Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 06.djvu/447

LEFT NARCISSUS 377 NAURAGANSETTS Ovid; and this version says that he killed himself, and that the flower sprang from his blood. NARCISSUS, an extensive genus of bulbous plants, mostly natives of Eu- rope, natural order Amaryllidacese. The species are numerous, and from their hardiness, delicate shape, gay yellow or white flowers, and smell, have long been favorite objects of cultivation, especially the daffodil (A^ Pseudonarciss2is), the jonquil (N. Jonquilla), polyanthus narcis- sus (N. Tazetta), and white narcissus (N. poeticus). Some of the more hardy species grow wild in our woods and under our hedges. NARCOTICS, remedies which produce stupor if the dose be increased beyond a certain point. Opium is the most im- portant member of the group, and the type from which most descriptions of the action of this class of medicines have been drawn; but it includes substances of very various properties. Some, as alcohol, produce intoxication in lesser doses; some, as belladonna, delirium; most have a primary stimulating effect; in fact, ahnost every one presents some peculiarity in the way in which it affects the system, and no satisfactory general description of their minor effects is pos- sible. Their power of inducing sleep has procured for them the names of hypnotics and soporifics; while many of them are termed anodynes, from their possessing the property of alleviating pain. Next to opium, Indian hemp, chloral and cocaine may be regarded as the most important narcotics. Nu- merous artificially produced organic com- pounds have been introduced during the last few years, some of which (e.g., par- aldehyde, sulphanol as hypnotics; an- tipjrrin, exalgin — an aniline derivative — as anodynes) have taken a permanent place among useful remedies. The in- creasing and harmful use of narcotics has resulted in stringent laws to pre- vent their general sale. New York and other States have undertaken the cure of drug addicts on a large scale. NARCOTINE, in chemistry, CsJIw- NOt, one of the alkaloids of opium, and the first base extracted from that sub- stance, discovered by Derosne in 1803. It forms lustrous rhombic prisms, which melt at 170°, and decompose at 220°. Insoluble in water and alkalies, but soluble in alcohol and ether. It is less poisonous than morphine, and its salts are very unstable. NARES, SIR GEORGE STRONG, a British Arctic explorer; born near Aber- deen. Scotland, in 1831. He entered the navy and took part in the Arctic '^ ■ pedition of 1852-1854. From 1872 to 1874 he commanded the "Challenger" during her scientific expedition, and in 1875 was first in command of the North Polar expedition. He afterward was engaged in a survey of the South Pacific. He was the author of "Seamanship," "Reports on Ocean Soundings," "Voyage to the Polar Sea," etc. He died in 1915. NAREW, a river of west Russia, ris- ing in the government of Grodno and flowing westward, formed part of the former boundary of Poland. It joins the Bug river 19 miles N. of Warsaw. It has a total length of about 217 miles, of which about 212 miles are navigable. It is connected with the Niemen river and the Augustowo canal. The Narew river was the scene of much heavy fight- ing during the World War. NARINO, coast department of Colom- bia, on S. W., with Ecuador on S. and Pacific on W. Is fertile in center, pro- ducing sugar-cane, cocoa, wheat, and bar- ley. Pop. about 300,000. NARNI, a city of Italy in the prov- ince of Perugia. It contains a number of interesting ruins of the time of Au- gustus. There is a cathedral dating from the 13th century, together with other ancient buildings of interest. Fop. about 15,000. NARRAGANSETT BAY, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Rhode Island; length about 28 miles (in- cluding the N. part called Providence Bay) ; width about 12 miles (at the N. part only 2 miles). It forms the E. bound- ary of the counties of Kent and Wash- ington, and incloses several islands. The city of Newport is on the shore of this bay near its entrance or S. end. Large vessels can ascend it from the sea to Providence. NARRAGANSETT PIER, a summer resort in Washington co., R. I., on W. shore of Narragansett Bay; 7 miles S. W^ of Newport. It has an excellent beech, and a number of large hotels and hand- some residences. The facilities for fish- ing and boating are excellent, and there are some notably fine drives amid charm- ing scenery. At a distance of 3 miles are Narragansett Heights, 400 feet above the bay. The Pier has regular steam- boat connection with Providence. NARRAGANSETTS, a tribe of North American Indians which, in the early history of the United States, occupied the part of Rhode Island W. of Narra- gansett Bay. They were nearly de- stroyed during King Philip's war.