Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/776

* CURARI. 668 CURETES. into the hlood, acts on the end plates of the mus- cles, peripheral end organs of the motor nerves, causing complete paralysis without affecting con- sciousness, sensation, circulation, or respiration except indirectly. Convulsions are due to the aspln'xia which results from paralysis of the nniscles concerned in respiration. Death finally occurs from this respiratory paralysis. Curari is supposed to be the most powerful sedative knowTi. Artificial respiration is the most effica- cious means of preventing its effects. It has been proposed to employ it in the cure of lockjaw and hydroi)liol)ia, but it merely stops the con- vulsions and is itself very dangerous on acount of the liability to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Like snake-poison, it is comparatively inert when taken into the stomach. CURAS'SOW (from Curacao, an island in the Caribl)can Sea), or properly CuRAr.o Bird. A large gallinaceous bird of the genus Crax, of the family Cracidse, having a strong bill surrounded at the base with a skin — sometimes brightly col- ored — in which the nostrils are pierced, and the head adorned with a crest of feathers curled forward, which can be raised and depressed at pleasure. They are natives of the forests of the warm parts of America. They congregate in flocks, and although they live much among the branclies of trees, their habits greatly resemble those of domestic poultry. They make large, clumsy nests In trees and lay white eggs. They are very unsuspicious of danger, until taught by severe experience, and are easily domesticated. The best-known species, the' Curacao bird ( Crax alector) . is about the size of a turkey; its plum- age is almost entirely black. It is abundant in the forests of Guiana. Its flesh is very good eat- ing. It is kept in poultiy-yards in South Amer- ica, and was introduced into Holland at the close of the last century, where it seemed com- pletely acclimated, but the stock has never be- come widespread. For this point consult Dixon, The Dovecote and the Aviary (London. 185.3) ; for general facts see Sclater's illustrated papers in the Transactions of the Zoolofiiral Society of London, vol. ix. (London, 1877). Compare Chaciiai-.^ca, Guan, and Hocco; and see Plate of Grouse, etc. CTT'RATE (ML. curatiis, from Lat. ciira, cure, care). One who has the cure of souls. In this sense it is used in the phrase of the English Prayer-book, 'all bishops and curates,' and simi- larly in France the word ciird denotes the parish priest. In modern popular usage, however, in England, and to some extent in America, the ■word is applied to assistant clerg^anen. A few incumbents in England hold what are kno^'n as perpetual curacies and axe practically the same as vicarages. CURATE OF liOS PALACIOS, 16s pa-la'- the-os (Sp. Cnra de Los Palacios). The pseudo- nym of Andres Bernaldez, the Spanish historian. CURB (from OF. courier, corher, cur- lier, Fr. conrher. It. curvare, from Lat. currare, to bend, from curvus, c)n-'ed, OChurch Slav. krivu, Lith. kreivas, crooked). A strain of the straight ligament in the rear of the hock of horses. Swelling appears on the inner and back part of the joint, generally causing lameness, which is most apparent in trotting, and, in slight cases, usually wears off after the animal has been out for ten minutes. It may be most readily detected by standing at one side and looking across the joint. Fomentations must first be used to allay the irritation and inflamma- tion; when heat and tenderness disappear, cold applications will be advisable; and if, after ten days, the enlargement still continues, a blister may be necessary. All work should be sus- pended. CURBINA, koor-be'na. See Drum, or Drum- fish. CURCI, koor'che. Carlo Maria (1809-90). An Italian priest and author, born in Naples. He became in 1850 the founder of the Cirilta Cattolica, a journal which stood for the rahabili- tation of the temporal power of the Pope. But Curci later retracted these opinions and in 1877 published the reasons for his opposition to the policy of Pius IX. This forced him to leave the Society of Jesus, but afterwards Leo XIII. in- duced liim to recant to some extent, and he con- tinued more favorable to the policy of the Vatican until the publication of his books. La niiova Italia (1880) ; II Vaticano regio (1883) ; and La- scandalo del Vaticano regio (1884). These works were immediately placed upon the Index. Toward the end of his life Curci retracted again, and died in the connnunion of the Church. CURCU'LION'ID.ffi (Xeo-Lat. nom. pi., from Lat. curculio, gurgulio, weevil). A large family of rhynchophorous beetles ; snout-beetles. See Weevil; Plum Curculio. CUR'CUMA (It., Fr. curcuma, from Ar. IcnrkKm, safl'ron). A genus of plants of the natural order Zingiberacefe (or Scitaniinacciie according to some botanists), having the tube of the corolla gradually enlarged upward, and the limb two-lipped, each lip three-parted. The spe- cies are stemless plants, with tuberous roots, natives of the East Indies. The dried roots of Curcuma zedoaria are the zedoary (q.v.) of the shops; the roots of Curcuma longa yield tur- meric (q.v.) ; and Curcuma angustifolia yields a kind of arrowroot (q.v.). The same species, often yields both arrowroot and turmeric, the former being obtained from the young roots, the latter from the old. Curcuma amada is called mango ginger. Its root when fresh has the smell of a mango, and in its q.ualities resem- bles ginger. It is a native of Bengal. CURD. See Cheese. CURE DE MEUDON, ku'rfi' de me'doN', Le (Fr., the curate of Meudon). The name fre- quently given to Rabelais, whose last charge was at Meudon. CURE FOR A CUCKOLD. The title of a play by Wcljster and Rowley (1601), also at- tributed to Middleton and Rowley. CURES, kii'rez (from Sabine curis, quins,. spear). A town of the Sabines. It was situated about twenty-five miles from Rome, near the Tiber, and was the birthplace of Titus Tatius. (See Romulus.) The term Quiritcs, as applied to the Roman people, is supposed to have come from Cures. The town was destroyed by the Lonfliards near the close of the sixth century. It stood not far from the modem Corresi. See QnRITES. CURETES, ku-re'tez (Lat., from Gk. Kovp^ Tei, Konretes, connected by Hesychius with Gk. Kovpd, Icoura, a cutting of the hair, in allusioa