Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 04.djvu/871

* CIRCUS. 767 CIRRHOSIS. to be given. Purely, Welch & Co., at this date, and Villi Aiiiburyli a few years later, gave per- foniiauees which for the time were of consider- able excellence ; in fact, greater merit was often shown in individual work than later, as less re- liance could be placed upon the magnificence of the accessories. The humor of the clown, which formed so large a part of the early attractions, lias diminished in elloct with the growth of the size of the ring. The liorse, whose trained per- fonuances were the mainstay of the circus tifty years ago, has taken a secondary place. Feats of strength and acrobatic exhibitions now form the principal attraction; and the more hazardous they are, the better they are liked. In fact, there is a noticeable tendency in the popu- lar mind to return to the Roman appetite for blood and peril of life. The lavish provision of entertainment can no longer find place in one ring; two and even three have become usual, with ditTerent exhibitions going on simultane- ously. The organization of the modern circus, with which the name of P. T. Barnum (q.v. ) is insejiarably associated, has become an extremely costly and complicated atTair, requiring as great executive ability as the conduct of a small army in the field. The development of railroad systems of this latter period, however, has made it possible to cover long distances with the im- mense quantity of paraphernalia belonging to the modern circus. The attainment of the pres- ent gigantic proportions by these organizations, and the investment of millions in the undertak- ing, has led present-day managers into a ten- <1eney toward consolidation of interests, which has all but taken definite shape in a division of territory between three or four great shows, one remaining in Europe for a year or two, while another covers the American field. See Zoological Gakdex. CIRCUS FLAMINIUS. A circus built in a part of the Campus ilartius, called Prata Fla- minia by the Censor Caius Flaminius Xepos, who was killed in B.C. 217 at Lake Trasimenus. Its central position made it the frequent scene of pub- lic meetings and fairs: and in it, according to Sallust, took place Tulla's massacre of 4000 prisoners in B.C. S2. The open space of the circus was used as a rope-walk in the Middle Ages, and the arcades as lime-burners' kilns. All the remains have disappeared. CIRENCESTER, siz'e-ter, sis'e-ter, and sTst- ter (AS. Circnceastcr, Cyrcnceastere). A market- town in Gloucestershire, England, on the Churn, a branch of the Thames, and on the Thames and Severn Canal, 17 miles southeast of Gloucester (Slap: England, E 5). It has a large trade in agricultural produce, and is an important wool- market. There are also two breweries. In the neighborhood are the well-known Royal Agricultu- ral College, with a farm of over 4.')0 acres, and Oakley Park, the seat of Earl Bathurst. Cirences- ter was the Roman Corincum, at the junction of the Fossway with branches of the lenield and Ermin roads, and has traces of ancient walls two miles in circuit. Roman relics found here, such as coins, urns, etc.. form an interesting collection in the local museum. Rupert stormed Cirencester in 1(!42, but in 1046 it was given up to the Parliament. Population, in 1J)01, 7.500, CIRILLO. chi'-rellA, DoMEXico (c.1734-09). Aa Italian naturalist, boru in Grupno. He waa early called to a chair of botany in Naples, after- wards accompanied J>ady alpole to France and England, and on his return to Naples was ap- pointed professor of medicine. He enjoyed the friendship of Buli'on, Diderot. D'Alembert, and Franklin ; and when the French established the Parthenopeau Republic in Naples, in 1799, he was chosen a representative and became presi- dent of the Legislative Commission. After the reestablishment of the royal govenimeut he was sentenced to death, and, stubbornly refusing to ask for mercy, he was executed soon afterwards. Jlis principal works are Fundamenta liotanica (1787), and Entomologice yeapolitanw Speci- men (1787), CIRL - BUNTING, serl'bun'ting (Neo-Lat. drills, from It. ::iilo, whistling, zirlare, to whistle, 8p. chirlar, to twitter), A small and very handsome European bunting (Emberiza drills), rare and local in England, often kept as a cage-bird, though its song is slight. CIRPAN, cher'pan. A town of Eastern Ru- melia. Bulgaria, on the tributary of the Maritza, 30 miles east of Philippopolis. It is situated in a fertile fruit-producing region, and is noteil for its mineral springs. Population, in 1S93, 11,069. CIRQUE, serk (Fr., circle). The name ap- plied to basins occurring in momitainous regions at the head of narrow stream-valleys and gorges. They are characterized by precipitous walls, which curve around in a semicircle, forming a natural amphitheatre. Their origin may be traced to the erosive action of converging gla- ciers and streamlets. See Corrt. CIRRHO'SIS ( Neo-Lat., from Gk. A-</5p6s, kirrlws, tawny). A pathological change of tis- sues, consisting of hardening due to increase of connective tissue. It may occur in lung, spleen, ovary, heart, stomach, and peritoneum, but is oftener found in kidney or liver. Cirrhosis of" the kidneii (chronic ditTuse inflammation of the kidney, or chronic interstitial nephritis) is a chronic inflammation of the connective-tissue elements of the kidney. The kidney is usually small, contracted, and nodular, the capsule ad- herent; the cortex is thin and red, and ma.v con- tain small cysts. Microscopically, there is seen to be a marked increase in the interstitial con- nective tissue, with degeneration and atrophy of the functionating elements, the renal tubules, and the glomeruli. In the tubules the epithelium is apt to be granular, fatty, and atropliied. In the glomeruli the lesions vary from thickening of the capsules and of the capillary walls with hyaline degeneration, to complete atrophy and disapiwarance of the glomeruli. (.See IJright's Dlsease. ) Cirrhosis of the liver, or chronic interstitial hepatitis, consists in a greater or less increase in the connective tissue or supportive elements of the liver, at the expense of the func- tionating tissue. The new connective tissue usu- ally follows the line of the old connective tissue, but may penetrate the lobules. It is often ir- regular in its distribution, being more abundant in one part of the liver than in another. Dur- ing the early stages of the production of con- nective tissue, the liver tends to enlarge, some- times weighing eight to ten pounds (hypertrophic cirrhosis). Later, the connective lis.;ne tends to contract, and the liver becomes smaller than normal (atrophic cirrhosi-;). The surfaces of the large livers are usually smnoth, while the