Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 06.djvu/492

NETTLE 418 NEUEASTHENIA which ended hostilities, the German em- peror arrived at Eysden on the Dutch frontier, and he with a number of fol- lowers were permitted to enter Holland. After some delays the former emperor was given refuge at the castle of Count Bentick at Amerongen. Here he re- mained until May, 1920, when he re- moved to the castle of Doom, which he had purchased. The German crown prince took refuge on the island of Wieringen, where he remained with one or two companions. Following the ratification of the treaty of Versailles, formal attempt was made upon the Dutch government to give up the former emperor, but this was steadily refused. It was generally considered that the demand was more or less of a formality. Holland quickly took advantage of the conditions following the close of the war and re-established commercial relations with Germany. NETTLE, a genus of plants (Urtlca) belonging to the natural order Urtica- cese, and consisting chiefly of neglected weeds, having opposite or alternate leaves, and inconspicuous flowers, which are disposed in axillary racemes. The species are mostly herbaceous, and are usually covered with extremely fine, sharp, tubular hairs, placed on minute vesicles filled with an acrid and caustic fluid, which by pressure is injected into the wounds caused by the sharp-pointed hairs. NETTLERASH, or URTICARIA, the term applied to a common form of erup- tion on the skin. The eruption consists of wheals, or little solid eminences of irregular outline, and either white or red, or most commonly both red and white, thei'e being a white center with a red margin. The rash is accompanied with great heat, itching, and irritation, but is always aggravated by scratching; the appearance on the skin and the sensation being very much like the ap- pearance and feeling produced by the stinging of nettles; and hence the origin of its names. NETTLE TREE (Celtis) , natural order Urticacese, a deciduous tree, with simple and generally serrated leaves, much resembling those of the common nettle, but not stinging. It has a sweet fleshy drupaceous fruit. NEUFCHATEL, or NETJChAtEL (nuh-cha-tel) (in German Neuenburg), a Swiss canton, bounded by France, Vaud, the Lake of Neufchatel, and Bern, having an area of 312 square miles. Neufchatel was an independent principality as early as 1034. After various vicissitudes it came into the hands of the King of Prussia, as heir of the house of Orange. In 1814 it was received into the Swiss Confederacy, and was the only canton with a monarchical government. This it preserved till 1848. After threatened war in May, 1857, the King of Prussia renounced all his rights in Neufchatel. Several ridges of the Jura run thi'ough the country. The Lake of Neufchatel, 24 miles long by 8 broad, communicates through the Aar with the Rhine. Grazing and dairy farming are extensively carried on in the canton; wine, fruits, hemp, and flax are produced. The chief manufactures are lace, cotton, watches and clocks (specially at Chaux de Fonds, Neuf- chatel, and Locle). The religion is Protestant. The language is French, but German is also spoken. Pop. about 150,000. The capital, of the same name, is 24 miles W. of Bern, on a steep slope above the N. W. shore of Lake Neuf- chatel. It has an old Gothic church of the 12th century; many charitable in- stitutions; a gymnasium or college, con- taining a valuable natural history col- lection founded by Professor Agassic, a native of the town, etc. It has various manufactures and an extensive trade. Pop. about 25,000. NEUILLY (nuh-ye), or NEUILLY- SUR-SEINE, a town of France; depart- ment of Seine; immediately N. of the Bois de Boulogne, and practically a suburb of Paris. Here, near the Seine, and in a large and beautiful park, for- merly stood the Chateau de Neuilly, built by Louis XV., and the favorite resi- dence of Louis Philippe, which was burned at the revolution in 1848. When Louis Philippe took refuge in England he assumed the title of Count de Neuilly. Pop. about 45,000. NEURALGIA, severe pain produced by irritation of a nerve, or by sympa- thetic action with inflammation of sur- rounding parts; a disease chiefly of de- bility, overwork, and general depression. When it occurs in the head it is called tic-doloreux, in the breast angina pectoris, and in the chest-wall, inter- costal neuralgia. Bromide of potassium, strychnine, arsenic, quinine, and tonic treatment generally are indicated in this disease. NEURASTHENIA, a disease of the nerves caused by prolonged grief or anxiety, serious shock or anything which exhausts the reserves of nervous strength. The disease most frequently attacks persons below 40 years of age.