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PICKETT 245 PICTS at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology in 1879; became assistant pro- fessor at the Harvard Observatory; and conducted several expeditions to observe the total solar eclipses in different parts of the Western Hemisphere in 1878- 1893. He established astronomical sta- tions in Southern California in 1889; at Arequipa, Peru, in 1891; and at Mande- ville, Jamaica, W. I., in 1900. He had a, record as a mountain-climber, having ascended over 100 peaks. Among his astronomical works is "Visual Observa- tions of the Moon and Planets." PICKETT, GEORGE EDWABD, an American military officer; born in Rich- mond, Va., Jan. 25, 1825; was graduated at the United States Militaiy Academy in 1846; served in the Mexican War as lieutenant and was made captain in 1855. In 1861 he left the United States service and entered the Confederate army. He was commissioned Brigadier- General and was distinguished through- out the war for bravery and activity. In 1862 he was made Major-General. He took a prominent part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg (where his division made the famous "Pickett's charge"), Petersburg, and Five Forks. He died in Norfolk, Va., July 30, 1875. PICKFOBD, MARY (MRS. DOUG- LAS FAIRBANKS), an American ac- tress, born in Toronto in 1893. Her family name was Smith. After some success on the stage she went into mov- ing pictures where she has been a great success. She married Owen Moore, also a moving picture actor, from whom she obtained a divorce in 1920. She then married Douglas Fairbanks. ^ PICO, one of the Azore Islands, con- sisting of a single volcanic mountain, which terminates in a peak (El Pico) 7,613 feet high that emits smoke and lava. It is fertile and well wooded, and produces an excellent wine, of which 25,000 pipes are exported annually. A.rea, 175 square miles; pop about 30,- 000. Chief town, Villa di Lajuna; pop. about 1,500. PICRATE, or CARBAZOTATE, a compound of picric or carbazotic acid with a base. Explosive powders, almost entirely composed of picrate of potash, and ni- trate of potash, were used in the Franco- 1 Prussian War of 1870 with the most ap- palling effect. Derivatives of picrate were used for explosives in vast quantities during the World War (1914-1918). PICRIC ACID, Trinitrophenol, CH, (N02)3 OH., a yellow crystalline solid, melting point 122° C, soluble in water and alcohol, very soluble in ether. The aqueous solution stains the skin yellow. Obtained by the action of nitric acid on phenol, or by the nitration of mono- chlorbenzol in the presence of sulphuric acid. Very poisonous and explosive. Used in the manufacture of explosives, for dyeing silk and in the tanning in- dustry. Also in the laboratory in urine analysis, and as a reagent for detecting alkaloids. In medicine, it is used ex- ternally in the treatment of burns and acute eczema, and internally for treat- ing malaria and as a bitter tonic. (See Lyddite.) PICRITE, a rock, consisting princi- pally of olivine and augite, with oc- casionally hornblende, felspar, and mag- netite. First found at Teschen, Silesia. PICROTOXIN, in chemistry, CiHuOs, the poisonous principle of Cocculus in- dicus and extracted from that berry by means of hot alcohol. PICTON, SIR THOMAS, a British military officer; born in Poyston, Pem- brokeshire, England, in August, 1758. He entered the army in 1772. In 1794 he went out to the West Indies; took part in the conquest of several of the islands, including Trinidad, and was ap- pointed (1797) governor of the last named, being shortly afterward pro- moted general. In 1803 he was super- seded, and made governor of Tobago. He saw active service again, in 1809, and was made governor of Flushing after its capture by the English; he was summoned to Spain, and rendered bril- liant service at Busaco, during the sub- sequent expulsion of the French from Portugal, at Fuentes de Onoro, at the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, at Vittoria and in the battles of the Pyrenees, at Orthez and before Toulouse. Napoleon's escape from Elba once more called Picton into the field; he fought at Quatre Bras, and at Waterloo fell leading his men to the charge, June 18, 1815. PICTOtr, a port of entry on the N. coast of Nova Scotia, on a large and sheltered harbor, 85 miles N. N. E. of Halifax. The town contains mills and factories, and coal, mined in the vicinity, is exported. PICTS, the name by which, for five and a half centuries (a. d. 296-844), the people that inhabited Eastern Scotland from the Forth to the Pentland Firth, were kno"vn. In the Irish chronicles they are generally styled Picti, Pictones, Pictores, or Piccardaig, but sometimes the native Gaelic name of Cruthnig is applied to them, and their country is