Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/748

 WOOSTER WORCESTER so only by the production of an equally fatal paralysis. This, it is true, might b relieved by artificial respiration, but the experiment would be unnecessarily hazardous in the pres- ence of better means of attaining the same ob- ject. Since the action of strychnia is exerted primarily upon the spinal cord, there is no exact antagonism between the two drugs. Similar reasoning applies to its use in tetanus and epilepsy; and as to chorea, it is too pow- erful to be employed in a disease not usually dangerous. An active crystalline principle, called curarine, soluble in water, alcohol, and ether, and containing no nitrogen, has been isolated, and is active in about one twentieth of the dose of woorara. Among our ordinary drugs, the action of woorara upon the nervous system is most nearly imitated by coniurn (see HEMLOCK) ; but conium is readily absorbed from the stomach as well as the subcutaneous tissue. WOOSTER, a city and the county seat of Wayne co., Ohio, on Killbuck creek, a tribu- tary of the Muskigum river, and on the Pitts- burgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago railroad, 80 m. N. E. of Columbus; pop. in 1850, 2,797; in 1860, 3,361 ; in 1870, 5,419; in 1876, locally estimated at 7,000. It is finely situated on high ground, in the midst of a rich agricultural district, and is compactly built. It has consid- erable trade, and manufactories of agricultural machinery, engines, straw board, whips and lashes, furniture, organs, flour, &c. There are two national banks, a high school, four ward schools, two weekly newspapers, and 13 churches. The university of Wooster (Pres- byterian) was chartered in 1866 and organized in 1870. It comprises preparatory, collegiate, and medical departments, the last being at Cleveland. The collegiate and preparatory departments have classical, philosophical, and scientific courses, and admit both sexes. In 1875-'6 they had 18 instructors (13 in the col- lege) and 266 students (100 preparatory and 166 collegiate). The library contains about 8,000 volumes. The grounds and building are valued at $150,000. WOOSTER, David, an American general, born in Stratford, Conn., March 2, 1710, died in Danbury, May 2, 1777. He graduated at Yale college in 1738, and after the outbreak of the war between England and Spain commanded an armed vessel to protect the coast. In 1745 he commanded the sloop of war Connecti- cut; which conveyed troops in the expedition against Louisbnrg. As colonel and brigadier general he served through the French and In- dian war. In 1775 he was engaged in the expedition to Canada, and after the death of Gen. Montgomery held the chief command. He was afterward commissioned major gen- eral of militia, and when Tryon invaded Con- necticut to destroy the military stores at Dan- bury he attacked the rear guard of the enemy, April 27, 1777, and was mortally wounded. In 1854 the state erected a monument over his grave. WORCESTER. I. A central county of Massa- chusetts, bounded N. by New Hampshire and S. by Rhode Island and Connecticut, and drained by Blackstone, Chicopee, Nashua, Ware, and other rivers; area, 1,500 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 192,716; in 1875, 210,242. It is the largest county in the state. The surface is generally undulating, and the soil fertile and under a high state of cultivation. It is traversed by numerous railroads. The chief productions in 1870 were 9,946 bushels of wheat, 20,612 of rye, 284,886 of Indian corn, 173,849 of oats, 47,184 of barley, 639,805 of potatoes, l/JT'i,- 897 Ibs. of butter, 605,561 of cheese, 16,001 of wool, and 130,185 tons of hay. There were on farms 7,583 horses, 28,514 milch cows, - 24,- 127 other cattle, 4,904 sheep, and 7,900 swine. The whole number of manufactories was 1,868, having an aggregate capital of $33,835,118; value of products, $74,579,769. The most im- portant were 8 of agricultural implements, 13 of boot and shoe findings, 136 of boots and shoes, 14 of bricks, 1 of carpets, 45 of carriages and wagons, 44 of clothing, 14 of combs, 57 of cotton goods, 5 of cutlery, 2 of edge tools and axes, 3 of firearms, 2 of flax and linen goods, 91 of furniture, 82 of hardware, 6 of hats and caps, 2 of hosiery, 21 of iron castings, 90 of machinery, 13 of musical instruments, 10 of paper, 11 of shoddy, 19 of soap and candles, 1 of cast steel, 18 of straw goods, 4 of wire, 7 of wire fabrics, 63 of woollens, 8 of worsted goods, 16 tanneries, 24 currying establishments, 49 flour mills, 11 planing mills, and 95 saw mills. Capitals, Worcester and Fitchburg. II. A 8. E. county of Maryland, bordering on Delaware and the Atlantic ocean, and bounded W. by the Pokomoke river ; area, about 550 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 16,419, of whom 5,869 were colored. It forms part of the peninsula between Ches- apeake and Delaware bays. Along the const are low sandy beaches, separated from the mainland by an inlet. The Wicomico and Po- komoke and Worcester railroads traverse it. The chief productions in 1870 were 20,674 bushels of wheat, 606,944 of Indian corn, 157,- 706 of oats, 60,845 of Irish and 44,836 of sweet potatoes, 89,400 Ibs. of butter, and 19,924 of wool. There were 2,096 horses, 2,921 milch cows, 6,844 other cattle, 8,094 sheep, and 11,- 077 swine; 1 manufactory of charcoal, and 12 saw mills. Capital, Snow Hill. WORCESTER, a city and one of the shire towns of Worcester co., Massachusetts, on the Boston and Albany railroad, 40 m. W. S. W. of Boston; pop. in 1763, 1,478; in 1800, 2,411; in 1*20, 2,902; in 1880, 4,178; in 1840, 7,497; in 1850, 17,049; in 1860, 24,960; in 1870, 41,- 105, of whom 11,946 were foreigners, inclu- ding 1,963 natives of British America and 8,389 of Ireland; in 1875, 49,265. The city has an area of about 86 sq. m., and is situated partly in a vnlley and partly on the slopes of the sur- rounding hills. It is regularly laid out, with wide and pleasant streets. Its principal busi- ness thoroughfare, Main street, is a broad