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 428 METASTASIS METELLU8 METASTASIS (Gr. fierdaraffi^ translation), a change in the seat of a disease, attributed by the humorists to a translation of the morbific matter from a part previously diseased to another, and by the solidists to a translation of the irritation. It has been a matter of dispute whether such an action as metastasis really ever takes place, or whether it is not simply an extension of the disease. The frequent sud- den transference of the seat of gout and acute rheumatism would seem to favor the idea that there is change of seat without any progressive extension. There are some diseases, however, which were formerly considered as metastasic, that have been shown to be properly not so classified. (See MILK LEG.) METCALFE, a S. central county of Kentucky, watered by Big and Little Barren rivers ; area, about 500 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 7,934, of whom 861 were colored. The surface is rolling and the soil fertile. The chief productions in 1870 were 38,818 bushels of wheat, 276,207 of Indian corn, 62,462 of oats, 1,310,381 Ibs. of tobacco, 17,718 of wool, 84,350 of butter, and 1,045 tons of hay. There were 2,327 horses, 1,368 milch cows, 2,385 other cattle, 8,701 sheep, and 12,966 swine. Capital, Edmonton. METCALFE, Frederick, an English clergyman, born in 1817. He graduated at St. John's col- lege, Cambridge, in 1838, and subsequently was elected a fellow of Lincoln college, Oxford. In 1848 he became head master of Brighton college. He has published " The Oxonian in Norway" (2 vols., 1856); "The Oxonian in Thelemarken" (2 vols., 1858); "History of German Literature " (1858) ; and " The Oxonian in Iceland " (1861). He has adapted from the German of A. Becker sketches from the do- mestic life of the ancient Romans and Greeks, under the titles " Gallus " (1844; 2d ed., 1853) and " Charicles" (1845 ; 2d ed., 1854). METELLUS, a Roman plebeian family of the Cecilia gens. The following are its most dis- tinguished members. I. Lucius Caecilins, com- mander against the Carthaginians in the first Punic war, defeated Hasdrubal in 250 B. C., and was honored with a triumph. He was twice consul, once dictator for the purpose of hold- ing the comitia, and pontifex maximus during the last 22 years of his life. He lost his sight while rescuing the Palladium from fire, and died about 220. II. Qnintns Caecilins, son of the preceding, served successively as ple- beian tedile, curule redile, consul, proconsul, and dictator for the purpose of holding the comitia. He fought in the second Punic war against Hasdrubal in Spain, and against Han- nibal in Bruttium, and survived the final vic- t.ory over the Carthaginians many years. III. Qnintns Caecilins Metelins Macedonicas, son of the preceding, commanded as praetor in Mace- donia, where he defeated and made prisoner the usurper Andriscus (148), fought success- fully against the Achseans (146), and as consul against the Celtiberians in Spain. He was censor in 131, died in 115, and was carried to the funeral pile by three sons who had offici- ated as consuls, and a fourth who was candi- date for the same dignity. The first, second, and fourth were afterward distinguished by the surnames of Balearicus (from the conquest of the Balearic isles), Diadematus, and Ca- prarius. IV. Lncins Caecilins Metellns Dalmatiens, nephew of the preceding, officiated as consul, censor, and pontifex maximus, received his surname from his victories over the Dalma- tians in 119, and was active against Satur- ninus 19 years later. V. Quintus Caecilins Metelins Nnmidicns, brother of the preceding, com- manded as consul in 109, and as proconsul in the following year, against Jugurtha in Nu- midia, but had the mortification to see the fruit of his victories, the honor of a final tri- umph over the enemy, snatched from his hands by Marius, his legate, who supplanted him in the opinion of the Roman people, and was elected consul to succeed him in command. He was, however, allowed a triumphal entry into Rome (107), and subsequently elected censor (102). Two years later Marius con- certed with the tribune Saturninus a scheme to destroy the influence of Metellus, who was regarded as the foremost leader of the aristo- cratic party. Saturninus moved and carried through an agrarian law, with an additional enactment requiring the senators to take an oath of fidelity to the same, under, penalty of being expelled the senate. Metellus remained faithful to his convictions, suffering with calm resignation not only expulsion from the senate, but banishment from Rome. He retired to Rhodes, whence he was recalled in the follow- ing year. His orations are praised by Cicero, and were still admired in the time of the An- tonines. VI. Qnintns Caeeilins Metelins Pins, son of the preceding, received his surname from his filial efforts to bring about the recall of his father from exile. He commanded in the social war, tried in vain to save Rome from Marius and Cinna in 87, crossed over to Africa, and subsequently fought against the Marian party in Umbria, Cisalpine Gaul, and Spain, where his efforts proved insufficient against Sertorius. He was consul with Sulla in 80, and died while pontifex maximus, being suc- ceeded by Julius Caesar (63). VII. Quintns Caecilins Metelins Celer, great-grandson of Metel- lus Macedonicus, served as legate under Pom- pey in Asia, and as praetor in Italy in the year of Cicero's consulship (63), with whom he actively cooperated against Catiline and his followers. On the outbreak of the war, being intrusted with the command in Picenum and the Senonian district in upper Italy, he greatly contributed to the defeat of Catiline by block- ing up the passes of the Apennines, and thus compelling him to face the army of Antonius, Cicero's colleague. In 62 he was sent as proconsul to Cisalpine Gaul, in 60 officiated as consul with Afranius (opposing the schemes of Pompey, who was better served by his col- league as well as by his younger brother Ne-