Pokeweed
Important: Safety Warning
This page states that certain wild plants are safe to eat. Its identifications and edibility claims are more than a century old and in some cases simply wrong, and deadly look-alikes exist for many edible species. Never eat a wild plant on the strength of this text.
In addition, this page prescribes plants as medicine according to pre-modern medical theory. Several of the plants named are toxic, correct identification is difficult, and the doses given have no scientific basis. Do not ingest or apply any preparation described here.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
the Phytolacca decandra, a North American branching herbaceous plant, order Phytolaccaceæ, which is naturalized in some parts of Europe and Asia. Its root acts as a powerful emetic and cathartic, but its use is attended with narcotic effects. Its berries are said to possess the same quality; they are employed as a remedy for chronic and syphilitic rheumatism, and for allaying syphiloid pains. The leaves are extremely acrid, but the young shoots, which lose this quality by boiling in water, are sometimes eaten in the United States as asparagus.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polar Bear
ursus maritimus, the largest individual of the family Ursidæ , and one of the best known. It is found over the whole of Greenland but its numbers are decreasing, as it is regularly hunted for the sake of its skin. The polar bear is from seven to eight feet long, with a narrow head, and the forehead in a line with the elongated muzzle , short ears, and long neck . It is quite white when young, changing to a creamy POLAR BEAR tint in maturity. Unlike most of its congeners, it is carnivorous , attacks by biting, and only pregnant females hibernate.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polar Circles
two imaginary circles of the earth parallel to the equator , the one N. and the other S. distant 23 28' from either pole.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polar Distance
the angular distance of any point on a sphere from one of its poles; more especially , the angular distance of a heavenly body from the elevated pole of the heavens. It is measured by the intercepted arc of the circle passing through it and through the pole , or by the corresponding angle at the center of the sphere. Ac According as the N. or S. pole is elevated we have the "north polar distance " or the "south polar distance."
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polar Forces
in physics, forces that are developed and act in pairs with opposite tendencies, as in magnetism , electricity, etc.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polarity
in physics, the disposition in a body, or an elementary molecule, to place its mathematical axis in a particular direction. Also, the disposition in a body to exhibit opposite or contrasted properties or powers in opposite or contrasted directions, specifically the existence of two points, called poles , possessing contrary tendencies. Examples , attraction and repulsion at the opposite ends of a magnet, opposite tendencies in Polarized light, etc. In biology Prof. Edward Forbes, considering that the relation between the palæozoic and neozoic life assemblages is one of development in opposite directions, called it polarity .
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polder
in Holland and Belgium a tract of land below the level of the sea, or nearest river, which, being originally a morass or lake, has been drained and brought under cultivation.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polderhoek
a village near Ypres, Belgium, which figured prominently in the fighting during the third battle of Ypres in the autumn of 1917. The British Fifth Division reached its borders during the first British attack and the 13th Brigade actually occupied it, but was driven out again by the Germans. This operation was repeated more than once during the battle. On Oct. 26 the British Fifth Division captured the Wood and Château of Polderhoek, taking 200 men who formed the garrison. The château was lost and was vainly stormed again by the Fifth Division on Nov. 6. New Zea landers again made an attempt on it in December, but it finally remained in German hands till the general advance that closed the war.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pole Star
Polaris, a bright star at Minor, and the tip of the tail of Ursa sa in a line with the pointers Merak and Dubhe, the two stars constituting the front of the plowlike figure in Ursa Sheen Monastery and Magdalen College, Major. There is no corresponding star in the Southern Hemisphere. The pole star is a convenient one for observing to determine the latitude and also the azimuthal error of any transit instrument.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polecat
the putorius fœtidus, one of the Mustelinæ, akin to the marten, but with a broader head, a blunter snout, and a much shorter tail. The shorter hairs are yellow and woolly, the longer ger ones black or brownish black and shining. Two glands near the root of the tail emit a highly offensive smell. It makes immense havoc in poultry yards. It also devours many eggs.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polemics
the art or practice of controversy or disputation; controversy; controversial writings, especially on mat ters of divinity or theology.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Polianthes
a genus of Hemerocalleæ; the peduncle is two or three feet long, and has on its summit many cream colored flowers. P. tuberosa (tuberose), a native of Mexico and South America, much cultivated in gardens in India, China, and Java, is deliciously fragrant, especially after dark, and during some thunderstorms its fading flowers emit electric sparks.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Police
a system of judicial and executive administration of a country, especially concerned with the maintenance of the quiet and good order of society; the means or system adopted by the authorities of a government, state, or community to maintain public order and liberty, and POLECAT to protect property. In a more limited sense, the administration of the laws, bylaws, and regulations of a city. Also properly an abbreviation of the term police force.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Police Matrons
women stationed in police stations whose function it is to take charge of the women and child pris- The brutality of compelling oners. women to be searched and held by men police officials first brought protest over a hundred years ago. As far back as 1822 Elizabeth Fry, and the Society for the Improvement of Prisons, demanded that women should have charge of female prisoners arrested by the police, and gradually police matrons became an institution all over the country. Portland, Me., has the honor of having been the first municipality to install matrons in the city jails, in 1876. The National Prison Congress, held in 1886, made the necessity of police matrons the subject of a strong recommendation, which was immediately followed by a great number of American municipalities. At the present time practically all cities and towns in this country have adopted the practice.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Policy
a document containing a promise to pay a certain sum of money on the occurrence of some event. In return for this promise a sum of money is paid down, called the premium. By far the largest part of insurance business is applied to disasters at sea; to destruction of property by fire; to making provision for heirs and successors in case of death, and to loss of time and expense through accident. Marine policies are of two kinds: (1) Valued policy, one in which the goods or property insured one specified value.val(2) of Open policy, one in which the value of the goods or property is not mentioned. In England a ticket or warrant for money in the public funds. Wager policies, wagering policies; policies containing the phrase, "interest or no interest," intended to signify insurance of property when no property is on board the ship. They are not recognized in law.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia