Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/159

LEFT STRONG 125 STROPHULUS and has studied and worked in London since 1875. He received the Silver Medal for Etching in the Paris International Exhibition Tn 1889, and the First Class Gold Medal for Painting in the Dresden International Exhibition in 1897. In 1906 he became an associate in the Royal Academy; and an LL.D., Glasgow, in 1909. He has been president of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers since 1918. He wrote "The Earth Fiend," a ballad; and "Death and the Ploughman's Wife." STE.ONGYLUS, a genus of nematoid worms belonging to the family Strongyl- idse, of which this genus is the type. The S. bronchialis is a species infesting the bronchial tubes of man, the female attaining the length of an inch. The family characteristics of this group are a round thread-like body (hence the name), a round or oval mouth, and two terminal spicules provided for the male. The S. bronchialis is not of frequent oc- currence as a human parasite. It was first discovered in 1790. Allied species (S. paradoxus) occur in the lungs of the pig, and (<S. micruinis) in those of the calf. The S. gigas (otherwise known as Eustrongylus gigas) is notable as being the largest nematoid parasite found in man or other animals. It attains a length of over 3 feet (female), the male measuring 1 foot. Rare in man, S. gigas is found in almost all Car- nivora. STBONSAY, one of the Orkney Is- lands, 12 miles N. E. of Kirkwall; about 7 miles long and 4^^ miles broad. It is of moderate elevation, and its coasts are deeply indented. The soil is mostly good, and is now well cultivated. STRONTIUM (Sr = 87.5), one of the metals of the alkaline earths, occupying an intermediate position as regards many of its properties to calcium and barium, the other members of the group. It is less abundant in nature than barium, and occurs as a constituent in the minerals strontianite and celestine, which are respectively the carbonate (SrCOs) and sulphate (SrS04). In the metallic state it is usually white, heavy, oxidizable in air, and decomposing water at ordinary temperatures. The most im- portant compound is strontia (SrO), from which Davy first obtained the metal in 1808 by electrolysis. It resembles baryta, forming a white soluble hydrate (SrO,H20), which is the compound formed when the metal decomposes water. Strontia is best prepared by de- composition of the nitrate by heat; while the nitrate (Sr(N03)2) and chloride (SrCU) are easily obtained by treating the mineral carbonate with nitric and hydrochloric acid respectively. It also forms a dioxide (SrOs), which is pre- pared as the corresponding barium com- pound is by exposing the monoxide to a strongly-heated current of oxygen. Strontium and its compounds bum with a very characteristic crimson flame, which gives a well-marked line or banded spectrum. STROPHANTHUS, a genus of plfents belonging to the natural order Apocyn- acse, and natives of tropical Africa and Asia. The flowers are in terminal heads; the corolla is funnel-shaped, with its limb divided into five long cord-like seg- ments; the fruit is a double follicle. Each follicle contains a large number of seeds having beautiful comose awns. There are several species, but the best known is the <S. hispidus, variety Kombe, the seeds of which are now largely used in medicine. This species is vddely dis- tributed in tropical Africa, and climbs up the highest trees, hanging from one to the other in festoons. An extract of the seeds is used as an arrow poison (Kombe or inee) in districts widely apart, as at Kombe, in the Manganja country, in the Zambesi district, in the Somali country, in the Gaboon district, in Guinea, and in Senegambia. In the British "Pharmacopoeia" stro- phanthus is defined as the mature ripe seeds of S. hispidus, variety Kombe, freed from the awns. The seeds contain an active principle, strophanthin, which is extremely poisonous, the medicinal dose of it being j^-^ to f^ grain. Its action and uses are very similar to those of digitalis. STROPHE, in the Greek drama, the turning of the chorus from the right to the left of the orchestra, the return being the antistrophe; the part of a choral ode sung during the act of so turning; hence, in ancient lyric poetry, a term for the former of two corresponding stanzas, the latter being the antistrop-he. The term is sometimes used in relation to modern poetry. In botany, the spirals formed in the development of leaves. STROPHULUS, in pathology, the red- gum, or tooth-rash; an eruption of mi- nute hard, slightly-red pimples, clustered and scattered, affecting infants or young children. The largest number of pimples are on the face and the neck. It arises from irritation of the stomach. The ir- ritation is slight, and the disease not dangerous. Unimportant variations have led to the establishment of the species S. intertinctus, S. confertus, S. candidus, and <S. volaticus. Cyc— Vol. TX