Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/567

 EMBARGO EMBLEMENTS 559 is proved by the preparations belonging to the anatomical cabinet at Genoa. Bodies so pre- pared preserve all their flexibility for 40 days. It is only after that period that they begin to, dry up, still preserving, however, their natural color. The process employed by Brunetti con- sists of : 1, washing the circulatory system with water by means of injections ; 2, injecting with strong alcohol to remove water; 3, in- jecting with ether to remove fat; 4, injecting with a strong solution of tannin ; 5, submitting the body to a current of warm air, dried by passing over chloride of calcium, a sufficient length of time to abstract all moisture. Ke- moval of viscera and filling cavities with un- decomposable and antiseptic material will, of course, render the operation more perfect than when these precautions are not taken. During the late civil war in the United States a process of partial embalming was extensively practised, which, when well performed, often preserved dead bodies for a considerable time. It con- sisted principally in injecting a strong solution of creosote or of carbolic acid into the veins and arteries, and sometimes removing the contents of the abdominal viscera. A strong solution of alum and sugar of lead was also used, and sometimes chloride or sulphate of zinc. Since then carbolic acid and camphor, dissolved in petroleum and colored with ver- milion, have been used, it is said, successfully. EMBARGO (Sp. embargar, to arrest), a public prohibition forbidding ships to sail, which may be issued at the outbreak of a war for the pur- pose of making lawful prizes of hostile ships in port ; or, when an important expedition is contemplated, to detain all private vessels, domestic as well as foreign, to secure secrecy ; or an embargo may be laid on ships belonging to subjects or citizens with a view to their use as transports or for other government service. In 1794 the American congress laid an embar- go for 60 days upon all vessels in the ports of the republic. This was said by the opponents of the measure to be done to obstruct the supply of provisions to the British forces in the West Indies, then engaged in hostilities against the French republic. The embargo most famous in American history is that in- tended to countervail Napoleon's Berlin and Milan decrees and the British orders in coun- cil. On Dec. 22, 1807, on the recommendation of President Jefferson, a law was enacted by congress prohibiting the departure from the ports of the United States of all but foreign armed vessels with public commissions, or for- eign merchant ships in ballast, or with such cargo only as they might have on board when notified of the act. All American vessels en- gaged in the coasting trade were required to give heavy bonds to land their cargoes in the United States. This embargo was repealed by an act passed Feb. 27, 1809, and taking effect March 15, 1809, except so far as related to France and Great Britain and their dependen- cies ; and in regard to them also it was to take 292 VOL. vi. 36 effect after the conclusion of the next succeed- ing session of congress. A third embargo, laid April 4, 1812, was superseded by the dec- laration of war against England, June 18, 1812. A fourth embargo was laid by act of Dec. 19, 1813, and repealed four months afterward, prohibiting all exports whatever, and even stopping the coasting trade ; fishermen were required to give bonds not to violate the act. EMBER DAYS, certain days in each of the four seasons set apart by the church for fast- ing, prayer, and the conferring of holy orders. They are the Wednesday, Friday, and Satur- day immediately following the first Sunday in Lent, the feast of Pentecost, the 14th of Sep- tember, and the 13th of December. The weeks in which these fasts occur are called ember weeks. The name is probably derived from the Saxon yvribren, a circuit, i. e., the circular days. Among the English Catholics the term u quarter tenses " is still applied to these quar- terly fasts. The French call them jedne des quatre temps, and the Koman ritual jejunia quatuor temporum. Some writers have sup- posed the name to be taken from the ancient custom of using ashes or embers in connection with fasting. The custom of fasting on these days is traced back as far as the 3d century ; and a decree of the council of Piacenza, in 1095, fixed the time for them as now observed. EMBEZZLEMENT, the wrongful appropriation of the goods of another by a clerk, servant, or other person intrusted therewith ; differing in this particular from larceny, where the taking as well as the appropriation is felonious. It was not an indictable offence at common law, and the owner of the property embezzled had no other remedy but a civil action for damages, or in some cases for the recovery of the property itself. Thus if a man hired a horse and fraudulently sold him, if the sale was made in the usual course, i. e., in market overt, and there was nothing to put the pur- chaser upon his guard, the sale was valid, and the owner could only recover damages against the man who had committed the fraud ; though if the horse had been stolen, and afterward sold in market overt, the title did not pass, and the owner could reclaim his property. To remedy this defect, various statutes have been enacted whereby the embezzling of the goods of a master by a servant, or by a clerk or per- son employed, provided such servant or clerk had the custody of the goods, was made felony ; so of a guest in an inn, or a lodger in furnished rooms, carrying off any of the effects which he had possession of for use, it was declared to be larceny. Severe penalties are also enacted against embezzlement by clerks in the post office, or by brokers, bankers, attorneys, &c., of any moneys or valuable securities placed in their hands for safe keeping or any special purpose, or by persons intrusted with public moneys or property, munitions of war, &c. EMBLEMENTS, a term applied to the growing crops of land, produced annually by the labor