31. for 1001. for a year, &c. shall forfeit treble the value of the moneys or other things lent.

But if a contract, which carries interest, is made in a foreign country, our courts will direct the payment of interest according to the law of that country in which the contract was made. Thus Irish, American, Turkish, and Indian interest, have been allowed in our courts, to the amount each of 121. per cent. For the moderation or exorbitance of interest depends upon local circumstances; and the refusal to enforce such contracts would put a stop to all foreign trade. 2 Black. 463.

In an action brought for usury, the statute made against it must be pleaded; and in plead ing an usurious contract as a bar to an action, the whole matter is to be set forth specially, because it lies within the party's own privity; yet on an information on the statute for making such contract, it is sufficient to mention the corrupt bargain generally, because matters of this kind are supposed to be privily transacted; and such information may be brought by a stranger. 1 Hawk. P. C. 248. Likewise upon an information on the statute against sury, he that borrows the money may be a witness, after he has paid the same.

UTENSIL. s. (utensile, low Latin.) An instrument for any use, such as the vessels of the kitchen, or tools of a trade (South). UTERINE. a. (uterinus, Lat.) Belonging to the womb (Ray).

UTERINE FURY. See NYMPHOMANIA. UTERUS. (voTifa.) Matrix. The womb. A spongy receptacle resembling a compressed pear, situated in the cavity of the pelvis, above the vagina, and between the urinary bladder and rectum.

The form of the uterus resembles that of an oblong pear flattened, with the depressed sides placed towards the ossa pubis and sacrum; but, in the impregnated state, it becomes more oval, according to the degree of its distention. For the convenience of description, and for some practical purposes, the uterus is distinguished into three parts; the fundus, the body, and the cervix. The upper part is called the fundus, the lower the cervix, the space between them, the extent of which is undefined, the body. The uterus is about three inches in length, about two in breadth at the fundus and one at the cervix. Its thickness is different at the fundus and cervix, being at the former usually rather less than half an inch, and at the latter somewhat more; and this thickness is preserved throughout pregnancy, chiefly by the enlargement of the veins and lymphatics; there being a smaller change in the size of the arteries. But there is so great a variety in the size and dimensions of the uterus in different women, independent of the states of virginity, marriage, or pregnancy, as to prevent any very accurate mensuration. The cavity of the uterus corresponds with the external form; that of the cervix leads from the os uteri, where it is very small, in a straight direction, to the fundus, where it is expanded into a triangular form, with two of the angles

opposed to the entrance into the falloptan tubes; and at the place of junction between the cervix and the body of the uterus the cavity is smaller than it is in any other part. There is a swell, or fulness, of all the parts towards the cavity, which is sometimes distinguished by a prominent line running longitudinally through its middle. The villous coat of the vagina is reflected over the os uteri, and is continued into the membrane which lines the cavity of the uterus. The internal surface of the uterus is corrugated in a beautiful manner, but the rugæ, or wrinkles, which are longitudi nal, lessen as they advance into the uterus, the fundus of which is smooth. In the intervals between the rugæ are small orifices, like those in the vagina, which discharge a mucus, serv ing, besides other purposes, that of closing the os uteri very curiously and perfectly during pregnancy. The substance of the uterus, which is very firm, is composed of arteries, veins, lymphatics, nerves, and muscular fibres, cur ously interwoven and connected together by cellular membrane. The muscular fibres are of a pale colour, and appear also in their tex ture somewhat different from muscular fibres in other parts of the body. The arteries of the uterus are the spermatic and hypogastric. The spermatic arteries arise from the anterior peri of the aorta, a little below the emulgents, and sometimes from the emulgents. They pass over the psoa muscles behind the peritonæum, enter between the two lamine or duplicatures of the peritoneum, which form the broad liga ments of the uterus, and proceed to the uterus, near the fundus of which they insinuate themselves, giving branches in their passage to the ovaria and fallopian tubes. The hypogastric arteries are on each side a considerable branch of the internal iliacs. They pass to the sides of the body of the uterus, sending off a number of smaller branches, which dip into its substance. Some branches also are reflected up. wards to the fundus uteri, which anastomost with the spermatic arteries, and others are re flected downwards, supplying the vagina. The veins which reconduct the blood from the uterus are very numerous, and their size in the unimpregnated state is proportioned to that of the arteries; but their enlargement during pregnancy is such, that the orifices of some of them, when divided, will admit even of the end of a small finger. The veins anastomose in the manner of the arteries, which they ac company out of the uterus, and then, having the same names with the arteries, spermatic and hypogastric, the former proceeds to the vena cava on the right side, and on the left to the emulgent vein; and the latter to the internal iliac.

