Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 01.djvu/57

ADENITIS Gardafui), and the S. coast of Arabia, between Ras Arrah and Ras Agab; the former in latitude 12° 40' N., longitude 44° E.; the latter in latitude 15° 15' N., longitude 51° 30' E. Its length from E. to W. is thus about 480 miles; its breadth from N. to S. varying from 160 to 200 miles.

ADENITIS, inflammation of the lymphatic glands. It almost always exists with angeioleucitis—inflammation of the lymphatic vessels. It is produced when an open wound of any kind comes in contact with irritating or poisonous matter, generally from without, though sometimes also generated within itself.

ADENOIDS, a growth of spongy tissue in the region of the pharynx, lying above and back of the soft palate. The growth begins at the age of three months and during the first three years is of a soft, spongy nature. It becomes harder and more fibrous as age increases. The growth becomes detrimental to health when it is unusual in size. It is now a very general custom to remove it as early as possible. The presence of overgrown adenoids affects the child mentally and physically and their removal in most cases causes immediate improvement.

ADERSBACH ROCKS, a range of mountains in the district of Glatz, valley of the Riesengebirge, Silesia, remarkable as being divided, for several miles, into detached perpendicular columns by fissures from 600 to 1,200 feet in depth.

ADIGE (äd´ē-zhā), a considerable river of north Italy, which has its source in the Alps of Tyrol, above Brixen, where it is called Etsch; it enters Italy by Bolzano and the valley of Trento, flows in a southern direction by Roveredo, parallel to and for the most part about 6 miles from, the lake of Garda, then, turning abruptly toward the E., passes through Verona and Legnano; it afterward enters the great Delta, between the Brenta and the Po, and, forming several branches, empties its waters into the Adriatic Sea. It is a deep and rapid stream, dividing, by its course, the old Venetian territories from Lombardy proper. The valley of the Adige saw much fighting during the Napoleonic wars and again during the World War.

ADIPIC ACID (formula: C6H10O4 (C4H8)" (CO·OH)2), an organic diatomic dibasic acid, produced by the oxidation of fats by nitric acid.

ADIPOCERE, a chemical substance in its character somewhat resembling wax or spermaceti. It arises through the chemistry of nature, when the bodies of men and animals, buried in soil of a certain kind, are subjected to the action of running water, or otherwise brought in contact with moisture.

ADIPOSE TISSUE, a membrane in a state of great tenuity, fashioned into minute cells, in which fat is deposited. It occurs in man, and in the inferior animals, both when mature and when of imperfect development.

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS, the highest range in New York State, stretching from near Canada, on the N., to near the Mohawk river on the S., a distance of 120 miles; and from Lakes George and Champlain, on the E., to an indefinite line on the W., covering an area of about 12,000 square miles, and occupying parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and Hamilton counties. These mountains, the geological formation of which is chiefly granite, run in five parallel ranges; the highest range, or Adirondack proper, is on the E. side of the district, and the peaks rise to a great height. Mt. Marcy is 5,345 feet; Gray peak, 4,900 feet; White Face, 4,870 feet, etc. This whole district, sometimes called the Adirondack Wilderness, is covered with dense forests, except the tallest peak, and some of these forests are still unexplored. The 1,000 lakes in the valleys beautifully diversify the scenery. These lakes and streams are well stocked with trout and bass, and in this district are found black bears, wild cats, deer, otter, hawks, wild duck, eagles, rabbits, partridges, etc.; but no venomous serpents of any sort. There are extensive deposits of iron ore, chiefly magnetite. Forest products supply the most important industries. Paper-pulp mills use more of the lumber than sawmills. The region has become one of the best known and most frequented recreation grounds of the northeastern United States.

ADIRONDACK PARK, a large district, principally forest land, set apart by the State of New York, in 1892, for the protection of the watershed of the Hudson and other rivers of the State, for public recreation, and for the practical study of forestry. It covers Hamilton county, and parts of Essex, Franklin, Herkimer, and St. Lawrence counties, and contains many mountains and lakes.

ADJUTANT, in military language, in the United States army, an officer selected by the colonel, whose duties in respect to his regiment are similar to those of an adjutant-general with an army.

In zoölogy, the popular name of cinconia argala, a grallatorial bird, belonging to the stork family. Its size is very great, its ordinary height in the erect