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VASE 169 VASSAR COLLEGE In comparative anatomy, the circu- latory system. A term applied to the whole series of vessels — arteries, veins, lymphatics, and lacteals — directly or in- directly connected with the circulation CHELSEA VASE of the blood. The vessels of which it is composed are of two leading types — those which carry blood, and those carrying lymph or chyle. The first constitute the sanguiferous system, and include the heart, the arteries, the capillaries, and the veins. The second or absorbent sys- tem includes the smaller and larger lym- phatic and lacteal vessels, with the lym- phatic and mesenteric glands. VASE, a vessel of various forms and materials applied to the purpose of domestic life, sacrificial uses, etc. They were often used merely for ornament, or were at least primarily ornamental in character and design. The antique vases found in great numbers in ancient tombs and catacombs in Etruria, southern Italy, Greece, Sicily, etc., and used to contain the ashes of the dead, were for the most part made of baked clay, painted and glazed, though by the Egyptians, Greeks and Ottomans other materials, such as precious stones, gold, silver, bronze, ivory, and glass were used. One form of vase seems to have been pecu- liar in Etruria — viz., black or red ves- sels, with figures in relief upon them. A favorite kind of vase, introduced into Rome by Pompey, was called Murrhine. Another kind was the cameo vase, made of two layers of glass, the outer of which was opaque, and was cut down so as to leave figures standing out upon the lower layer as a ground. To this class belongs the celebrated Portland Vase in the British Museum. The glass vases of Venice became famous in the beginning of the 16th century, and in the same and following centuries many vases of the highest artistic performance were pro- duced in Italy, France, and Germany. The porcelain vases of China and Japan are also characterized by great elegance of form and beauty of ornamentation. VASELINE, or VASELENE, petro- leum jelly, a pale yellow, translucent, semi-solid substance, consisting of a mix- ture of the hydro-carbons C10H34 and C20 H42, obtained by treating the undistilled portion of petroleum with superheated steam, and filtering while hot through animal charcoal. VASSAR COLLEGE, an American in- stitution of learning, established by Matthew Vassar in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1861, for the higher education of women. The first donation was $428,000 for buildings and furnishings. This amount was increased by a bequest of $360,000. Later Matthew Vassar, Jr., gave the institution $130,000 and John Guy Vassar, $444,000. There have since been large donations from other persons. The campus, which contains 210 acres, is 3 miles from the Hudson river, and is GREEK VASE mostly laid out as a park. The reports for 1919 showed: Professors and in- structors, 121; students, 1,120. Presi- dent, H. N. MacCracken, LL. D.