron Alloys
Very few of the metals alloy with cast iron in such a manner as to be of any practical value to the founder. True, there is a marked difference in the resultant mixture by the addition of alloys, but it does not affect them favorably as a rule. By the addition of a quarter of one per cent of copper, well stirred into the molten iron, a perceptible increase of density may be noticed, and the strength is increased somewhat. Again, if from 10 to 15 per cent of wrought scraps can be successfully mixed with the cast iron after the latter has been melted the same improvements are apparent. Much is claimed for the aluminum fluxes now offered, but any opinion as to their worth would, at this early stage of their application, be premature. See ALLOYS; ALUMINUM; GOLD.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Iron Bark Tree
a name given in Australia to certain species of eucalyptus, and particularly E. resinifera, or red gum, on account of the extreme hardness of the bark.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Iron Carrier, Foundry
The Hayes patent carrier for molten metal is described as follows: There is a continuous overhead track, which runs from the cupola to the extreme end of the floors and return. The floor may be of any length; there is no carrying of iron by hand. On this track ladles of any capacity from four hundred to one thousand pounds may be carried. From these large ladles the iron is poured into smaller ones, into hand-ladles, or larger ladles with double handles. A very unique and simple device is used for pouring the iron into the hand-ladles, so that the moulder need not hold the weight of the hand-ladle while the iron is being poured from the large ladle into the small one. The cupola is not stopped up from the time the iron commences to run until all is out. The very unique arrangement of having a catch-ladle which swings into the stream and catches the flowing iron while the exchange of large ladles is being made, saves all the annoyance around the cupola, and catches all the iron. Moulders never need leave their floors. The iron is brought to them by common laboring men. The apparatus is simple, durable, and so perfectly safe that it frees the foundry from the mishaps that often occur by the old methods of distributing iron.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Iron Cross
a Prussian order, instituted Mar. 10, 1813, by Frederick William III., to be conferred for distinguished services in war. It was made of iron to commemorate the grim "iron" period at which it was created. The decoration consists of a maltese cross of iron, edged with silver, and is worn round the neck or at the buttonhole. The order was revived by William I. in 1870, on the eve of the great war with France. The grand cross, a cross of double the size, is presented exclusively for the gaining of a decisive battle, or the capture or brave defense of a fortress. In the course of the Great War (1914- 18) the Emperor Wilhelm II. awarded Emperor over a hundred thousand crosses to the German troops and officers.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia