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* COLBURN. 131 COLCHICINE. devoted to lecturing ou comiuereo, natural his- tory, pliysies, and astronomy. He pllllli^hed a Heijucl to his arithmetic (18-4), and an Algebra (1827). COLBY, Frank Moore (ISO.) — ). An Ameri- can editor and writer, boru in Washington, D. C. He studied at the Columbian University in that city, and afterwards at t'olunibia I'niversity, Xew York, where he graduated in 1888 and re- ceived his master's degree in 1889. He was acting professor of history at Amherst College from 1890 to 1891, lecturer on history at Columbia and insinictor in history and economics at Barnard College from 1891 to 189.5, and profes- sor of economics at New York University from 1S95 to 1900. From 1893 to 1895 he was ii mem- ber of the editorial staff of Johnson's Cijclopccdia, in the department of history and jiolitical science. In 1898 he became editor of the International year-Book and one of the editors of the Inter- national Ci/elopwdia, and two years later one of the editors of the Seio International Encyclo- jiwdia. His other literary work has included editorial writing for the Commercial Advertiser (Xew York), critical articles for the Bookman and other magazines, and Outlines of General Histonj (Xew York, 1900). COLBY, Thom.s Frederick (1784-1852). An Englisli engineer, connected with the British ordnance survey for forty-five years. He in- vented the "compensation bar,' an apparatus used in base-measurements, consisting of a rod of brass and iron, the ends of which remain always at the same distance in spite of changes of tem- perature. In 1824 he planned, and from then until 1846 supervised, the survey of Ireland, dn undertaking of great magnitude and importance. Consult Portlock, Memoirs of the Life of General Colby (London, 1869). COLBY COLLEGE. An institution of higher education, founded by the Baptists of the District of ilaine, and situated at Waterville, Maine. It was chartered by the Legislature of ilassachu- setts in 1813, and was known as "The Maine Literary and Theological Institution' until 1820, when its name changed to Waterville College. In 1867 the name was again changed to Colby Uni- versity, in honor of Mr. Gardiner Colbv. whose gifts to the college amounted to $200,000. The name of the institution was changed in 1899 to Colby College. The principal buildings of the col- lege include Memorial Hall, Champlin Hall, Co- burn Hall, the Shannon Observatory, and Chemi- cal Hall. Colby College offers courses leading to the B.A. degree, without requiring Greek for en- trance. Men and women are admitted on equal terms and pursue the same studies, though in separate classes. The courses ai-e largely elective after the first year. The library numbers 37,000 volumes and 20,000 pamphlets. The number of students is about 200. The endowment funds of the college amount to over .$450,000, and the value of the college property is .$250,000. COLCHAGTTA, k61-cha'gva. A province of Chile, bounded on the north by the provinces of Santiago and O'Higgins, on the east by Argen- tina, on the south by the Chilean Province of Curico. and on the west by the Pacific (Map: Chile. C 10). Area. 2795 square iniles, The east- ern and western parts are traversed by the Andes and the Coast Range respectively, while the middle section forms a part of the central valley of Chile, the best-cultivated part of the coun- try. The soil is well watered and of exceptional •fertility, yielding corn, wheat, oats, and beans. ('altleraising is carried on extensively. The province is traversed by the Santiago-Valdivia itailway. Population, in 1895, 157,560. Capital, San Fernando. COLCHESTER, kOl'ohgs-ter. A Parliamen- tary and nuinicipal borough and river port of Essex, England, on the south bank of the Colne, 12 miles from the sea, and 51 miles northeast of London (Jlaj): England, G 5). It is partly sur- rounded by the reuuiins of an old Koman wall. The most notable building is the castle erected in the reign of William liufus, with walls from 10 to 30 feet thick. The Norman keep is said to be the largest in England. The ruins of Saint Botolph's Priory are an interesting bit of Nor- man workmanship, and in the Holy Trinity Church Saxon features are found. The streets are well paved and lighted by electricity, sup- plied by the town, which also owns the water- supply. The town also maintains baths, rec- reation grounds, and markets. Its educational institutions include the Albert School of Science and Art and a public libraiy, Colchester derives a considerable revenue from the oyster fishery in the Colne. Its corn markets are important, and its manufactures include boots and shoes. It has a quay for vessels of 150 tons at the suburb called Hy'the. Population, in 1891, 34,600; in 1901, 38,400. Colchester is the Camulodunum of the British and Romans and the later Colne- ceaster { Colne Castle ) of the Saxons. Great quan- tities of Roman remains have been found here, bushels of coins of many emperors, vases, urns, lamps, pavements, and baths. The town was ravaged by the plague in 1348, 1360, and 1665. In the Civil War, Colchester held out for the King, but was captured by CJeneral Fairfax after a three months' siege. Old King Cole of merry memory, according to the legend, gave the tovn its modern name. Consult: Cutt.s, Colchester (London, 18891 : Round, "Colchester During the Commonwealth," in English Historical Review, vol. XV. (London, 1900). COLCHESTER. A town in Chittenden County, Vt., containing the village of Winooski ( Jlap : Vermont, B 3 ). Winooski is a manu- facturing village, two miles from Burlington, on the Central Vermont Railroad. It is in an agricultural district, and has manufactures of cotton and woolen goods, metal goods, lumber and woodcnwarc. carriages and wagons, screens, etc. Population (Winooski village, in 1890, 3659; in 1900, 3783); town, in 1890, 5143; in 1900, 5352. COLCHESTER, first Baron. See Abbott, Charles, COLCHICINE (Fr., from Lat. colchicum, Gk. KoXx"v'i5>', kolehihon, the ])oisonous meadow-saf- fron, from Gk, KoXx'f, Kolehis, a country on the Black Sea), C,;H.,XO,„ A bitter alkaloid, the active principle of colchicum root, the corm of Colchicum autvuunale (Linne), growing in south- ern and central Europe, It is a crystalline sub- stance soluble in water, alcohol, and chloroform. Colchicum preparations are used in medicine to relieve pain in gout. In larger doses colchicine is poisonotis. and even in medicinal doses may act as a powerful gastro-intcstinal irritant and heart depressant, in which case its administra-