Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/421

* CONVOCATION. 361 CONVULSION. Convocation of Canterbury reassembled in 1852 and that of York in 1850, since which time their meetings havt been rcijularly held. Kucli jiruv- ince has a convocation of its own. The Upper House 13 composed of the diocesan bishops; the Lower of bishops suffragan, deans, archdeacons, and certain representatives of the lower clergy, known as proctors; in. the Province of Canter- bury they are elected by tlie beneficed clergy alone, while in thav. of York all tlie clergy have a vote, sending one proctor for each arch- deaconry. The Lower House in the southern province numbers about 100 members, in the northern about 80. While Convocation has no legislative functions nowadays, its discussions are of great interest to members of the Church of England. A 'House of Laj'raen' has recently been organized, which, while not constitutionally forming a part of Convocations, discusses similar topics on parallel lines. Consult: TreVor, The Convocations of the Two Provinces : Their Origin, Constitution, and Forms of Proceeding, with a Chapter on Their Revival (London, 1854) ; Lath- bury, .1 History of the Convocation of the Church of England to i7-'/3 (London, 1842); Whitehead, Church Law (London, 1872). In the University of Oxford, the term Convo- cation is applied to the assembly composed of all masters of arts, non-resident as well as resident, which finally accepts or rejects the statutes which have passed the narrower govern- ing bodies, the Hebdomadal Council and Con- gregation. See OxFono University. CONVOL'VITLA'CE^ (Neo-Lat. nom. pi., from Lat. convolvulus, bindweed, from eonvol- vere, to roll together, from com-, together + volverc, to roll). An order of dicoty- ledonous plants, the morning-glory family. They are annuals or perennials, many are twin- ing or climbing in habit, and one genus, Cus- euta, is a climbing parasite. (See Dodder.) In many the stems contain a milky juice,, and some have tuberous roots which are of economic value as furnishing jalap, scammony, sweet potato ( q.v. ). etc. Some are noted for their beautiful flowers, as the morning-glory (q.v.). The leaves are generally alternate and without stipules. The calyx is five-parted and the co- rolla with a five-lobed and plaited limb which is usually valvate, sometimes convolute. The sta- mens are inserted within the corolla, alternating with its lobes. The ovary is free and consists of two, rarely more, carpels and bears two or more ovules. The fruit ripens into a berry, nut, or capsule. This order is closely related to the Scrophulariacea; and Boraginacefe (qq.v.). The order is divided into Convolvuloideie, which are green plants, the principal genera being Dichon- dra, Evolvulus, Ipomoea. Convolvulus, and Ery- eibe; and Cuscutoidea; with Cuscuta as the only genus,, the species of which are leafless parasites of curious habit. CONVOL'VULTJS (Lat., bindweed), or Bind- WEEn. A genus of plants, the type of the natural order Convolvulacefc. This genus contains nearly 150 species, herbaceous and shrubby, generally with a twining stem and milky juice; large and beautiful flowers, a five-parted calyx, a mono- petalous corolla, with regular five-lobed and plaited limb. The plants of this genus are very abundant in the tropics, but comparatively rare in eold climates. Many are cultivated as orna- mental plants, particularly species of Convol- vulus and Iponiffia, the latter being commonly known as 'iiiciriiing-gh)ry.' Sunie ^jiccics have large farinaceous roots, capable of being used as food, of which the sweet jKitato (q.v.), or InUatas, is the most important. Two or three are common in the Eastern United States and are called bind- weed. Convolvulus arvensis is a troublesome weed in some sandy soils near the coast, and Convolvulus sei)ium in richer soils. The former has rose-colored fragrant flowers, the latter large white flowers. Both are ornamental, the latter is now often planted to cover posts and trellises. I'onvolvulus scamuionia yields scammony, and the root of Iporncca pandurata is used as a purga- tive in the United States. Convolvulus seoparius, a shrubby species, native of the Canary Isles, yields one of the kinds of wood called rosewood, which has a strong smell of roses. Ipomwa jalapa, of this order yields jalap, a well-known cathartic. It abounds in Mexico. For illustra- tion, see Plate of Dicotyledons. CON'VO Y ( Fr. convoi, from convoyer, to con- vey). The name given to one or more ships of war appointed to protect a fleet of merchant vessels against the attacks of an enemy or pirates. If a merchant ship part company with the convoy, or neglect to obey the signals, all claims of insurance are forfeited. The name is sometimes applied to the merchant vessels so escorted. In the military service, a convoy is, properly speaking, a train of wagons laden with provisions or warlike stores; the term, however, is applied also to the detachment of troops, or escort, appointed to protect such a train. CONVULSION (Lat. eonvulsio, convulsion). A symptom of disease occurring in sudden at- tacks during which the patient generallj' loses consciousness ; the muscles of a part or of much of the body are contracted and relaxed involun- tarily, in spasmodic and irregular movements; the eyes are generally open, the eyeballs turned up or to one side; the teeth are set tight to- gether; the tongue or cheeks are frequently bit- ten; the breathing is at first arrested, then labored and deep ; the face is generally red, and the saliva oozes from the mouth as froth. In epilepsy (q.v.) the convulsions are as just described and the patient generally sleeps immediately after them before regaining consciousness. In hys- teria (q.v.) there is less writhing and more rigidity, the patient is not entirely unconscious in most cases, her cheeks remain pale, and she regains consciousness after a period of confusion, without sinking into a sleep; the tongue is not bitten and froth does not issue from the mouth. Ura'inic convulsions are very similar to those of epilepsy. Convulsions are also caused by irri- tation of the brain and spinal cord from other sources than those mentioned, such as ana'mia of the brain, tumors of the brain, alcoholic intoxication, acute indigestion, Bright's disease, intestinal Avornis, etc., as well as certain acute diseases with an initial rise of temperature. In all cases of convulsions, except when oc- curring in a mother who has just given birth or is about to give birth to a child, the clothing should be removed and the patient immersed in a hot bath up to the neck for ten or fifteen minutes or til! the limbs relax. An enema of soapsuds containing twenty drojis of turpentine will always be of advantage to an adult, and an