From the substance and surfaces of the uterus an infinite number of lymphatics arise; which follow the course of the hypogastric and spermatic blood vessels. The first pass into the gland of the internal iliac plexus, and the other into the glands which are situated nest the origin of the spermatic arteries. Of these Nuck first gave a delineation.

The uterus is supplied with nerves from the lower mesocolic plexus, and from two small flat circular ganglions, which are situated be hind the rectum. These ganglions are joined by a number of small brauches from the third and fourth sacral nerves. The ovaria derive their nerves from the renal plexus. By the great number of nerves these parts are rendered very irritable, but it is by those branches which the uterus receives from the intercostal that the intimate consent between it and various other parts is chiefly preserved. The muscular fibres of the uterus have been described in a very different manner by anatomists, some of whom have asserted, that its substance was chiefly muscular, with fibres running in transverse, orbicular, or reticulated order, whilst others have contended that there were no muscular fibres whatever in the uterus. In the unimpregnated uterus, when boiled for the purpose of a more perfect examination, the former seems to be a true representation; and when the uterus is distended towards the latter part of pregnancy, these fibres are very thinly scattered; but they may be discovered in a circular direction at the junction between the body and the cervix of the uterus, and surrounding the entrance of each fallopian tube in a similar order. Yet it does not seem reasonable to attribute the time of labour to its muscular fibres only, if we are to judge of the power of a muscle by the number of fibres of which it is composed, unless it is presumed that those of the uterus are stronger than in common muscles. With respect to the glands of the uterus, none are discoverable dispersed through its substance upon the inner surface of the cervix; between the rug there are lacunæ which secrete mucus, and there are small follicles at the edge of the os uteri. These last are only observable in a state of pregnancy, when they are much enlarged. From the angles at the fundus of the uterus two processes of an irregularly round form originate, called, from the name of the first describer, the fallopian tubes. They are about three inches in length, and, becoming smaller in their progress from the uterus, have an uneven, fringed termination, called the fimbriæ. The canal which passes through these tubes is extremely small at their origin, but it is gradually enlarged, and terminates with a patulous orifice, the diameter of which is about one-third of an inch, surrounded by the fimbriæ. It is also lined by a very fine vascu lar membrane, formed into serpentine plicæ. Through this canal, the communication between the uterus and ovaria is preserved. The fallopian tubes are wrapped in duplicatures of the peritoneum, which are called the broad ligaments of the uterus; but a portion of their extremities thus folded hangs loose on each side of the pelvis. From each lateral angle of the uterus, a little before and below the fallopian tubes, the round ligaments arise, which are composed of arteries, veins, lymphatics, nerves, and a fibrous structure. These are connected together by cellular membrane, and the whole is much enlarged during pregnancy.

They receive their outward covering from the peritonæum, and pass out of the pelvis through the ring of the external oblique muscle to the groin, where the vessels subdivide into small branches, and terminate at the mons veneris and contiguous parts. From the insertion of these ligaments into the groin, the reason appears why that part generally suffers in all the diseases and affections of the uterus, and why the inguinal glands are in women so often found in a morbid or enlarged state. The du plicatures of the peritoneum, in which the fallopian tubes and ovaria are involved, are called the broad ligaments of the uterus. These prevent the entanglement of the parts, and are conductors of the vessels and nerves, as the mesentery is of those of the intestines. Both the round and broad ligaments alter their position during pregnancy, appearing to rise lower and more forward than in the unimpregnated state. Their use is supposed to be that of preventing the descent of the uterus, and to regu late its direction when it ascends into the cavity of the abdomen; but whether they answer these purposes may be much doubted. The use of the womb is for menstruation, conception, nutrition of the fetus, and parturition. The uterus is liable to many diseases; the principal of which are prolapsus uteri, procidentia uteri, hydatids, dropsy of the uterus, or tympanites uteri, moles, ulceration, &c.

