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BEZOAR-BIAS. 89
ing their heads only above water. In composition of an Italian-French and
this situation, a viscous fluid distilled French-Italian dictionary.
from their eyes, which was indurated by BIANCHINI, Francesco, born at Verona,
the heat of the sun, and formed the be- 1662, studied mathematics, physics, anatzoar.-The great value of the bezoar at omy and botany, at first under the Jesuits,
one time gave birth to many imitations afterwards (1680) at Padua. He was inof it, and various tests have been proposed tended for the clerical profession, repairto detect the artificial stones. The fol- ed to Rome, and there applied himself to
lowing cruel and absurd one is given by jurisprudence, but continued at the same
Clusius: —Thread a needle, and draw the time the study of experimental physics,
thread through a leaf plucked from a yew- astronomy, &C., as well as of Greek, Hetree; then pass the needle through a dog's brew, &c. Antiquities also became one
foot, and leave the thread in the wound; of his favorite studies. He passed whole
when the dog becomes convulsed, and days amidst ancient monuments, was
appears dying, mix some scrapings of be- present at all the excavations in search of
zoar with water, and moisten the animal's them, visited all the museums, and made
mouth with it; if he recover, the stone is drawings of the remains of antiquity with
genuine. Simupler methods, perhaps, are, as much taste as skill. At the death of
immersion in warm water, which neither Iniocent XI, cardinal Ottoboni ascendloses its own color, nor diminishes the ed the papal throne under the name
weight of the bezoar: or rubbing it over of leCxander VFII, and bestowed on B. a
paper smeared with chalk or quick-line; rich benefice, with the appointment of tuthe genuine stone leaves a yellow hue on tot and librarian to his nephew, the cardlithe first, a green one on the last. nal Pietro Ottoboni. Pope Clement XI
BIA; a name given by the Siamese to also patronised him, and appointed him
those small shells which are called cow- secretary to the commission employed in
ries throughout almost all the other parts the correction of the calendar. B. was
of the East Indies. (See Cowries.) commissioned to draw a meridian in the
BIAGIOLI, Josaphat; a learned Italian church of St. Maria degli dIngeli, and to
linguist at Paris. Before the invasion of erect a sun-dial. He successfully accomItaly, by the joint forces of Austria plished this difficult undertaking, with the
and Russia, in 1798, he was professor of assistance of Maraldi. Being on a tour
Greek and Latin literature at the univer- through France, Holland and England,
sity of Urbino. As B. had shown him- he formed the idea of drawing a meridian
self a friend to the cause of liberty, he in Italy from one sea to the other, in imitook refuge in Paris, and was appointed tation of that which Cassini had drawn
professor of Italian literature at a p-yjta- through France. It-e was occupied eight
neium, and delivered lectures before a years at his own expense in that work:
splendid audience. He is the editor of but other employments withdrew his atthe Lettere del Card. Bentivoglio (Paris, tention froml and it remained unfinished.
1808-12), and author of a Gramnmaire He concluded iis career with two;imporraisonnee de la Langete Italienne a 1' Usage taunt works (1727), on the planet Venus and
des Francois, sucivie d'un Traite de la Po- on the sepulchre of Augustus. He died in
esie Italienne (Paris, 1809), which obtained 1729. A monunment was erected to his
the approbation of the French institute, memory in the cathedral at Verona. He
and has passed through four editions. He united the most extensive learning with
has also prepared a Caxammatica ragionata modesty and the mlost amiable manners.
della Ling, ta FS'ancese all' Uso degl' Itali- BIAS; son of Teutamus; born at Priene,
ani (1812). His edition of the Divina one of the principal cities of lonia, about
Comrnmedia del Dante Alighieri (Paris, 1818, 570 B. C. He was a practical philoso3 vols.), for the correctness of the text pher, studied the laws of his country, and
and the excellence of the commentary, is employed his knowledge in the service
held in great esteem; but it has also con- of his friends; defending them in the
tributed to the propagation of many new courts of justice, or settling their disputes.
errors relating to Dante, partly fiom the He made a noble use of his wealth. His
editor's violent spirit of opposition to advice, that thle Ionians should fly before
Lombardi. It obtained the honor of be- the victorious Cyrus to Sardinia, was not
ing reprinted in Italy (Milan, 1820, 16eno.) followed, and the victory of the army of
B. has published, at Paris, Petrarca, and Cyrus confirmed the correctness of his
the poemrs of Michael Angelo Buonarotti, opinion. The inhabitants of Priene, when
-with a commentary similar to that of besieged by Ilazares, resolved to abandon
Dante, and is now occupied with the the city with their propelty. On this oc
8*