S C A ( n

taking off the tops ot the scalps of theenemies skulls with their hair on. Theypreserve them as trophies ot their vic-tories, and are rewarded by their chiefs,according to the number they bring in.In America it is vulgarly called sculping.

SCALPEL, Fr. a surgical instrumentused in dissection.

To SCAMPER, (escamper , Fr.) torun away precipitately.

SCAPE-gouL This expression, whichis in familiar usage among civilized na-tions, under different modes of descrip-tion, is of very ancient origin. Weread in chapter the 16th of Leviticus ,that in the yearly feast of the-expiationsamong the Jew 's; it was customary tohave a goat, over whom certain cere-monies were performed in atonement forthe sins of the Israelites ; which wasdone in the following manner: Thehigh priest laid both his hands upon thehead of the live goat, and confessedover him all the iniquities of the childrenof Israel : and all their transgressions inajl their lives, putting them on the headof the goat, and then sent him away bythe hand of a lit man into the wilderness 1There is also a fable in Plnedrus, wherethe fox contrives to leave a foolish goatin a scrape, after having made the mostof his ingenuity. Hence, Scape-goatwith us signifies figuratively to he thepassive instrument, or sufferer, for ano-ther’s folly or delinquency in civil, mili-tary, or political life. The French usethe term Bouc emissaire , alluding to thegoat’s mission into the wilderness; theyalso say Bouc a Israel .

To SCARE, to fright; to frighten ;to strike with sudden fear. HenceScarecrow .

SCARF. See Sash.

SCARIFICATION, an operationwhereby several incisions are made inthe skin. Sedentary persons, and freelivers, such as are frequently to be foundin the army, particularly among dra-goons, may receive considerable benefitby having recourse to this operation,under circumstances of repletion, or ex-travasation of blood and lymph.

SCARIFICATOR, (scarijkateur, Fr.)an instrument used in cupping, &c. Itis made in the form of a box, withtwelve or more lancets, all perfectly inthe same plane; which being, as it were,cocked by means of a spring, are all- discharged at the same time, by pulling

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a kind of trigger, and the points of thelancets are at once equally driven intothe skin.

SCARLET, the prevailing nationalcolour for the dress of the British . Theartillery and cavalry are clothed chieflyin blue; rifle corps in dark green; andthe cavalry lbr the East India service inlight blue.

SCAltPE. See Escarpe.

SCATCIl-mwkA is a bitt-mouth,differing from a cannon-mouth in this—that the cannon is round, and theother more oval. The scatch-mouth isstaid upon the branch by a cuperonwhich surrounds the banquet, whereasthe camion is staid upon it by a tbneeauonly.

SCEAU , Fr. a seal. Sceau also sig-nifies an inviolable secret, as le sceau dela confession, the secret of confession.

SCEL, Fr. a seal.

Fairs un SCELLEMENT, Fr. Se«Sceller.

SCELLER, Fr. in building, to crampiron hooks into a wall, to fasten themwith molten lead or plaster.

SCENOGRAPHY , (scenographie, Fr.)the representation of a building, town,&c. as it appears in prospective or fromwithout, with all its dimensions andshadows.

SCHEDULE, an inventory, a list;also something referred to by numbersor letters; as the oaths of the recruitand magistrate, marked A. and B. at theend of the Mutiny Act.

SCHOLIUM , (scholie, Fr.) with ma-thematicians, a remark by the bye, asalter the demonstrating of a proposition,it is pointed out how it might be donesome other way; some advice is given,or precaution afforded, to prevent mis.-takes, or some particular use or applica-tion thereof.

Scholium also signifies a note, anno-tation, or remark, made on some pas-sage, proposition, &c. a brief exposition,a short comment.

SCHOOL , (tcole , Fr.) a house of dis-cipline and instruction ; a place of lite-rary education ; an university. It is amore general and comprehensive termthan college or academy. The French have made a great distinction on thishead with respect to their military insti-tutions. Thus the great receptacle tormilitary genius was called B’licole Mili-taire de Paris, the military' school of