UTERUS (Retroversion of). See MIDwiFERY.

UTICA, a celebrated city of Africa, on the coast of the Mediterranean, on the same bay as Carthage. It became the metropolis of Africa, after the destruction of Carthage in the third Punic war. It is celebrated for the death of Cato, who from thence is called Uticensis.

UTILITY. s. (utilité, Fr. utilitas, Latin.) Usefulness; profit; convenience; advantageousness (Bacon).

UTMOST. a. (uzmært, Sax. from utzér.) 1. Extreme; placed at the extremity (Milton). 2. Being in the highest degree (Shakspeare).

UTMOST. S. The most that can be; the greatest power; the highest degree; the greatest effort (South)

UTRECHT, one of the provinces of Holland, 30 miles long and 20 broad; bounded on the N. by Holland and the Zuider Zee, E. and S. by Gelderland, and W. by Holland. The soil is fertile, and there are no inundations to fear as in the other provinces.

UTRECHT, a fortified city of Holland, capital of a province of the same name, with a famous university. It is of a square form, about three miles in circumference, without its four suburbs, which are considerable. The inhabitants are estimated at 20,000. The steeple of the cathedral is very high, and the handsomest in Holland. There is a great number of churches and hospitals; and the townhouse is a noble building. The principal manufac tures are silk and fire-arms; and in a place called the Mall is an extensive foundery for cannon balls. Two canals, called the New Graft and the Vaert, run through the city, and

over them are thirty-six stone bridges. The environs are full of gardens, walks, and groves, which, added to the purity of the air, render Utrecht one of the most agreeable places for residence in these parts. Here the union of the Seven United Provinces was begun in 1579; and here was concluded, in 1713, the peace which terminated the wars of queen Anne. Utrecht surrendered to the Prussians in 1787, and to the French in 1795, each time without resistance. It is seated on the Rhine, 18 miles S. E. of Amsterdam, and 35 N.N.W. of Nimeguen. Lon. 5. 8 E. Lat. 52. 6 N. UTRICULARIA, a genus of plants of the class diandria, and order monogynia; and in the natural system arranged under the 24th order, corydales. The calyx is ringent, with a nectarium resembling a spur; the corolla diphyllous and equal; the capsule unilocular. There are 13 species, two of which are natives of Britain. They have been applied to no particular use.

UTRICULES, in botany. (from uter, a wine-bag or bottle.) Reservoirs to secrete and receive the sap. See VESSELS.

Also the bags or bladders at the root of utricularia.

UTTER. a. (urzen, Saxon.) 1. Situate on the outside, or remote from the centre (Milton). 2. Placed beyond any compass; out of any place (Milton). 3. Extreme; excessive; utmost (Milton). 4. Complete; total (Clarendon). 5. Peremptory (Clarendon). 6. Perfect; mere (Atterbury).

To U'TTER. v. a. 1. To speak; to pronounce; to express (Shakspeare). 2. To disclose; to discover; to publish (Raleigh). 3. To sell; to vend (Carew). 4. To disperse; to emit at large (Swift).

UTTERABLE. a. (from utter.) Expressible; such as may be uttered.

UTTERANCE. s. (from utter.) 1. Pronunciation; manner of speaking (Spenser). 2. (outrance, Fr.) Extremity; terms of extreme hostility: out of use (Shakspeare). 3. Vocal expression; emission from the mouth (Holder).

