Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/763

MOLECULES. 685 MOLESWORTH. rate. <a coiiiiiouiul luatlf Irum acetic acid, cannot possibly contain less than two carbon atoms (bccanse for every two carl)on atoms it contains a single atom of silver). To sum up, the mo- lecular weight of acetic acid is probabhj and ut least 60. ilore exact information chemical metli- ods cannot furnish. The vapor-density method leads to the definite conclusion that tlie molecu- lar weight is UO (the vapor-density of acetic acid is 30). It is because the molecidar weights found by physical methods (i.e. on the liasis of Avo- gadro"s rule) are invariably found to be in per- fect agreement with chemical facts, that the molecular theory of the physicist can be, and is, inseparable from the atomic theory of the chem- ist, the two theories widening each other's scope of usefulness, and together forming a powerful instrument for the study of nature. See Chemistry, and consult the literature of theoretical and physical chemistry recommended in that article. See also AvociADKo's Rule; Ato.mic Weights; Boiling-Poi.nt; Freezing- Point; Solution; Ga.ses, General Properties OF. MOLENAER, ni<yif-n:ir, .Ian Miensze l?-10(iS). A Dutch painter, born at Haarlem. He is thought to have been a pupil of Fraiis Hals and was an excellent imitator of that mas- ter. Later he adopted the style of Rembrandt. His pictures are usually scenes of peasant life, ]iainted with much brilliancy and variety. Some of them contain as many as forty figures. MOLE RAT. One of the rodents of the fam- ily Spalacidie, which spend their lives moving about through the soil like moles, and have as- sumed many mole-like features and traits. The countries about the ilcditerranean contain the typical mole rat {Sjiiibix tijiihlttn) , a queer, yellowish-brown creature about the size of a rat, with the minute eyes completely covered by the skin and the ears and tail rudimentary. Its fur lies either wav, and the animal seems able to dig backward as well as forward. It constructs tun- nels, like those of moles, throwing out heaps of earth at intervals. It is connnon in Eg^'pt. where it burrows in sandy soil full of asphodels and hyacinths, whose bulbs it eats or stores in large quantities in deep chambers underground. South Africa contains several closely related animals of the subfamily Bathyergiuiie, one of which, the coastwise 'strand mole' {Bnthyerffun mnritiinun) , is a foot long and numeroiis. Its eyes are still open, but are mere beads of little use. Still stranger relatives of these are the 'sand rats' ( Hetcrocephalus) of Somaliland, which are about the size of mice, almost naked and blind. They remain always under grounil. tossing the sand out of the crater-like openings from their tunnels, but never themselves coming to the sur- face. MOLESCHOTT, mo'le-shot, Jacob (1S22- fi.3). A physiologist and writer on dietetics, born at Bois-le-Duc, Holland. He stndied at Heidel- berg, and began the practice of medicine at rtrecht. whence he removed, in 1847. to Hei- delberg, where for seven years he lectured on physiology at the university. A real or supposed tendency toward materialism in his lectures alarmed the authorities, and in conserpience he resigned. In lS5(i he was appointed professor at Zurich, and in ISGl he was called to the chair of physiology at Turin, He was called upon to fill the same chair in Rome in 1879, after having become an Italian Senator in 1870. He was a popular lecturer, and his physiological researches, particularly in regard to diet, muscular fonna- tion, the blood, and bile, are of value. Without asserting the impossibility of a spiritual life, he explained the origin and condition of animals by the working of physical causes. His character- istic formula was "No thought without phospho- rus.' His most important works are: Physiologic des Stoffwechsds in ['/l(tn::cn und Thieren ( 1851) ; Dcr Kreislauf drs Lehens (18.'j2) ; Lehre der NahruDffsmiltcl (18o8); Phi/sioloyie der Xahninysmitlel (18,'59) ; Physioloyischcs Skizzen- huch { fsoi I ; I.ihre com Leben (1807). MOLE-SHREW. A book-name for the com- mon North American short-tailed shrew (Blurina, hre ri Cauda ) . See Shrew. MOLESKIN (so called from its soft, thick shag, like the fur on a mole). An extra strong double-twilled fustian, dyed after the pile is cut. See Fustian. MOLESWORTH, mr>lz'werth. Sir Guilford Lindsay i 1828 — ). An English civil engineer. He was educated at the college of civil engineers at Putney. In 18.52 he became chief assistant engineer of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railroad, but soon resigned to conduct the constructions at Woolwich Arsenal during the Crimean War. After practicing his profession in London for a number of years, he went to Ceylon, and in 1802 became chief engineer of the Govern- ment railroad in that island. In 1867 he was appointed director of public works, and director- general of railways to the Ceylon Government; and from 1871 to 1889 was consulting engineer to the Indian Government. He |niblished a Pocketbook of Etiyiiirrriiig Formiilrr, which is regarded as authoritative. Among his other pub- lications are: Slate Uailiroys in India (IS72): Imperialism in India (1885); Imperialism and Free Trade; Political Economy in its Rel<ition to Strikes; Reason and Instinct in Ants; Ma- sonry Dams; and Graphic Statics. MOLESWORTH, Mart Louisa (Stewart) (1842 — i. An English juvenile writer. She was born on the Continent, and spent several years in France and Germany. She wrote several novels at an early age. and in 187.5 published her first book for children. As a writer of juve- niles her success was immediate. Through a de- lightful verisimilitude and an easy grace of style she found wide audience for a dozen and more volumes. Her works include: Carrots (1876); Tapestrt) Poems (1879): The Green Casket ( 1890) :' The Laurel ^Valk (1898) : and The Grim House (1S99). MOLESWORTH, Sir William ( 1810-5.5) . An Englisli statesman, known as the originator of "colonial self-govennucnt." He was born in London. Jlay 23. 1810. and was descended from an old Cornish family nf large possessions. He early showed promise of distinction, although his university career at Cambridge was cut short by his sending a challenge to his tutor to fight a duel. He continued bis education at the Uni- versity of Edinburgh, and subsequently at a German university. lie succeeded to the family baronetcy in 1823. .After making the usual tour of Europe, he returned home, and threw himself in 1831 into the movement for Parliamentary reform. Xext year, although only just of age,