Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/734

STEUVE. 636 STUART. calculated the dimensions of the ring of Saturn, determined the mass of Neptune, and made ob- servations on solar velocity and the extent of the corona. Struve wrote: Vcbersicht dcr Thiitig- keit der Xicolai-Hauptsternwarte uiihrend der ersteii 25 Jahre Hires licstehens (1865) ; ZumSO- jtihrifim Bestehen dcr Xikokii-Huiiijtstcrnaartc (1887); Observations de Pulkova (1869-93). STRYCHNINE, or STRYCHNIA l from Lat. stii/cliiiiix. from (ik. o-r/u'x'"". stijiclinos. plant of the nightsliade kind). A poisonous alka- loid resembling brucine (q.v.), obtained from various species of plants, especially from the seeds of the Saint Ignatius bean and from nux vomica. It occurs in right square octahedrons or prisms, colorless and inodorous, scarcely soluble in water, but easily so in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. Pure sulphuric acid forms with it a colorless solution, which, on the addition of bi- chromate of potash, acquires an intensely violet hue, speedily passing through red to yellow. If, indeed, the solution is diluted with water while it is red and ammonia is added, it becomes a violet purple, changing to yellow. Another test for strychnine is its action upon animals. In nitric acid it ought, if pure, to form a colorless solution ; if the solution is reddish it is a sign that brucine is also present. Strychnine combines with nu- merous acids, and forms well-marked salts, which are amenable to the same tests as the base itself and are soluble In water. Strychnine is intensely bitter, and will impart this quality to 20,000 times its weight of water. See Antidotes. STRYCHNOS (Lat., from Gk. crprx^oc, stri/chnon. r^C^^voc, irnchnos, plant of the night- shade kind). A genus of trees and shrubs of the natural order Loganiacese. To this genus belongs Siri/chnos Xrix-vomica. an East Indian tree of medium size, whose fruit, which is produced in great abundance, is iibout the size of a small orange. Its disk-shaped seeds, which are the nux vomica of commerce, yield the alkaloids strychnine and brucine. The wood of the tree is very hard and durable. The clearing-nut and Saint Ignatius bean are produced by species of this genus, to which also belongs the South American tree {Strychnos loxifera) from which Ncx VOMICA {Strycbnos Xux-vomica). a, fruit; b, seed. curare or woorali is obtained. Another species is the upas tieutf (Strychnos Tieute) of Java, a large climbing shrvib, whose bark is reputed poisonous. The w-ood of a climbing species (Strychnos colulrina), found in the north of India, is said to cure snake bites. The bark of Strychnos Pscudo-quina, a Brazilian species, is used as a substitute for cinchona. The climbing species are provided with curious hooked tendrils by which they attach tliemselves to trees. De- spite the popular ill-repute attached to many of the species, their fruits, especially those of Strychnos yux-vomica, seem to be harmless, since they are often eaten by birds. STRYJ, stri'y'. A town in Galicia, Austria, 40 miles south of Lemberg (Map: Austria, J 2). It has a castle. Its industries include the nuinu- facturing of leather, matches, and iron products. Population, in 1890, 10,515; in 1900, 23,073. STRY'KER, JIelancthon Woolsey (1851 — ). An American educator, liorn at A'ernon, N. Y. He graduated at Hamilton College in 1872 and at the Auburn Theological Seminary four years later. Between 1871! and 1892 he was pastor of churches in Auburn, N? Y. ; Ithaca, N. Y. ; Holyoke, Mass. : and Chicago. In the latter year he was elected president of Hamilton College. His publications include The Song of Miriam (18S8), a hymnal Church Song (1889), Dies IrcE (1893), Lattermath (1896), and a number of addresses. STRYPE, .Toii.^ (1643-1737). A Church of England historian and antiquary. He was born in London, studied at Cambridge, entered the Church, and held for many years, with other smaller livings, the rectory of Leyton, in Essex. His w-orks fill 13 large folio volumes. Ecclesias- tical Memorials, relating to religion and the Church of England under Henry VI II., Edward VI., and Mary, is his best work, forming, with Biirnet's more readable History of the lieforma- tiun, a consecutive and full account of the re- formed Anglican Church. As a writer he is heavy, but honest and plodding, and he was a faithful transcriber of the ancient papers he published, which, he says, were all copied with his own hand. His complete works were re- printed with general index by R. F. Laurence (28 volumes. Oxford, 1820-28). STU'ART, or STEWART. A Scotch and English royal family. Its origin is traced to Fitzilaald. a Norman, who accompanied the Con- queror to England. His second son. Walter (d. 1117), entered the service of David I. of Scot- land, who conferred large territorial possessions on him, along with the dignity of Steward of Scotland, which became hereditary in his family, and was assumed by his descendants as a sur- name, some branches of the house later modify- ing the orthography to Steuart, or the French form Stuart. For seven generations the stew- ardship continued unbroken from father to son. Walter, the third steward and grandson of the first steward, held, in addition, the office of jus- ticiary of Scotland. Alexander, fourth steward, was Regent of Scotland in Alexander III.'s mi- nority. .Tames, the fifth steward, was one of the six Regents of Scotland after the death of Alex- ander III. : and Walter, the sixth steward, by his marriage with ]Iarjory, daughter of Robert Bruce, eventiuilly brought the crown of Scotland to his family. His son. Robert, seventh high steward. wasRegent from 1338 to 1341. and after- wards during the eaptivitv of his uncle. David II., from 1346 to 1357. On the death of David II., in 1371, he ascended the throne as Robert II., and died in 1390. (For the subsequent liistory of the royal family see articles Robert II. and