PYROTECHNY.

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on tiie end of another case, the head of which put into the hol-low paper on the first, allowing a sufficient distance from the failof one to the head of the other for the pasted paper to bend with-out tearing: the second case tie on as you did the first: and soon with the rest, except the last, which must be closed at theend, unless it is to communicate to any thing on the top of the•wheel, such as fire-pumps or brilliant fires, fixed in holes cut in♦ he wheel, and fired by the last or second case, as fancy directs:

six, eight, pr any number may be placed on the top of the wheel,provided they be not too heavy for the bowl. Before you tieon tlie cases, cut the upper part of all their ends, except the last,a little shelving, that the fire from one may play over the other,without being obstructed by the case. VV heel-cases have noclay drove in their ends, nor pinched ; but are always left open,only the last, or those which are not to lead fire, which must hewell secured.

PYROTICS, [from irvj, fire, - ] in medicine, caustics, or reme-dies either actually or potentiall)' hot; and which accordingly willburn the flesh, and raise an eschar. See Causticity.

PYRRHIC HA, in antiquity, a kind of exercise on horseback,or a feigned combat, for the exercise of the cavalry.

PYRUS , the Pear-tree; a genus of the pentagynia order, andicosandria class of plants; natural order, Pomaceae . Calyx five-cleft; petals live; fruit a pome, five-celled, many-seeded. It has13 species, with many varieties.

P. Cydonia, the Quince , formerly ranked as a distinct genus,is now classed as a species of Pyrus .

P. Malus, the common Apple-tree, is well known.

PYSECK, a town of Bohemia , in the circle of Prachin, fiftymiles S. of Prague . Lon. 14. 46. E. Lat. 49. 16. N.

PYTHAGORAS, a celebrated philosopher of antiquity, re-specting the time and place of whose birth the learned are muchdivided ; by some it is fixed at Samos, where his father was a sculp-tor, about 6C0 B. C. He studied in Egypt many years, and aftertravelling over a great part of Asia , lie returned to his native place;but finding that Polycrates had usurped the government, he wentto Crotona in Italy , where he taught philosophy with uncommonreputation. Students came to him from all parts, on whom he im-posed a probationary silence for five years; after which theywere required to place their property in the common stock. Hegreatly reformed the manners of Crotona and its neighbourhood,and several of his disciples became excellent legislators, particu-larly Zeleuctis. Pythagoras is said to have visited Phalaris , the ty-rant, who was so provoked with his discourses as to order him to I

be put to death, but the assassination of the tyrant saved his life.He was the first who assumed the title of philosopher. He dis-covered the famous demonstration in geometry of the square of thehypothenuse, for which he sacrificed a hecatomb to the gods. lieheld that the sun is in the centre of the universe, and that ihe earthrevolves round it with the other planets. His other principleswere less rational, for lie maintained the doctrine of a transmigrationof souls, and the unlawfulness of eating animal-food, lie diedabout 490 B. C. The Golden Verses which go by his name arequestionable.

PYTHAGOREANS , a sect of ancient philosophers, the fol-lowers of Pythagoras. See that article.

PYTH.IA, or PYTHONISSA, the priestess of Apollo atDelphi, by whom he delivered oracles. She was so called fromPylhius, a name of that god.

PYTHIAN GAMES, in Grecian antiquity, sports institutednear Delphos in honour of Apollo , on account of his slaying theserpent Python. These games, at their first institution, were cele-brated only once in nine years; but afterwards every fifth year,from the number of the Parnassian nymphs who came to congra-tulate Apollo , and to make him presents on his victory. Thevictor was crowned with garlands.

PYTHON, in fabulous history, a monstrous serpent producedby the earth after Deucalion’s deluge.

PYX, [ pyxis, Latin .] 1. The box in which the Romanistskeep the host. 2. The box in whici* the nautical compass ishung.

Q.

Q ls the sixteenth letter and twelfth consonant of our alpha-bet ; but is not to be found either in the Greek, old Latin ,or Saxon alphabets; and indeed some would entirely exclude it,pretending that k ought to be used wherever this occurs. However,as it is formed in the voice in a different manner, it is undoubtedly adistinct letter: for, in expressing this sound, the cheeks are con-tracted, and the lips, particularly the under one, are put into auanulav form, for the passage of the breath. The q is never soundedalone, at least in English , but in conjunction with u, as in quality,question, quite, quote, &c. and never ends any English word.Rutin some French names of places it is a final letter, and issounded alone, without the 11 , as Acqs, Cucq , Sec. As an abbre-viation q signifies quantity, or quantum. Thus, among physi-cians, q. pi. is quantum placet, i. e. “ as much as you please” of athing; and q. . 1 . is quantum sufiicit, i. e. “ as much as is neces-s ary.” Q. E. D. among mathematicians, is quod erat demon-strandum, i. e. “ which was to be demonstratedand Q. E. F.Is quod erat faciendum, i. e. “which was to be done,” Q. D.among grammarians is quasi dictum, i. e. “ as if it were said;”° r > c as who should say.” In the notes of the ancients, Q. standsVOL. IV.—NO. 187.

for Quintus, or Quintius; Q. B. V. for quod bene vertat •;Q. S. S. S. for quae supra scripta sunt; Q. M. for Quintus Mu-tins, orquomodo; Quint, for Quintilius; and Quass. for qmestor.As a numeral, Q stands for 500; and with a dash over it, thus ijfor 500,000.

QUACKENBRUCK, or QUAKENBURG, a town of Ger-many , in Osnaburg, 38 miles S. W. of Bremen. Lon. 8. 20. E.Lat. 52. 46. N.

QUACKERY, or EMPIRICISM, a term of extensive signi-fication ; as it relates to all those who pretend to medical know-ledge and skill in the exercise of the healing art; though they actupon mere principles of slavish imitation, and the shallow infer-ence drawn from single instance*. If the object with which me-dicines are administered be duly weighed; and the numerous dis-eases to which the human frame is exposed, be seriously consider-ed ; it must excite the greatest astonishment, that no steps aretaken to suppress those insidious pretenders, who, like ephemeralinsects preying on the cankered tree, exercise their predatory artson the purse and constitution of mankind ; and, that so sordid apractice should not only be tolerated, but even indirectly counte.

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