Physalia
in zoölogy, a genus of marine animals of the class Hydrozoa, of the sub-class Siphonophora. The P. atlantica is known as Portuguese man of war. They possess one or more large air sacs, by which they float on the surface of the ocean. Numerous tentacles depend from the under side, one class short and the other long. The shorter are the nutritive individuals of the colony, the longer, which in a Physalia five or six inches long are capable of being lor extended to 12 or 18 feet, possess a rehydrated markable stinging power, and are probably used to stun their prey.
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Physalis
in botany, a genus of herbs belonging to the Solanaceæ or nightshade family. The species most commonly cultivated in the United States is known as strawberry tomato, ground cherry or winter cherry. The berries have a sweetish subacid taste.
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Physical Training
. See Athletics
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Physical World
Formerly known as the Sthula Plane-is in the theosophic scheme of things the lowest of the seven worlds, the world in which ordinary man moves and is conscious under normal conditions. It is the limit of the ego's descent into matter, and the matter which composes the appropriate physical body, is the densest of any of these worlds. Physical matter has the seven divisions of solid, liquid, gas, ether, super-ether, sub-atom and atom, in common with the matter of the other worlds. Besides the 、 physical body, familiar to ordinary vision, there is a finer body, the etheric double, which plays a very important part in collecting vitality from the sun for the use of the denser physical body, and reference is made to the articles on the Etheric Body, and Chaksams. At death, the physical body and the etheric double are cast aside and slowly resolve into their components. (See Worlds, Planes or Spheres, Theosophy .) Pierart, Z. T.: French Spiritualist and editor of La Revue Spiritualiste. M. Periart was born in humble circumstances but managed to secure for himself an adequate education. He became in time professor at the College of Maubeuge, and afterwards secretary to Baron Du Potet . In 1858 he founded La Revue Spiritualiste, and led the French spiritualists, between whom and the spiritists under Allan Kardec there existed a certain rivalry. Until his death in 1878 he continued to devote his time and talents to the movement with which he had identified himself.
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Physiognomy
the art or science of by his outward look, especially by his facial features and characteristics. See LAVATER. Modern writers consult Sims' "Physiognomy Illustrated" (1891); Fosbrook's " Character Reading Through Aspects of the Features" (1914). Also art of foretelling the future fortunes individuals by the lineaments of the of face.
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Piano-plates
The importance of that portion of a piano called the iron frame or "plate" possessing in the highest degree all the qualities requisite for a perfect casting may be better understood when it is known that in pianos of the largest size the sum of the tension of the strings, when stretched in attuning, reaches 33 tons. It is therefore natural to suppose that skill of the highest order is brought to bear on their production. The minor manufacturers usually contract with some foundry for their supply of plates, but in most cases the restrictions as to weight and finish are so severe that even ordinary profits are never looked for by the founder. Leading firms have them made in their own foundries, where special mixtures of iron, which have been previously determined and tested, are melted down at once, and poured into as many as seventy moulds simultaneously, in order that all may be alike. The chief feature in moulding these castings is the ramming. See RAMMING.
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Piassaba
or PIASSAVA, a strong vegetable fiber imported from Brazil, and largely used for making brooms. It is chiefly obtained from palms such as Attalea funifera and Leopoldinia piasorassaba. The fiber proceeds from the decaying leaves, the petioles of which separate at the base into long, coarse, pendulous fringes. It was first utilized in England, and the consumption is now large. Other European countries also consume considerable quantities.
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Piaster
or PIASTRE, a coin of various values. The gold piaster of Turkey = 4.4c.; the silver piaster = 4.35c.; the Egyptian piaster = 4.9c.; the Spanish piaster is synonymous with the United States dollar. The old Italian piaster was equivalent to about 89 cents.
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Piatt
JOHN JAMES, an American poet; born in James' Mills, Ind., March 1, 1835. He entered journalism; became clerk of the United States Treasury De- Reprepartment and of the House of sentatives; and from 1882 to 1893 was consul at Cork, Ireland. His works include: "Poems of Two Friends" (1860), with W. D. Howells; "The Nests at Washington" (1864), with Mrs. Piatt; "Poems in Sunshine and Firelight" (1866); "Western Windows" (1869); "Idyls and Lyrics of the Ohio Valley" (1884); "At the Holy Well"; "The Hesperian Tree" (1900). Died 1917.
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Piauhi
or PIAUHY (pē-ou-ē), a state of Brazil, bounded by the Atlantic and the states of Ceará, Pernambuco, Bahia, and Maranhao, from which latter it is separated by the Parnahyba; area, 116,490 square miles. Pop. about 5.0,000. Its coast line is not above 10 miles in length. The soil, generally composed of alluvium, is of great natural fertility; but there is very little agriculture. The rearing of cattle, esteemed the best in Brazil, constitutes the principal source of wealth. Capital, Therezina; port, Parnahyba.
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Piazza
a square open space surrounded by buildings or colonnades; popularly, but improperly, applied to an arcaded or colonnaded walk under cover, and even to a veranda. Sicily, in the province of Caltanissetta. salient through the Allied lines and sep- It contains the estates of many nobles and land-holders. It has a cathedral, an old castle, and several schools. It has an extensive trade in corn, oil, fruits, and wine. Pop. about 35,000.
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Pibroch
a series of variations or a sort of fantasia, played on a bagpipe, descriptive of some scene of poetical thought. In Scotland a martial air on the bagpipes. It can only be learned by personal instruction, as the scale of the bagpipe contains sounds unrepresented by any notation. Pibroch is sometimes used figuratively for the bagpipe itself.
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