Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIV.djvu/73

PUBLICOLA PtfCKLER-MUSKAU 65 tivity, however, cannot be called into exercise until the growth of the individual is comple- ted, on penalty of premature and permanent exhaustion of the vital powers, and the devel- opment of any latent disposition to disease. That puberty is not the period of completed growth is shown by the increase in stature after its attainment, the subsequent complete ossification and consolidation of the extrem- ities of the spinous and transverse processes of the vertebras, and the consolidation of the pelvic, sacral, and coccygeal vertebra, sternal pieces, and epiphyses of the ribs, scapula, clav- icle, and bones of the extremities. In the hu- man male puberty is established between the 14th and 16th years; besides the increased sexual and muscular development, the beard makes its appearance, the larynx enlarges, giv- ing a lower, harsher, and stronger tone to the voice, and the thoughts, desires, and actions have a more manly character. In the female this period is arrived at between the 13th and 16th years in temperate climates, and some- what earlier in the tropics and in the midst of the luxury and excitements of city life ; there is a similar development in the reproductive system, usually coincident with the appearance of the catamenia and mammary enlargement, and a deposition of fat over the whole surface of the body. In the male there is at this time no special tendency to disease, nor in the healthy female ; but, as a consequence of the defective physical training of most female youth, disorders of the menstrual function are very apt to occur, with numerous functional, nervous, and even organic complications ; in persons of naturally weak constitutions, of both sexes, and in those enfeebled by prema- ture exercise of the mental, physical, or gen- erative powers, the tuberculous diathesis is frequently developed soon after puberty. PUBLICOLA, Pnblins Valerius, a Roman law- giver of the semi-historical period of the foun- dation of the republic. He is said to have^ been present when Lucretia stabbed herself, and to have borne a prominent part in the ex- pulsion of the Tarquins. After the compul- sory resignation of Collatinus he was elected consul in his place (about 509 B. C.). In the war between the Tarquins and Veientes and the Romans, he gained a victory over the for- mer. Returning to Rome, he began building a house on the Velian hill overlooking the forum, which excited a popular fear that he was seeking to raise himself to royal power. Valerius therefore ordered the building to be demolished, and his lictors when they appear- ed before the people to lower their fasces ; whence he received the surname of Publicola or Poplicola, " the peopled friend." He now brought forward laws for the establishment of the republic, one of which declared that who- ever attempted to make himself king might be killed by any one ; another, that plebeians condemned by a magistrate might appeal to the people. He was afterward thrice elected consul ; and the expedition of Porsena is placed during his time of office. With T. Lucretius Tricipitinus, his colleague, he routed the Sa- bines and returned to Rome in triumph. PUBLIUS SYRUS, a Latin comic poet, who flourished at Rome at the time of Caesar's death (44 B. C.). He was a native of Syria, and was brought to Rome as a slave ; but his master had' him instructed and gave him his freedom. He improved the mimic art, and it is said by St. Jerome that a collection of moral sentences from the farces of Publius was a school book at Rome. A collection of this kind, comprising upward of 1,000 lines, each forming an apophthegm, extant under the title of Publii Syri Sententice, is in reality a com- pilation from various sources. PCCCOON, an aboriginal name applied to sev- eral plants with a yellow or reddish juice, but quite unlike in other properties. In the south, the bloodroot (sanguinaria Canadensis) is called puccoon. (See BLOODKOOT.) In some parts of the west the name is applied to two species of lithospermum, of the borage family, both yield- ing a red dye ; L. hirtum being the hairy, and L. canescens the hoary puccoon. The name is perhaps more generally used to designate Jiy- drastis Canadensis than either of the foregoing, which is called, besides yellow puccoon, golden- seal, yellow-root, orange-root, Indian paint, &c. The genus Jiydrastis (Gr. vfiup, water, and Spav, to act) belongs to the crowfoot family, or ra- nunculacece. It has a thick, knotted, yellow rootstock, from which rise a single radical leaf and a low, simple, hairy stem, bearing two leaves near the summit, and terminated by a sin- gle apetalous greenish white flower ; the three petal-like sepals fall away when the flower opens, leaving the numerous stamens, and the cluster of 12 or more pistils, which in fruit become berry-like, and, being bright crimson, the cluster has the appearance of a raspberry. There is but one species, which is found from New York westward and southward, and is nowhere very common. It was used by the aborigines as a stimulant application to ulcers, and also as a dye ; it is among the many re- puted cancer cures. It is a tonic, and is re- garded by some as having especial action on the liver and kidneys. In the western states it is used as an antiperiodic, as a substitute for quinine ; the dose in powder is 30 to 60 grains. The so-called hydrastin of the eclectics, preci- pitated from a concentrated infusion by mu- riatic acid, is used in doses of three to five grains ; it consists mostly of berberine. PfCKLER-MFSKAU, Hermann Ludwig Hdnrich von, prince, a German author, born at Muskau, Lusatia, Oct. 30, 1785, died at Branitz, near Kottbus, Feb. 4, 1871. He studied in Leipsic, served in various armies, and was made prince by the king of Prussia in 1822. He laid out magnificent parks at Muskau and Branitz, but in 1845 sold the former domain. His pri- vate life was marked by eccentric habits. Among his principal works, which chiefly de-