Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/99

 ACUtfA against the Tubingen school by Lange, Thiersch, Ebrard, Schaff, and others ; and even writers like Bleek, De Wette, and Kenan defend the trustworthy character of the Acts as a work of history. The style is purer than that of most other books of the New Testament ; the first part, however, contains a considerable number of Hebraisms. The Acts include the history of the Christian church from the day of Pentecost to the imprisonment of Paul at Rome. "With regard to the dates of the principal events recorded, there is a wide difference of opinion. (See PAUL.) Besides the works on the Acts already mentioned, those by Leke- busch (Die Composition und EnUtehung der Apostelgeschichte, 1854) and by Trip (Paulus nach der Apostelgeschichte, 1866) are of special importance. A( I A, Cristobal de, a Spanish Jesuit mission- ary in Chili and Peru, born at Burgos in 1597. He was one of the early explorers of the Ama- zons, being attached to Texeira's expedition to that river (1639-'41), with the special object of reporting the incidents of the explora- tion. Acufia returned to Spain with an inter- esting narrative of it, which he published at Madrid; but the distraction of the country prevented the government from taking any in- terest in the colonization of the region to which so much energy and talent had been devoted. He once more went to South America, and died on a journey from Panama to Lima. ACUPUNCTURE (Lat. acw, a needle, and pun- gere, to prick), an operation introduced by the Chinese, who imagine that it gives vent to acrid vapors. The needles employed by them are of gold or silver, manufactured under spe- cial license from the emperor, and their use forms a distinct branch of medical practice. Introduced into Europe in the early part of this century, the operation is now but seldom performed except to give issue to fluids in dropsy, &c. It is advocated by some in the treatment of neuralgia, especially sciatic, and hi muscular rheumatism, acting in these cases as a counter-irritant. The needles used are of steel, 2 to 4 inches long. Usually but one is inserted, though sometimes as many as 20 or 30. They are introduced to a depth of one to two inches by simple pressure, by pressure with rotation, or by percussion. The length of time during which they are allowed to re- main varies from a minute to several days. Instances are known where they have been passed with impunity through vital organs. Infanticide by acupuncture of the brain or spi- nal cord is a well recognized crime. ADA, a S. "W. county of Idaho, separated from Oregon by the Snake river (here also called the Saptin) ; area, about 2,800 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 2,675. The county was organ- ized in 1864. Mining is the principal occupa- tion of the people. The total value of prop- erty in 1869 was $1,014,185. There are three newspapers. Capital, Boise 1 City, which is also the capital of the territory. ADAL 79 ADAIR. I. A S. county of Kentucky, inter- sected by Green river ; area, 450 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 11,065, of whom 1,836 were colored. The surface is hilly and abounds in good tim- ber, and the soil is moderately fertile. The productions in 1860 were 29,513 bushels of wheat, 413,205 of corn, 24,195 of oats, and 767,395 Ibs. of tobacco. Water power is abun- dant and several manufactories are in oper- ation. Capital, Columbia. II. A K N. E. county of Missouri, intersected by Chariton river; area, 570 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 11,448, of whom 143 were colored. The land is undu- lating prairie, suited to the production of grass and grain. In 1860, 554,835 bushels of corn and 84,353 Ibs. of tobacco were produced. Capital, Kirksville. III. A S. W. county of Iowa; area, 576 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870,3,982. Middle river, an affluent of the Des Moines, and the head streams of Nodaway river, run through it. The state road from Fort Des Moines to Council Bluffs also traverses the county. Capital, Fontanelle. ADAIR, Sir Robert, a British diplomatist, born hi London, May 24, 1763, died Oct. 3, 1855. His father, Robert Adair, was sergeant-surgeon to George III. He was distantly related to Charles James Fox, and was early destined for a political career. He entered parliament in 1802, and was a strenuous supporter of whig politics. In 1806 Mr. Fox sent him as ambas- sador to Vienna, and in 1808 Mr. Canning, although opposed to him in politics, sent him on a special mission to Turkey, where he nego- tiated the treaty of the Dardanelles, concluded in 1809. He remained at Constantinople till 1811, having been appointed ambassador in 1809. Sir Robert Adair afterward remained out of office till 1831, when Lord Grey sent him to Belgium, soon after the erection of that country into a kingdom, and he was prominent in negotiating peace. He retired from this mis- sion with the rank of privy councillor in 1835. He left memoirs of his residence at St. Peters- burg and Vienna, written at the age of 82. ADAL, or Adel, a portion of the E. coast of Africa, between the Abyssinian highlands and the Red sea, and extending from the bay of Tajurra to Cape Bab-el-Mandeb, and from thence 300 m. along the shore of the Red sea to the town and harbor of Massowah; lat. 11 30' to 15 40' N. It is inhabited by the Dana- kil or Affar, a Mohammedan nation, from the most famous tribe of which, Ad Alii or Adaiel, its name is derived. The territory of Adal varies from 120 m. wide at the bay of -Tajurra, to only 40 m. opposite Annesley bay. There is a low tract along the coast, which rises gradually to a height of 2,000 feet above the sea in a distance of 25 or 30 m., and then the ascent is very rapid to the table land of Tigr6. On the highest terraces durra and barley are cultivated in small patches. Camels, mules, asses, goats, and sheep abound, the pasturage is generally good, and large quantities of but- ter are annually sent to Massowah, and thence