Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Supplement, Volume 1.djvu/427

 C A L

C A L

CALCEDONIANS, a denomination given by copt-writers to the Melchites, on account of their adherence to the council of Calcedon. Mem. des Miff. T. 2 p. 12. See Melchi- tes, COPHTI, MoNOPHYSITES, <&C. Cycl.

CALCENA, a term ufed by fome medicinal writers to denote a morbid tartareous humor in the body.

CALCEOLUS, Ladies- flipper, in botany, the name of a ge- nus of plants, the characters of which are thefc : The flower is of the polypetalous, anomalous kind, confiding of fix ir- regular petals, four of which are placed in a fort of uni- form order ; and the other two ftand in the middle ; a bifid petal lying upon an undivided turgid one, which is hollow, and emulates, in fome degree, the figure of a flipper or wooden-fhoe. The cup becomes afterwards a fruit which is pervious, by means of three feneftrse, each of which has its valve : the feeds are fmall and referable duft. The fpecies of cakeolus enumerated by Mr. Tourntfort, are thefe : 1. The common ladies-flipper. 2. The ladies-flipper, with a larger flower. 3. The Canada ladies-flipper. 4. The yellow flow- ered ladies-flipper, See Tab. 1. of botany, Clafs 11. Tatr- nef. Inft. p. 436.

CALCHACCA, in botany, a name by which fome authors have called the tree whofe bark, is the caflia lignea, ufed in medicine. Pifo, Mant. Arom. p. 165.

CALCHOCHRUM, in botany, a name by which fome authors call the fwmrt a or fumitory. Get: Emac. Ind. 2.

CALCHOPHONOS Lapis, among the antients, a name given to a ftone of a black colour and conftderable hardnefs, which when cut into thin plates and ftruck againft by any other hard body, gave a found like that of brafs: it feeras to have been one of the hard black marbles.

CALLTFRAGA, in botany, a name given by fome authors to famphire. Ger. Emac. Ind. 2.

The antients alio gave the appellation calcifraga, to the fea- fennel, though on a different account, by rcafon of its fprout- ing up in the middle of ftones. Pliti. Hift. Nat. 1. 27. c. 9. J-Jardott. Nat. ad loc.

Calcifr agus, Jlone-breahing, an appellation given by fome to the fcolopendrium ; by others to pimpernel, on account of their lithontriptic quality. Cajt, Lex. Med. p. 122. Salmaf. Exerc. ad Solin. p. 1295.

CALCINATION, (Cycl.) is fometimes alfo called incineration, and dnefaSlion ; from which, however, in ftrictnefs it differs, as a fpecies from the genus, or as a calx from mere afhes. Caji. Lex. Med. p. 423.

Calcining differs from mereburning, as the latter leaves the bo- dies of a black colour, the former of a white one, If white wine, tartar, or the white chryftals of fuch tartar, arc burnt without being truely calcined, the caput mortuum ■will be black. But if the calcination be continued till the tartar is perfectly reduced to afhes, and kept long enough in ftrong fire, the remaining calx will be white. And fo we fee, that not only other vegetable fubftances, but even white woods, as the hazel, will yield a black charcoal, and afterwards whi- tim afhes. Thus alfo animal fubftances, naturally white, as bones and egg fhells, grow black upon being burnt, and white again when perfectly calcined. Boyle of Colours, Phil. Works abr. T. 2. p 39.

Hence the rule adufla nigra, pcrufla alba ; which yet does not hold fo univerfally but that Mr. Boyle finds fevera] ex- ceptions to it. Lead calcified by a ftrong fire turns to minium ; which is of a red colour. See Minium, Cycl and Suppl. Calcination alfo differs from meer combuftion, or burning, in that the former requires the prefence and amftance of the air, whereas the latter may be done without it. Thus a coal kept in a veffel exactly ciofed, will not be calcined tho' kept ever fo long in a ftrong fire ; but when taken out into the open air, readily falls to pure white afhes without the help of any new calcination. Boyle, Scept. Chym. ap. Phil. Works abr. T. 3. p. 270.

By calcination, the parts of bodies are not only much broken but rarified and rendered fpecifically lighter. Thus the gra> vity of crude-lead compared to water, is above 11 to one; of ca!cir:ed-\ea.& only as nine to one. And the like holds of other metals, yet in fome bodies calcination fometimes increafes the abfolute gravity, while it diminifhes the fpecific. Thus four ounces of re^ulus of antimony, by being kept in fufion an hour and a half, will gain two drams and a half, notwith- ftanding all that it has loft by evaporation : the reafon of which feems difficult to affign. The acceflionof the particles of the fire, which become fixed and retained in the pores of the body, are fuppofed by Qiiincy to be the caufe both of the increafe of the abfolute gravity, and the decreafe of the fpe- cific, taking it for granted, that the particles of fire are much lighter than~thoie of the body calcined a. But this Boerhaave will by no means allow him,who makes fire the moil: ponderous of all the bodies in the univcrie b .— [ a ghthc. Lex, Phyf. Med. p. 63. b Boerh. Elem. Chem. P. 2. T. I. c delgne.] The native virtues of metals and gems, fome urge, are not loft by calcination, which is rather a key whereby we are ad- mitted to their intimate nature and powers. Quercetanus even afferts, that metalline bodies are not diminifhed, but ra- ther multiplied by calcination ; which feems fupportcd by Mr Boyle, who from a number of experiments concerning the

