Magic Circle
a circle invented by Franklin, founded on the same principles and possessing similar properties with the magic square of squares.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: M (11)
These 13 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Magic Circle, Magic Darts, Magical Union of Cologne.
Magic Darts
The Laplanders, who passed at one time for great magicians, were said to launch lead darts, about a finger-length, against their absent enemies, believing that with the magic darts they were sending grevious pains and maladies. (See Magic.)
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Magical Union of Cologne
A society stated in a MS. of the Rosicrucians at Cologne to have been founded in that city in the year 1115. In the Rosenkreutzer in seiner blosse of Weise it is stated that the initiates wore a triangle as symbolising power, wisdom and love. The more exalted orders among them were called Magos, and these held the greater mysteries of the fraternity.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Maginot, Adele
One of the mediums whose trance utterances have been recorded by the French spiritualist Alphonse Cahagnet, who published his Arcanes de la vie future devoilés in 1848. Her séances, of which Cahagnet strove to obtain a written account from as many as possible of those present, are among the most valuable evidence which spiritualism can produce. Her descriptions of absent or deceased friends of the sitters were singularly accurate, though her supposed conversations with their spirits would appear to be fictitious. At the least her séances are excellent examples of telepathic communication.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Magnesia
in mineralogy, the same as periclase. Used as a drug, if administered in small doses, magnesia acts as an antacid; if in quantity beyond what is necessary to neutralize acids in the stomach, it passes undigested into the intestines, and may form concretions. The salts of magnesia are purgatives. It is given as a lithontriptic, from its power of dissolving uric acid, and in gouty diseases.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Magnesian Limestone
a limestone composed of carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesia, the proportion of the latter sometimes being nearly 50 per cent. It effervesces much more slowly with acids than common limestone (carbonate of lime). It is sometimes earthy, sometimes hard and compact. One variety of it is DOLOMITE (q. v.).
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Magnesite
a widely occurring mineral, consisting of magnesium carbonate, MgCO3. It is mined in California, British Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Washington, Quebec, India, Austria, and Greece. It occurs in three forms-crys- forms talline, massive, and earthy, the two latter being white in color and frequently mixed with other magnesium salts. Its principal use is in the manufacture of refractory linings for furnaces and retorts, and for this purpose it is of great value in the cement and metallurgical industries. It is also used in the preparation of Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) and other salts of magnesium. A strong cement is made by mixing calcined magnesite with chloride of magnesium. Other uses are in the manufacture of paper and pigments and for heat insulation. MAGNESIUM (-ne'shium) (Latinized from Magnesia, a city in Asia Minor), in chemistry, a diatomic metallic element; symbol, Mg; at. wt. 24.4; sp. gr. 1.743. Fuses and volatilizes at a red heat. Magnesic sulphate (Epsom salts) was known in the middle of the 17th century, but the metal was first isolated by Davy. The compounds of magnesium are widely distributed in nature, occurring as magnesite, MgO"CO; ophite or serpentine, MgO"Si2O; talc, MgO" SisO6; dolomite, kainite, te, epsomite, etc.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Magnet
There are two kinds of magnets-natural and artificial. The natural magnet is an iron ore which has the property of attracting to itself particles of iron or steel. If suspended, it takes a north and south direction, and it is from this particular leading property that it is called leadstone or loadstone. The magnet (magnes in Greek) is supposed to have received its name from Magnesia, in Asia Minor, where it was first discovered. See LOADSTONE. Magnetite is a magnetic iron ore, or oxidulated iron. It is one of the richest and most important ores of iron, and produces the finest brands of steel. It is found in almost all parts of the world, and occurs crystallized in iron in black octahedrons and dodecahedrons; also massive, as well as in the form of sand. See ORES.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Magnetic Equator
a theoretical line drawn on the surface of the earth, connecting the points at which a dip ping needle assumes a horizontal posiis tion, and at which the magnetic dip is zero. MAGNETIC NEEDLE. See MAGNET- ISM. MAGNETIC POLES. See MAGNETISM.
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Magnetite
magnetic iron ore, also known as loadstone. It consists of black oxide of iron, FeO. Fe2O3, with small percentages of impurities. It contains approximately 72 cent. of iron, and is widely distributed. As found, it is free quently crystalline in character with a marked metallic luster, and can readily be recognized by the fact that small fragments are picked up by a weak magnet. It is mined in the Adirondacks, in Sweden, Norway, Lapland, and the Ural Mountains. MAGNETO. See MOTOR VEHICLE.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Magnetograph
an instrument for recording the fluctuation of the magnetic field of the earth. The variations in strength only are recorded-the exact value at any given time is usually obtained by use of a magnetometer. The principle of operation most commonly used is the reflection of ray of a light from a mirror attached to a suspended or freely moving magnetic needle to a recording sheet of photographic paper which is attached to a drum actuated at a uniform speed by clockwork. When the instrument is to be used for recording the magnetic declination, the magnetic needle is usually suspended by a quartz fiber. When used to measure the vertical component, the needle is mounted on a knife edge so that its axis about which it may move is horizontal. Any movements of the needle, which should be of light weight in order that the inertia may be of a minimum, will cause a movement of the image reflected upon the recording paper, and a curve representing the relative changes of the magnetic is obtained.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Magnetometer
an instrument for measuring any of the magnetic elements, as the dip, inclination, and intensity.
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Magnets
this term, which was originally applied only to loadstone, or magnetite (Fe3O4), has come to include the various substances which have magnetic properties. A magnet in the form of a needle (compass) or bar, when so suspended that it is free to move about a vertical axis, places itself in an approximately N. and S. direction. Portions of a magnet have the property of attracting iron, nickel, cobalt, and a few other substances, while some substances are repelled. The substances which are attracted by a magnet are called magnetic substances. Those portions of the magnet which have the property of attracting or repelling are called the poles, and, in the case of a bar magnet, are usually located near the ends. Opposite magnet poles have the power of attracting each other; the like poles repel each other. A piece of iron or steel which has been stroked laterally with a magnet becomes magnetized, an and forms a typical example of ferromagnetism. If a core of iron is wound with insulated and an electric current passed through the wire, the core takes on magnetic properties and becomes an electro-magnet, the direction of the electric current determining the polarity of the magnet. The latter method has by far the greater commercial application.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia