Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/402

 378 AMATITLAN AMAZOX the greater part of the instruments known as Amatis are from his hands. He not only made great changes in the models and proportions adopted by his family, but gave to his details a higher finish and to his curves a greater per- fection, while he discovered a mellower and more beautiful varnish. The relation of the swells and the thicknesses of his instruments is better planned than in those of his father or his uncle. Thence it is that, while preserving their distinguishing sweetness of tone, they at- tain more power and brilliancy. Some violins at which this maker would seem to have work- ed with unusual care are masterpieces of art. One of two dated 1688 was at Milan in the col- lection of Count Oozio do Salabue. In perfec- tion of finish, purity and mellowness of tone, this instrument was considered a marvel. The great violinist Alard also possessed one of the finest instruments that ever came from the hand of this great maker. The weakest point in his violins is the second string, which, owing, it is believed, to the too sudden decrease in the thickness of the belly' toward the sides, is thin, the notes Si and Do being particularly liable to 'this objection. As is the case with the instru- ments of all the other makers of this family, the tones of those made by Nicold are slender, but in an especial degree sweet, round, and silvery. AMATITLAN, a town of Guatemala, Central America, about 18 m. S. of the city of Guate- mala, in lat, 14 30' N., Ion. 90 17' W. ; pop. about 15,000. It lies in a volcanic region, near and somewhat below a mountain lake of the same name. It is a principal seat of the coch- ineal cultivation. The houses are of one story and of mud, roughly moulded. Hot springs abound in the neighborhood. The waters of the lake have a high temperature, and are sup- posed to possess medicinal qualities. AMATUS LISITAMS (that is, the Portuguese), whose proper name was JOAO RODRIGUEZ DE CASTEL BRANCO, a Jewish physician, born in Portugal in 1511, after the expulsion of all un- converted Jews from the country, died in 1568. He was ostensibly brought up as a Christian, studied at Salamanca, travelled in France, the Netherlands, and Italy, and dissected 12 human corpses in Ferrara, which was a great feat for a time when religious and popular prejudices ran so strong against the practical prosecution of anatomical science. Having settled in An- cona, he was persecuted as a Jew, and obliged to leave the town after the accession of Paul IV. in 1555. He fled from city to city to save him- self from the inquisition. At last he obtained safe refuge at Salonica in Macedonia, where he passed the remainder of his days. ni U Itosis (Gr., from auavpdg, dark), par- tial or complete loss of sight, dependent on a change in the nerve structure of the eye. The term was formerly used to denote any loss of sight the cause of which could not be appreci- ated by the naked eye ; but the invention of the ophthalmoscope has been the means of re- stricting it t6v those cases in which the optic it to tin nerve or its expansion, the retina, has under- gone atrophy, or its component parts are so pressed upon that they are no longer capable of performing their functions. The tissue which holds together the fibres of the optic nerve being in close connection with that covering the bone in its vicinity, and with the mem- branes of the brain, an inflammation of thes latter may by extension induce the disease. A haemorrhage (apoplexy), or a tumor near or in the nerve, may by pressure cause this condi- tion ; or even a plugging of the artery which should supply the nerve with blood ; or, finally, certain diseases of the brain or spinal cord, or of the nerve itself. The disease is usually pro- gressive. If the cause be mechanical from pressure, of recent origin, and removable by treatment before change in the nerve structure has proceeded too far, the vision may be re- stored or its further loss prevented. Such cases are exceptional. . AMAURY, or Amalrie, the name of two kings of Jerusalem. I. Count of Joppa, bom in 1 135, died July 11, 1173. He was crowned king of Jeru- salem in 1162, on the death of his brother Bald- win III. He was a vain, ambitious, and im- prudent prince, and passed the eight years of his reign in making war on the natural ally of the Franks, the sultan of Egypt, and his only sure support against the inroads of the Sel- juk Turks. Having invaded Egypt with some success, he was soon forced to the defensive by Saladin, who continued his conquests under Baldwin IV., the son and successor of Amaury. II* Of Lusignan, king of Cyprus, was called to the tottering throne of Jerusalem when near its downfall. His nominal reign there lasted from 1194 to 1205. He called upon the western na- tions to aid him against the Saracens, but the crusaders preferred stopping at Constantinople, and partitioning the Byzantine empire, to the more dangerous service against the Moslems. He left Cyprus to his son Hugo de Lusignan. AMAIRY OF ( II KTKKS. See ALMABIO OF BENE. AMAXICHI, or Amaknkl, a seaport town of Greece, capital of the nomarchy of Leucas, at the N. E. extremity of Santa Maura, Ionian Islands, separated by a narrow channel from Acarnania; lat. 38 50' 15" N., Ion. 20 43' E. ; pop. about 5,500. From the liability to earth- quakes, the houses are chiefly of wood and of one story. It is rendered unhealthy in sum- mer by numerous salt marshes. The harbor has an extensive mole, but is only available for small craft. The town is defended on the N. by the strong castle of Santa Maura. It is the see of a Greek archbishop. A II A/I All, king of Judah 838-809 B. C. See HEBREWS AMAZON, or Amazons (Port. Rio das Ama- zona the largest river on the globe, flowing easterly from the Andes to the Atlantic, and draining about a third of South America, or an area variously estimated from 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 sq. m. The Apurimac, an affluent