Encyclopædia americana. A popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, a new ed.; including a copious collection of original articles in American biography; on the basis of the 7th ed. of the German Conversations-lexicon. Ed. by Francis Lieber, assisted by E. Wigglesworth ...

CATAMENIA-CATARACT. 575
monly, in England, from five to six island, is not mluch frequented; but the
ounces: it rarely exceeds eight. Its du- trade is considerable. The exports are
ration is from three to four, and some- wheat, barley, wine, oil, &c.
times, though rarely, five days. With CATA.PLASMS, or POULTICES, are soft
respect to the nature of the discharge, it compounds, intended to be applied to the
differs very much fiom pure blood. It surface of the body. They are commonnever coagulates, but is sometimles gru- ly made of meals, powders, boiled pulps,
mnous, and meInbrares like the decidua &c., mixed with water, milk, or some
are fbrmed in difficult menstruations. In other liquid. They are called sinapisms
some women, it always smlells rank and when mustard forms their base.
peculiar; in others, it is inodorous. The CATAPULTS (Latin, catapultce; Greek,
use of this monthly secretion is said to be, Karar~rart); certain machines of the anto render the uterus fit for the conception cients, corresponding to our heavy canand nutrition of'the fetus; therefore girls non. The catapults differed from the
rarely conceive before the cataithenia ap- ballistce by throwing more horizontally,
pear, and women rarely after their entire the latter more in a curve. The foral
cessation, but very easily soon after men- also differed, and the catapults resembled,
struation. in their general shape, a cross-bow. The
CATANIA (anciently Catanra); a city of whole machine rested on a frame, and, if
Sicily, il the valley of Demona, on the intended for the field, had wheels. The'iorders of the valley of Noto, the see of a size of these machines varied much.
bishop, the suffi'agan of MJonreal; 47 The large catapults shot arrows of 3
Imile S S. W. iMessina, 85 E. S. E. Pa- cubits, or 44 Roman feet, in length, often
leIrrio; at. 37~ 30' N.; Ion. 15~ 6' E. larger ones, and sometimes beans 12
Tfie population is variously estimated at feet long. Burning arrows were likewise
i'orn 40 to 80,000. It is situated on a often thrown by the catapults. The large
gulf of the Mediterranean, at the foot of ones threw their arrows 4 stadia, but
louit /ERtna. This city has been repeat- not more than 2 stadia with precision.
ed!y visited by tremendous earthquakes, Pliny ascribes the invention of catapults
antd was laimd in ruins by one in 1693, to the Syrians; Plutarch and Diodorus, to
wIhen 3 18000 people were destroyed; and other nations. At the siege of Jerusalem,:pron the situation which it occupied, the the Romans had 300 catapults and 40
pLuesent city is built; the lava serving, at ballistme. The Romans did not carry all
the same timne, for a.foundation, as well the parts of these machines with them,
as a quarry, firom which stone was dug but only the ropes and fastenings, with
for its coistructior. Catania is reviving the necessary tools; and the soldiers built
wvth great splendor, and has much more the catapults when they wanted them.
the features of a metropolis and royal The terms catapult and ballistce were
residence than Palermo. The principal often used indiscriminately; and, in later
streets are wide, and well paved with times, the word catapult went entirely out
lava. Most of the edifices have an air of of use. Vegetius and Ammianus Mlarceimagnificence unknown in other parts of linus never introduce it, and employ balthe island, and the town has a title to listc to signify all machines throwing large
rank among the elegant cities of Europe. arrows or beams, and onager for those
Here is a university with three faculties, throwing stones.
much celebrated in Sicily. The inhabit- CATARACT. By this term two very difants have always been noted for their su- ferent diseases are designated by some
periority over the other Sicilians in polite- writers, viz. the true cataract, and amauness. The Benedictine convent of St. rosis, or glrtta serena. By the first of
Nicholas is very larlge. Every part has these terms, in its most common signifibeen rebuilt since the earthquake of 1693. cation, is understood opacity of the crysAn obelisk of red granite, placed on the talline lens, or its capsule, or both. By
back of an antique elephant of touchstone, the second is meant a disease of the retistands in the centre of the great square, na, by which it is rendered unsusceptible
wvhich is formed by the town-hall, semi- of the action of light. In cataract, the
nary and cathedral. The cathedral, ded- lens becomes opaque, loses its transpaicated to St. Agatha, the patroness of the rency, and is no longer capable of transcity, has suffered so much by earthquakes, mitting the light. The causes of cataract
tliat little of the original structure remains. are numerous. Inflammation may proThe other religious edifices are profusely duce it. Sometimes it is ascribed to a state
orinamented, but in a bad taste. The har- of the vessels of the part which prevents
bor, though one of the largest in the a proper nourishment of the lens or its