ponderability of fire and flame, draws this conclufion, that in calcination, the humid and other volatile particles of metals are not loft, but only diflblved ; fince from their calces a true me- talline fubftance may be again procured. Caji. Lex. Med. p. 122. See Metal, Cycl. and Suppl. Potential, philofophical or clr.mkal Calcination, comprehends amalgamation, precipitation, evaporation, fumigation, and caementation. See Amalgamation, e?V. Detonation by nitre is alfo reduced byLibavius to this fpecies of calcination. See Detonation, Cycl. Calcination by dry corroflon, is that effected without moifture, by the application of dry corrofive fairs ; to which head be- longs cementation. Calcination by vaporous corroflon, is when metalline bodies being reduced to thin plates, are expofed to the action of an acrimonious fume or vapour.

There are divers ways of performing this; fometimes the plates are fufpended over aqua fortis ; fometimes over vinegar, or the recrements of preffed grapes; fometimes, efpecially the nobler metals, over melted lead or quick filver, &'c. Rul, Lex. Alcli. p. 126- Hum'td Calcination is either by vapour, or immerfion. Iron is calcined to a fubtile crocus, by a vaporous corrofion over ftrong aqua fortis. Lead is calcined to cerufe over vinegar, copper over the recrements of rrapes. Humid Calcination by immerfion, is when the body is dipt into the corrofive fluid, and is either performed by amalgama- tion or precipitation. Reverbcratory Calcination, properly denotes the folution or reduction of a body into a calx or impalpable powder ; fome- times alfo denominated alcohol. See Alcohol, Cycl. and Suppl. CALCINATUM, a calx or body which has undergone calci- nation. See Calx and Calcination. Calcinatum majtti is ufed by alchemifts for any thing ren- dered fwect by chemical art, which of its own nature was notfo; as fnenwius dulcis, or faccharum faiurni. Calcinatum minus denotes a thing which is naturally fweet, as fugar, manna, tSc. Rul. Lex. Alch. p. 127. Caji, Lex. Med. p. 121. CALCIS Os. See Os Calch.

CALCULARIh, in antiquity, a fort of juglers who practifed flight of hand. Their art corififted in laying feveral calculi, or counters on the table, then covering them with cups, and fhifting and changing them with dexterity, like what is prac- tifed by our jugglers. Buleng, de Theatr. T. 1. p. 40. Pi- tifc. Lex. Ant. T. 1. p. 324. CALCULARY of a pear, a congeries of little ftony knots dif- perfed through the whole parenchyma of the fruit. The calculary is moft obferved in rough tafted or choak pears. The knots lie more continuous and compact together towards the pear, where they furround the acetary. See Acetary. About the ftalk they ftand more diftant, but towards the cork or ftool of the flower, they ftill grow clofer, and there at laft gather together into the firmnefs of a plumb-ftone. The calculary is no vital, or effential part of the fruit ; the feveral knots whereof it confifts being only fo many concre- tions or precipitations out of the fap, as we fee in urines, wines, and other liquors. Grew, Anat. of Plant.!. 1. c. 6. §. 3. feq. p. 41. _ CACULA ["ORES, in antiquity, accountants who reckoned their fums by calculi. There were feveral fervants under this de- nomination in great families. Children alfo at fchool were taught to practife the fame. Pignor. de Serv. p. 336. Pitiflc: Lex. Ant. T. 1. p. 324.

In the antient canons, we find a fort of diviners, or enchan- ters, cenfured under the denomination of calculators. Bingb. Orig. Ecclef. I. 16. c. $. §. 6. CALCULUS (Cycl.) primarily denotes a little ftone or pebble, anticntly ufed in making computations, taking of fuffrages, playing at tables, and the like.

In after times, pieces of ivory, and counters ftruck of filver, gold, and other matters, were ufed in lieu hereof, but ftill retaining the antient names. Pitifc Lex. Ant.T.i.p. 324, feq. Hence the phrafe ponere calculos, to denote a feries of reafons, and a multitude of others alluding to the ufe of thefe calculi in accounts. Computifts were by the lawyers called calculo- nes, when they were either flaves, or newly freed men ; thofe of abetter condition were denominated calculatores^ or nume- rarii: ordinarily there was one of thefe mafters in each fa- mily of diftinction; the title of whofe office was a calculis, or a rationibus. Hift, Acad. Infer, vol. 3. p. 392. The Roman judges antiently gave their opinions by calculi^ which were white for abfolution, and black for condemnation. Cah. Lex. Jur. p. 131.

Hence calculi's albus, m antient writers, denotes a favourable vote, either in behalf of a perfon to be abfolved and acquitted of a charge, or elected to fome dignity or poft; as calculus niger did the contrary.

This ufage is find to have been borrowed from the Thracians, who marked their happy or prosperous days by white, and their unhappy, by black pebbles put each night into an urn. — Hence alfo the phrafes, flgnare, notare aliquid albo, nigrove la' pi/fo/eu calculo, Hedsr, Schul. Lex. p. 638, feq,

EeGde?