Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/684

* NITRO-HYDROCHLOEIC ACID. 584 NI0-CHWANG. NITRO-HYDROCHLORIC ACID, Xitbo- JliKiAiK' Acw, vr AyiA Kecua. .See Aqua Kegia. NITROPHILOTJS PLANTS (from Lat. hi- triim, mitron + Gk. 0ios, philos, loving, from <l)iiiv, philcin, to love). Plants whieli thrive best in soils rieh in nitrogenous materials. The term is objeetionable, since it implies qualities about wliifh there is great doubt. Certain plants found particularly in the neighborhood ol ma- nvire piles have been supposed to prefer soils rich in nitrogenous substances, but the evidence upon which this based is very slight. It is. of course, true that all plants require nitrogenous food, which is particularly hard to get in cer- tain cases, and especially in the case of plants which have no symbiotic fungus relation. It may be, therefore, that autophyles require larger amounts of nitrate of ammonia than do rayco- tro])hic plants. NITROUS ACID (from Lat. nitrosus, full of natron, from nitrum, natron), HNO,. An acid compound of hydrogen, nitrogen, and o.v- gen, known chiclly by its salts, which are called nitrites. The acid itself is not known in an isolated state, being a very unstable compound, even in an acjueous solution rapidly decompos- ing into nitric acid and nitric o.xide (NO). Nitrites, however, are very stable bodies and are usually formed by the reduction of nitrates. Small quantities of annnonium nitrite are fovmd in our almospliere. and other nitrites are con- tained in the juices of certain plants. In na- ture the nitrites are formed usually by the decomposition of organic matter, and generally indicate contamination with sewage. One of the most important nitrites is that of potas- sium, which is fornu'd either by fusing potassium nitrate or by heating that salt with lead or copper. Certain organic compounds of nitrous acid are of consiilerable importance. NITROUS ETHER, or Etityi. Nituitk, CjHjNO,. A jiale yellow fluid, lighter than wat<T, and evolving an agreeable odor of apples. On evaporation, it produces a great degree of cold: it boils at (it. 4° F. (18° C). and it is verj' inflammable. It does not mix with water, but is readily miscible with alcohol. When kept in contact with water it soon decomposes, and an acid mixture of a very complicated charac- ter is formed. It is usually prepared by the action of nitric acid on alcohol. The spirit of nilroiis cthrr or sirrrt spirit <if nilrr used in medicine is a mixture of nitrous ether with about four times its volume of rectified spirit. It is used, in con- junction wilh other medicines, as a diuretic, espe- cially in the dropsy which follows scarlatina; and it is employed, in combination wilh acetate of ammonia and tartarizcd antimony, in febrile afTections. NITROUS OXIDE. Nitrogen monoxide, or laughing gas. N.O. it is made by heating solid ammonium nitrate in a (lask. The result is water and nitrous oxide. NH.N0,=2H;0+N,n. Laugh- ing gas possesses the peculiar property of intoxi- cating animals. It nuiy be inhaled pure or mixed with atmospheric air fr.r a considerable period with safety. When first inhaled there is a feeling of exhilaration experienced, which is succeeded by profound anasthesia. during which minor sur- gical and dental operations may be performed. There is no resulting depression, and in cases 1 where the inhalation is not continued over twenty ''; minutes the patient experiences alisolutcly no un- pleasant sensations, and is able to go about his ' avocations without loss of time, on recovering '' consciousness. It is the custom with many Amer- ican surgeons to secure aniesthesia by the use of nitrous oxide and then substitute ether as the ana-sthctie, in all operations where over fifteen ; or twenty minutes are recpiisitc for the comple- j tion of the work. This expedient prevents the ''{ nervous excitement consequent upon the adniinis- i tration of ether from the tirst, diminishes shock, and prevents much of the nausea consequent to -i ether anaesthesia. The term laughing gas is usedJ because the patient is ai>t to laugli or e.xhibity other emotion if but a little gas is administered,! and then the inhalation is intermitted. Sea Nitrogen. NIT'TIS, Giuseppe de (1846-84). An Ital- j ian painter, born at Barlctta, Nai)lcs. lie was ' a pupil of the Naples Academy, but found his I style rather by diligent observation of nature,,,, and in 18(iS went to Paris, where he studied*] under Brandon, Gerome, an<l ileissonier. After '' exhibiting genre scenes and landscapes he de- ■ voted himself chiefly to the painting of city ' views, the result of extensive travels, and dis- '• tingiiished for keen observation, elegant drawing, ami extraordinary transparency of color. In 1878 he was awarded a first-class medal for a "Cor- ner of Boulevard." "Triumphal Arch," a water ' color, and "In the Bois de Boulogne," a pastel. His frequent studies in the open air led him grailmiily to a conception of nature much akin to that of the Impressionists, and from 1879 on he cultivated especially the pastel. Of hia Parisian views the "Place des Pyramides" (1876) and "Place du Carrousel" (1SS3) fovuid their way into the Luxendiourg Museum, and several genre scenes are in private collections in New York City and Philadelphia. i NITZSCH, Karl I.mmaxiel (I787-188). A^ German theologian. lie was born at Borna, ".; Saxony, lie studied for the cliureh at Witten- fl berg, where he took his degree in ISIO, and i where, in 181.'?. he became parish minister. la | 1822 he was called to Bonn as ordinary profes-.%; sor of theology and university lueaehcr. Ill c 1847 he succeeded Marheineke at Berlin, and as professor, university preacher, and upper con- sistorial councilor, he exercised with priidence and moderation a wide ecclesiastical influence. He belonged to the school, . of which Xeander was the chief representative, which souglit to rec- oncile faith and science by pointing out their distinctive spheres; in theologv' he sil)ordinatcd dogma to ethics, and became one of the leaders of the Vrrmittrluiipstlirdlnfiir. Besides nuiner- ous smaller treatises on dogmatics, the history of dogmas and liturgies, three larger works call for special mention: his Susirm <lrr rhrisllichen Lfhrc (1820: fdh ed. ishl ; Kng. trans.. .<f.i/»- ^f»i of Christian Dortrinr. Edinburgh. lS4fl) ; his Pral-lisrhr Thcolo/iie (1847); :i'id his Pre- iliilliii, or sermons, of whioh several collections have appeared. NIU-CHWANG. nn'ehwiing'. or Yixg-tse. The only treaty purt of Manchuria. China, situated ill the Province of Shintrkins. alioiil l.'i iiiilcs from (he mouth of the Liao Biver, which falls into the (iulf of Pe-ebi-li. ami on (he southern branch of the Trans-Siberian line (Map: China, F 3).