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ABANDONMENT. son by one who is un<!er a leg.al duty of protect- ing and maintaining him. A parent or a guard- ian of the person of a young eliild is guilty of a misdemeanor at conunon law if the child is physically injured in conseqience of the aban- donment : while if death results therefrom, the abandoning parent or guardian is guilty of mur- der. At present, the offense is generally defined by statute. In some States it lias been extend- ed to the abandonment of a disabled or infirm animal in a public place. Consult: Wharton, Criminal Law (Philadelphia, ISOH) ; Bishop, Commentaries on Criminal Law (Boston, 189.5). ABANO, ii'lra-no. PiETRO Di (1250-1310). An Italian physician and astrologer, professor of medicine in Padua. He became famous through his work. Conciliator Differentiarum, quw inter Philosophos ci Afedicos Yersantur (Mantua, 1472), the object of which was to reconcile the philosophy and medicine of the time. His fame as a scientist and his enormous popularity as a physician aroused the envy of less successful men. Charges of heresy and atheism were brought .against him, and he was arraigned before the Inrjuisition, but died in prison before the end of the trial.

ABARBANEL, a-Biir'ba-nel'. See AbrabaNEL.

AB'ARIM. An ancient name signifying prob- ably the "parts beyond," and, when used with the article, applied to a range of mountains in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan and facing Jericho, which was plainly visible in the dis- tance. The highest point of the range was Mount Nebo, the place where Moses closed his earthly career (Deuteronomy xx.xii :49).

AB'ARIS (Gk. 'ABapic). A legendary hyper- borean miracle-worker, possessor of a magic ar- row of Apollo, on which he could ride through the air. 'His story probably originated in the mysti- cal movements of the sixth century B.C., thou'jh Abaris is first mentioned by Pindar and Herodo- tus. The New Platonists elaborated the legend and made Abaris a companion of Pythagoras. ABASCAL, ii'Btis-kiil'. Jose Fernando (174.3- 1821). A Spanish statesman and general. He entered the army in 17G2; became Governor of Cuba in 1796; was Viceroy of Peru from 1806 to 1816; in 1816 he was made a marquis. He was noted for administrative ability, firmness, and moderation.

ABASIA, ;i-bil'se-.a. See Abkhasia.

ABASOLO, ā'á-sō'lô, (1780?-1819), A Mexican revolutionist, born at Dolores, Guanajuato. He participated in the revolution started by Hidalgo in 1810, and rose to be a major-general. He fought at Puente de Calderon. was taken prisoner by the Spaniards, was tried at Chihuahua, and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment at Cadiz, where he died.

ABATE'MENT (O. F. lessening, from Lat. a, away -- hatuere, to beat). A term used in various senses in the common law of England and the United States, as follows; (1) Abatrnirnt of Freehold. The unlawful entry upon and taking possession of an estate of inheritance by a stranger after the death of the ancestor and before the heir or devisee has become seized of the estate by entry. See Freehold; Seisin. (2) Abatement of Nuifsances. A remedy against injury by nuisance by removal of the nuisance. See Nuisance. (3) Pica in Abatement. A plead- ing interposed by the defendant to the plain- tiff's complaint or declaration by which the defendant, on some formal and technical ground, seeks to abate or quash the action. If sustained it does not determine the merits of the contro- versy, but requires the plaintiff to begin his action anew. See Action ; Pleading. (4) Abate- nient of Legacies. A reduction of the amount of legacies when the estate of the testator is insuf- ficient to pay debts and legacies in full. See Legacy. (5) Abatei),cnt of fiiiit. Suspension of proceedings in a suit in Chancery for want of proper parties to proceed with the suit. Abate- ment may result from the death, change of interest of a party, or marriage of the plaintiff, if a woman. After abatement the suit may be revived and proceeded with by the legal repre- sentative of the deceased party, or by the hus- band of the plaintiff, if a woman. Action at law when abated could not be revived as in equity. This, however, is now permitted by statute. See article on Action. (6) Abatement or discount in conmiercial law. (7) Abatement or deduction of duties levied by the custom- house. See articles on Customs Duties ; Draw- back. (8) Abatement or reduction of taxes imposed on any person. Regulated wholly by statute. See Tax.

ABATEMENT. In heraldry, an addition to the paternal coat of arms, to indicate some base or ungentleman-like act on the part of the bear- er. The coat is then said to be abated, or low- ered in dignity. Marks of abatement are repu- diated by the best heraldic authorities. Menes- trier calls them sottises anfflaises, and Montagu is of opinion that we shall seek in vain for a more appropriate designation. Abatements are carefully to be distinguished from such subtraet- ive alterations in coats of arms as signify junior- ity of birth, or removal from the principal house or senior branch of the family. These are com- monly called marks of cadency, distinctions, dif- ferences, or brisures. The latter term is gen- erally applied to marks of bastardy, though these are sometimes classed .with abatements.

ABATI, a-bii'te, NiccoLO dell'. See Abbate.

AB'ATIS (Fr. abatis, mass of crushed objects). A military defense, used for the pur- pose of retarding an enemy's advance. It is a device as old as the art of war itself, and still used under certain conditions, or in positions where wire entanglements are neither possible nor available. It consists of trees felled and placed side by side, the stronger boughs and branches intertwined, and pointed in the direction of the enemy. In the case of intrenehments of a more permanent character, the abatis is built in a