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 396 VIZAGAPATAM VLADIMIR cal problems are the discovery of the lacteals and their functions by Asellius in 1622; the practicability of the transfusion of blood by Lower in 1665, and the experiments afterward made upon the subject by Pr6vost and Dumas, Milne-Edwards, and others in the early part of the present century ; also the investigation of the subject of rattlesnake wounds by Dr. S. Weir Mitchell in 1861, and their most appro- priate treatment ; and the explanation of the pathology and infection of the system by the tapeworm, cysticercus, and trichina spiralis, made by various observers between 1845 and 1860. There has always been much discussion in regard to the practical importance of vivi- section, and the involved questions of wanton- ness and cruelty, and considerable difference of opinion has existed. A report of the English royal commission (1876) gives a history of the subject, and considers the experiments on liv- ing animals under three principal heads, viz. : operations performed for original research or for demonstration to students; the adminis- tration of poisons and dangerous drugs, and operations connected therewith ; and the arti- ficial production of disease for the purpose of observing its progress and its cure. The com- missioners conclude that it is impossible, even if it were desirable, to prevent the practice of making experiments upon living animals, but they recommend the prohibition of its abuse by inhuman or unskilful persons, and of the infliction of unnecessary pain by all; and they furthermore advise the enactment of a law placing vivisection under the control of the secretary of state, giving him power to issuo and revoke licenses, and binding the holders of them to conduct their experiments so as to pro- duce as little suffering as possible consistent with the accomplishment of satisfactory results. VIZAGAPATAM. I. A district of Madras, Brit- ish India, in tho territory formerly known as the Northern Circars, bounded N. E. by Gan- jam, E. and S. E. by the bay of Bengal, S. W. by the district of Godavery, and inland by the Jeypoor agency ; area, about 9,935 sq. m. ; pop. in 1872, 1,832,614. The sea coast is bold and steep, rising into a ridge of rocky hills. The surface is mostly mountainous, and is drained by several small streams. The Eastern Ghauts extend in a N. E. direction along the western boundary. Saltpetre and iron are the chief mineral productions. The climate is warm and damp on the coast, but drier in the inte- rior. The district produces rice, maize, millet, oil seeds, various kinds of pulse, sugar cane, indigo, cotton, and tobacco. The manufactures are few. The French acquired Vizagapatam in 1753, and retained it till 1759, when Clive expelled them. In 1765 the country was ceded by Shah Alum to the British East India com- pany. II. A town, capital of the district, at the mouth of a river of the same name, on the W. shore of the bay of Bengal, 380 m. N. E. of Madras ; pop. about 40,000. It stands on a small peninsula near a remarkable bold rocky hill about 1,500 ft. in height, called the Dol- phin's Nose, is a military station, and has con- siderable trade. VIZIER, Vizir, or Vtslr (Arabic, bearer of a burden), a title given to the ministers of the Ottoman Porte, and other dignitaries. It was formerly applied to the grand vizier and the viziers of the bench, who formed his divan, to the beglerbegs or governors of Rouuielia, Anatolia, Damascus, and Cairo, and to the four high judges, the grand equerry, the sirdar or field marshal, the chief master of the forests, and others; but its application is now more limited. Viziers are distinguished by a velvet dress, embroidered with gold, pearls, and pre- cious stones, by a turban ornamented with dia- monds, and by a standard on the top of which are three horse tails, and which is carried be- fore them. Hence the title pasha of three tails. The grand vizier is the highest officer in the empire, represents the sultan, presides over the divan, commands the centre of the army in battle, and is the only subject who is saluted with the alkinh, a kind of benediction. He receives from the sultan a seal, on which the name of the monarch is engraved, which he is obliged to wear always on his bosom, and by authority of which he rules. The ca- liph's lieutenant was called vizier by the Arabs at a very early date; but the first officer of that name in the Turkish empire was Ala ed- Din, who was appointed in 1326 to that posi- tion by his brother, the sultan Orkhan. There was originally only one ; but the number was afterward increased, so that the prime minis- ter was called vizir mim, grand vizier. Mo- hammed II. had seven viziers, Amurath III. six, and Amurath IV. nine ; but from the reign of Ahmed III. only seven could be really called ministers. VLAARDINGEN, a town of the Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, on the left bank of the New Maas, 6 ra. W. of Rotter- dam; pop. about 10,000. It has a Reformed and a Catholic church, a good harbor, and nearly 100 registered vessels engaged in the herring fishery. A day of prayer is held on the eve of their annual departure. VLADIMIR. I. A central government of Euro- pean Russia, bordering on Yaroslav, Kostroma, Nizhegorod, Tambov, Riazan, Moscow, and Tver; area, 18,862 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 1,259,- 923. It consists chiefly of an undulating plain, watered by the Oka, its affluent the Kliasma, and many other rivers, and diversified by for- ests, heaths, and morasses. There are valuable iron mines. The soil is sterile, and tho climate, though healthful, is subject to extremes of heat and cold. Various sorts of grain are raised, as well as hemp, flax, and fruits, but agriculture is of less importance than the manufactures. There are more than 400 establishments, man- ufacturing cotton, leather, yarn, linen, cloth, silk, iron ware, firearms, glass, hosiery, &c. Ivanovo is called the Russian Manchester. The village of Kholui is tho headquarters for paint-