Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/374

* NEBULAE. 326 NECK. in photograpliinj; iicbuliv seem to imlicate that the spiral form is in fact the most prevalent one. The application of the spectroscope, and especially the photograjjiiic spectroscope, to nebula- study lias proved that many nebnhe are really gaseous in constitntion, and not simply aggregations of stars too small and close together to be separated even by our most powerful tele- scopes. It has also been possible to measire with the spectroscope the velocity with which some of the nebulir are moving tlirough space in the direction of our solar system; and it is found that ncluilar velocities are of al)out the Same order of magnitude as those observed in the case of ordinary stars. As to the changes of the shape and form of individual nebuhe we have no decisive evidence. Indeed, the outlines of these objects are so hazy that no reliance can be placed upon ordinary drawings; and even photographs can mislead us, since what we see upon them depends in great measure upon the length of time d>iring which the sensitive plate was exposed to the nebula's light. The number of the ncl)ula' at present known is not far from 10,000; and the best catalogue of them is by Dreyer, published in the Monoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. As to their distance our knowledge is still in the conjectural stage. No one has yet meas- ured a nebular parallax (see Parall.x) suc- cessfully; but it is extremely probal)le that their distances, like their velocities of motion, are of the same order of magnitude as the correspond- ing quantities for the fixed stars. The theory of cosmic evolution known as the nebular hypothesis of Laplace intends to ac- count for the origin and development of our solar system, beginning with a presupposed mass of formless matter. This mass, assuming a rotation imder the inlluencc of natural forces, might be expected to take upon itself the form of a flattened s|)here; and if a conti'action of its bulk should occur after the lapse of ages of time, certain rings of matter might be left be- hind, as it were, by the contracting mass. Such rings have indeed a certain analogy in the Androme<l.a nebula; and their possible formation once granted, there is nothing to prevent the gradual breaking up of a ring under the action of gravitational forces. Its matter might then be gathered into a single ball, and thus would be formed a planet circulating in an orbit around the central condensing mass destined in later ages to form the sun itself. It will be seen that this hypothesis, while plausible, rests upon a basis of inuigined possibilities rather than ascertained facts. While, therefore, it is most interesting, it nuist on no account be reck- oned among those astronomical theories (such as gravitation) whose fouiulatiim is as strong as that underlying any of the scientific truths com- ing within the range of human knowledge. See C'O.SMOIiON'V. NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS. See CosMoo- ONV. NEB'ULY, or NEBULE i Kr. iirhuld, from OK, rirhiili. clouil, from l.al, iiihiila, (!k, i>f<pir), ncpliilr, Skt. ixtlilitis, OChureh Slav, iirhii, clou<l). One of the partition lines in heraldry (q.v.). NECESSARIES (Lat. ncrr.i.inrius, requisite, indispensable, from neccssc, OLat. nccessum, in- dispensable, from ne, not + ccsaus, p.p. of ccderc, to yield). In its teciinical legal sense, the term denotes such artieles as are reasonably suitalilo or necessary to maintain a j)erson in the station or condition in life which he occupies at the time they are furnished. The origin of the above signification of the term was in the doctrine of the common law that married women, infants, lunatics, or any incompetent persons cannot be held on their contracts; and in order to obviate the harsh ert'ect of this rule, the courts ado]>led the policy of holding such persons for ;iny articles furnished them which were actually nec- essary to sustain life. The courts conlinucil the use of the word necessary, but have extended its legal meaning until to-day it is a very elastic term. It is not limited only to food and cloth- ing sufficient to sustain lif(, but may include articles which might be considered luxuries by persons in some stations in life, according to the circumstances of the case. In order to deter- mine whether an article is a necessary, the character of the article itself, the use for which it was designed, the age, social position, wealth, and inevious mode of living of the person to whom it was furnished must be considered. These are questions of fact, and must, therefore, he submitted to a jury. See Bakkkvptcy; Con- TR.CT; IXFAXT; LUNATIC; Hl'SBAND AND WiFE; and consult authorities referred to under CoN- TRA<'T. etc. NECHES, nech'ez. A river of eastern Texas, rising in Van Zandt County, and flowing south- east into Sabine Lake, whence its waters, with those of the Sabine River, find their way by Sabine Pass into the Gulf of ilcxico (.Map: Texas, G 4). It is about 3.50 miles long, and waters a wide and fertile portion of Texas. NECHO, ne'ko (Egyptian .AV/.yih). The sec- ond King of the twenty-sixth Egyptian dynasty, called Pliaraohnechoh in the Bible (II. Kings xxiii, 20 et seq,). and Xechos, Xcehaus, etc.. by (ireek writers. He succeeded Psammetichus I., and reigned from n,c. CIO to 594. On the down- fall of the Assyrian Empire. Xecho attempted to gain i)Osscssion of Syria, and, at the outset of his campaign, defeated and slew .Josiah. King of Judah, who opposed him at Megiddo. .Tehoahaz, the son of Josiah. after a brief reign of three months, was deposed by the Egyptians. Eliakim, who changed his name to .Jehoiakim, was made King by Xecho in place of .Tehoahaz. and .Judah was subjected to a tril)ute of 100 talents of silver and one of gohl. Xecho con- quered Syria as far as the Euphrates, but was conipletcly defeated at C'archeniish by the l!a1)V- lonian Crown Prince. X^ebuchadnezzar (n.c. ('iOr>|, and lost all his conquests. Although unable to cope with the Babylonian Empire, Xecho was an active and energetic ruler. lie constructed the first canal from the Xile to the Red Sea, a precursor of the modern Suez Canal, The state- ment of Herodotus that he left it unfinished is incorrect. X^echo also built a fleet and sent it, maimed by Phumician sailors, on an exploring expedition around Africa. Consult: Wiedemann. flmrhithtc .4rf/i//*'ciis roii Psninmrlich I. hin mif .UTiimhr drn (Irosxcn (Leipzig, ISSO); Budge, .1 llislorii of Egypt (New York. 1!I02). NECK (AS. hnecca. OHG. hnac, nac. Oer. yarkin. neck: probably connected with Olr. ciiocc, OBret. cnocli, hill, elevation). The per-