Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/525

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ELECTKO-METALLUEGY ELEONOKA OF ESTE 1863. There are now 64 admitted in the list. Whether the number will continue to increase, or whether it may be diminished by the dis- covery that some of them are different condi- tions of the same substance, of course cannot be foretold. Some of these so-called elements are exceedingly rare, and have been seen but by few persons besides their discoverers. Two have been proposed which are not included in the list, dianium and norium, their existence being uncertain, and their properties not well known. The great mass of the matter of which the world is composed consists of about 30 elements, the remaining 34 being compara- tively rare. For a complete catalogue of the elements, see EQUIVALENT. ELEMI, a resinous exudation from a number of trees in different parts of the world. Com- ing from so many sources, the substance known in common is by no means of uniform character, and the trees which afford the gum are very little understood. That from Holland is sup"- posed to be from the Dutch East India posses- sions, and the product of the canarium bal- samiferum of Ceylon. The Manila article is believed to be the product of the canarium commune; that of C. album or arbolabrea is used in the Philippine islands for pitching boats and vessels. The Brazilian elemi is from the idea icicariba ; the idea is a genus separated from amyris, to which the elemi is commonly referred. The Mexican is said by Dr. Eoyle to be from a species of the elaphri- um, which he names elemiferum. The resin is imported in various shapes, and in different colors and degrees of consistency. It was for- merly much employed in plasters and oint- ments, but is more used in Europe than in this country. Hatters make use of it, and it is in some demand for varnishes by coach painters. It is one of the ingredients of pastilles burned as incense. It has been resolved into two resins, one amorphous and one crystallizable ; for the latter the name elemine has been pro- posed by its discoverer, M. Baup. In its medici- nal properties it resembles the oil of turpentine. ELEONORA OF ESTE, an Italian princess, born June 19, 1537, died Feb. 10, 1581. She re- sided in Ferrara at the brilliant court of her brother, Alfonso II., of which she and her sister Lucrezia were the most accomplished ornaments. Tasso seems to have conceived an ardent passion for Eleonora, and to have addressed to her some of his most fervent effusions, to the discovery of which the perse- cutions to which he was subjected by Alfonso were in part ascribed. But the evidence on the subject is conflicting. There were several other ladies of the name of Eleonora whom Tasso celebrated; as, for instance, Eleonora San Vitale, the beautiful countess of Scandia- no, in whose praise he wrote charming verses. However, most biographers agree in pointing to the princess Eleonora as the lady of his special adoration. How far the princess re- ciprocated his affection is not clearly estab-