Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/732

 714 HICCOUGH HICKMAN an-hour, a smaller European species, has sul- phur-yellow flowers with a blackish eye, and was formerly cultivated in gardens, where it became naturalized and now remains as a weed. H. esculentus is cultivated for its edible pods. (See OKBA.) The best known of the shrubby species is H. Syriacus, which was introduced into cultivation from the Levant over two cen- turies ago. It is known in gardens and nur- sery catalogues as the shrubby althaea, the old name for it being althaea frutex; it is also called rose of Sharon, a name that appears to be peculiar to this country. If left to itself, this will form a tall unshapely shrub 10 ft. or more high, with long swaying branches ; it is usually kept closely pruned, and when cut back severely produces a profusion of flowers, which are like those of the hollyhock, but smaller ; there are double varieties, which, as well as the single, range in color from white to deep purple. As it blooms late in summer, Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus). will grow in almost any soil, and presents such a great variety in its flowers, it is justly regarded as one of the most valuable ornamen- tal shrubs. There is a variety with its leaves distinctly margined with white, but it does not flower freely. Two woody species are found in Florida: H. Floridanus, 4 or 5 ft. high, and H. tiliaceus, a large tree. Some of the greanhouse species are very showy, the most common of which is H. rosa Sinensis, the rose of China ; it is from the East Indies, where its brilliant scarlet flowers are used to black shoes ; there are white, purple, rose-colored, and other varieties of it. HICCOUGH, a spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm, producing a shock in the thoracic and abdominal cavities, and accompanied by a convulsive inspiration in which the column of air is arrested by the sudden closing of the glottis, and by a loud and well known clucking sound. Authors are not agreed as to the origin of this act, but the movement is undoubtedly of a purely reflex character ; though the spas- modic action be in the diaphragm, its point of departure may be in the abdominal organs or in the nervous centres. In ordinary cases it comes and goes spontaneously, and is a matter of no consequence beyond a slight inconve- nience under certain circumstances ; but it may be preceded by gastric symptoms, pain, and eructations, be accompanied by labored respi- ration, and be so persistent and severe as to require active treatment. It is often seen in children and in adults who have eaten or drunk immoderately or hastily, after long fasting, in diseases of the stomach, intestines, and liver, and in nervous persons troubled with flatu- lence ; it becomes an important diagnostic sign in peritonitis, strangulated hernia, and other intestinal obstructions ; it is not uncommon in intermittent fevers, and is a grave symptom in typhoid and gangrenous affections accompanied by other spasmodic phenomena. In nervous persons it may be brought on by any excitement, and generally disappears with its cause ; if not, a few swallows of cold or acidulated water, cold sprinkling, or vivid emotion of any kind, will put an end to it in a few moments. Obsti- nate cases are on record, which required cold shower baths, ice externally and internally, narcotics, and revulsives to the epigastrium. When intermittent, it yields to quinine ; if symp- tomatic, the nature of the disease will indicate its treatment. HICKES, George, an English author, born at Newsham, Yorkshire, June 20, 1642, died Dec. 15, 1715. He studied at Oxford, and in 1664 was chosen fellow of Lincoln college. In 1675 he became rector of St. Ebbe, and in 1676 chaplain to the duke of Lauderdale, with whom he went the following year to Edin- burgh. In 1682 he was made one of the king's chaplains, and in 1683 dean of Worces- ter. He was a violent Jacobite, refused to take the oath to William III. in 1689, and was deprived of all his benefices. He protested vehemently, by placard affixed to the door of Worcester church, and retired to London, where ho remained for several years in con- cealment. In 1693 he was sent with a list of the nonjuring clergy to the exiled king at St. Germain, and in 1694 was consecrated suffra- gan bishop of Thetford by Archbishop San- croft. His principal works are : Institutiones Grammaticce Anglo- Saxonicce (4to, 1689); An- tiques Litteraturce Septentrionalis Thesaurus (3 vols. fol., Oxford, 1703-'5) ; "The Chris- tian Priesthood, and the Dignity of the Epis- copal Order 1 ' (London, 1711 ; new ed., 3 vols., Oxford, 1847) ; Bibliotheca Scriptorum Eccle- SICB AnglicancB (1709) ; and " Sermons " (2 vols., 1713). IIK KM A. I. A W. central county of Ten- nessee, drained by Duck and Piney rivers; area, 550 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 9,856, of whom 1,471 were colored. The surface is uneven,