Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/387

* CONSTANTS OF NATUKE. 327 CONSTIPATION. occupy ecjual volumes, we would find that while the pressure and temperature miglit subsequently be changed, the factor 11 would remain constant and the same for all gases, irrespective of their chemical nature: that is to say, the jiroduct of the pressure and volume (PV), divided liy the absolute temperature (T), would yield invaria- bly the same number. That number (R), called 'the gas constant,' is therefore obviously charac- teristic of the interdejiendence of pressure, vol- ume, and tempci'ature, in all gaseous matter: and being so general, it has great importance in both pure and applied science. Thus, the con- .stants of nature characterize natural phenomena and enter into all the mathematical laws of science. Consult : Lupton. Everett, C (i. »S'. Hystcm of Units (London, 1891); Landolt and Bornstein, PhiisikaUscli-clicinisclie Tabcllcn (Berlin. 1S93) ; Clarke, The Cottstants of Xaturc (5 parts, Smith- sonian ^Miscellaneous Collections. Washington, 1S73-88). Some of the constants of nature may of course be found in any scientific text-book. See also Calculus ; C. G. S. System. CONSTANZA, 8p. pron. k6n-stan'tha. A character in iliddleton's (Spanish Gipsy, who dis- guises lierself as a gipsv called Preciosa and ac- companies her father into exile. CONSTELLATION (Lat. constellatio, from com-, together + steUa, star, Gk. do-riip, aster, Skt. star, Ar. stara, OHG. stenio, sterro, Ger. aicni, AS., Engl. star). A group of stars. From a time earlier than authentic records can trace, the stars have been formed into artificial groups, vhich have received names borrowed from fancy or fable. These groujis are called constellations. Though quite devoid of anything like systematic arrangement, this traditional grouping is found a suflicienth' convenient classification, and still remains the basis of nomenclature for the .stars among astronomers. Before llie invention of almanacs, the risings and settings of the constel- lations were looked to by husbandmen, shepherds, and sea-faring men as the great landmarks of the seasons, and consequently of the weather which each season was expected to bring with it (see Job xxxviii. 31) ; and it is not surprising if the storms or calm weather that usually accompa- nied such seasons were connected, in the popular imagination, with the inlluence of the stars themselves, or the beings with whom superstition or fol)le identified them. Thvis, the risings and settings of Bootes with the bright star Arcturus. which took place near the equinoxes, portended great tempests. (See Vergil's Qeoryics, i. 204.) The great heat in Jvily was ascribed to the rising of Canis, the dog, with its bright star Sirius. (See Canicul.^; Heli.c.l Ri.sing.) The ap- pearance of the twins, Castor and Pollux, was hailed as the harbinger of fair summer weather. Almost all nations have, from early times, ar- ranged the stars into constellations, but it is chiefiy from the nomenclature of the Greeks and Romans that our own is derived. Eudoxus, a contemporary of Plato, about 370 years B.C., gave a description of the face of the heavens, containing the names and characters of all the constellations recognized in his time. Though this production is lost, a poetical paraphrase of it. written about a century later by Aratus (q.v.l, is still extant. This poem describes twelve zodiacal constellations (see ZomAc), with twentv in the Northern Hemisphere and thirteen in the Southern. The next enumeration occurs in the AIniuycsl of I'toh'iiiy. which incliKk's the jireced- iiig, with three additional, one norlliern and two southern constellations, making in all 48. These are the ancient stellar groups. Large accessions have been made to the nomcnchiture in modern times, in consequence of maritime discovery liav- ing made us acquainted with constelhitiiins in ihe Sinithern Hemis])here which never rose upon the world known to our ancient authors. In 1751 Lacaille went to the Cape of (iood Hope f<ir the pur])ose of making a catalogue of the southern stars, and forming them into constellations — an undertaking which he prosecuted with great ardor for nearly four years, at the expense of the I'rench Ctovernment. Even the flattery of cour- tiers has contributed toward the stellar nomen- clature. L'pon the restoration of Charles II., the evening before his return to London, Sir Charles Scarborough, the Coiiit ])hysician, was gazing upon a star in the northern heavens which shone with greater luminosity than usual, as might be expected from a loyal star on such an occasion. This, in connection with a few others, was formed into Cor Caroli, the heart of Charles II., by Hal- ley, at the doctor's recommendation. The chief constellations will be noticed under their .several names. (See Awes: LIrsa Ma.jok, etc.) The fanciful figures from which the constellations are named are depicted on celestial globes and maps of the heavens. In the older writers upon astrology, constella- tion signifies the relative positions of the planets at a given moment. See Aspect. CONSTELLATION. A famous United States ves.sel, built in 1708, which, as the flagship of Commodore Truxton. captured the French frigate Tnsurgente in 1709, and in 1800 won a brilliant victory over the superior French frigate La Ven- fjrance. CONSTIPATION (Lat. constipatio, from con sti pare, to crowd together, from com-, together "t" stipare, to crowd, from stipes, stem). Ab- normal retention in the intestines of fecal mat- ter, or its passage in abnormally hard masses. Normally the bowels of an infant should 'move' or be emptied from two to five times in 24 hours; the bowels of an adult once in 24 hours. The causes of constipation are imperfect digestion (due to deficient secretion in the alimentary canal, inaction of the liver, or insufficient con- traction of the muscular fibres of the intestine), insufficient exercise, the use of alcohol or drugs, or improper food. The treatment of constipa- tion may he dietetic, hygienic, and medicinal. The diet should be largely vegetable, with whole- wheat bread, cereals, fruit, and an increase of fats and water, with little meat, no alcoholic beverages, and little sugar. A daily cold sponge- bath, regular out-of-door exercise, and circular massage of the abdomen in the direction of the passage of the intestinal contents, relieve many cases. In other cases an enema of soap and water or cathartic medicines may be necessary. See Cathartic. Lower Animals. Constipation in the lower animals depends, as in man, on imperfect secre- tion from, or motion of, the intestinal walls. In the horse it is usually accompanied by colic (q.v. ), and wdien long continued leads to enteri- tis (q.v.). The appropriate remedies are soap