U'TTERER. s. (from utter.) 1. One who pronounces. 2. A divulger; a discloser (Sp.). 3. A seller; a vender.

UTTERLY. ad. (from utter.) Fully; completely; perfectly (Clarendon).

UTTERMOST. a. (from utter.) 1. Extreme; being in the highest degree (Millon). 2. Most remote (Abbot).

UTTERMOST. S. The greatest (Hooker). UTTOXETER, a town in Staffordshire, with a market on Wednesday; seated on a rising ground, near the river Dove, 13 miles N.E. of Stafford, and 136 N.N.W. of London. Lon. 1.50 W. Lat. 53. 10 N.

UVA PASSA MAJOR. Passula major, The raisin. The dried fruit of the vitis vinifera of Linnéus. Vitis foliis lobatis sinuatis nudis. C. O. pentandria, monogynia. Raisins are prepared by immersing the fresh fruit into a solution of alkaline salt and soap lye, made boiling hot, to which is added some olive-oil,

and a small quantity of common salt, and afterwards drying them in the shade. They are used as agreeable, lubricating, acesceut sweets in pectoral decoctions, and for obtunding the acrimony of other medicines, and rendering them grateful to the palate and stomach. They are directed in the decoctum hordei comp. tinctura sennæ, and tinctura cardamomi comp.

UVA PASSA MINOR. Passa corinthiaca. The currants. The dried fruit of the vitis corinthica. Their virtues are similar to those of the uva passa major.

UVA URSI. Trailing arbutus, or bear-berry. Arbutus uva ursi of Linnéus. Arbutus caulibus procumbentibus, foliis integerrimus. C. O. decandria, monogynia. This plant, though employed by the ancients in several diseases requiring adstringent medicines, had almost entirely fallen into disuse until the middle of the present century, when it first drew the at tention of physicians as a useful remedy in calculous and nephritic complaints, which dis cases it appears to relieve by its adstringent qualities.

UVARIA, in botany, a genus of the class polyandria, order polygynia. Calyx three-leav ed; petals six; berries numerous, pendulous, four-seeded. Eleven species, shrubs of India, Japan, or China.

UVEA. (from uva, an unripe grape.) The posterior lamina of the iris; so called, because in beasts, which the ancients chiefly dissected, it is of the colour of unripe grapes.

VULCAN, VULCANUS, a god of the an cients, who presided over fire, was the patron of all artists who worked iron and metals. He was son of Juno alone, and, according to Homer, he was son of Jupiter and Juno. Vulcan, it is said, was educated in heaven with the rest of the gods, but his father kicked him down from Olympus, when he attempted to deliver his mother, who had been fastened by a golden chain for her insolence. He was nine days in coming from heaven upon earth, and he fell in the island of Lemnos. Having broken his leg in the fall, he ever after remained lame. He fixed his residence in Lemnos, where he raised forges to work metals, and taught the inhabitants all the useful arts. Vulcan has been celebrated by the ancient poets for the ingenious works and automatical figures which he made, and it is said, that at the request of Jupiter he made the first woman that ever appeared on earth, well known under the name of Pandora. (See PANDORA.) The Cyclops of Sicily were his ministers and attendants, and with him they fabricated, not only the thun derbolts of Jupiter, but also arms for the gods and the most celebrated heroes. His forges were supposed to be under mount Etna, in the island of Sicily. The amours of Vulcan are not numerous. Venus is universally ac knowledged to have been the wife of Vulcan, but her infidelity is well known, as well as het amours with Mars. (See ALECTRYON.) The worship of Vulcan was well established, par ticularly in Egypt, at Athens, and at Rome, A calf and a boar pig were the principal vie

tims offered to him. Vulcan was generally represented as covered with sweat, blowing with his nervous arm the fires of his forges, and sometimes holding a hammer raised in the air ready to strike, while with the other hand he turns with pincers a thunderbolt on an anvil. Vulcan his received the names of Mulciber, Pamphanes, Clytotechnes, Pandamator, Cyllopodes, Chalaipoda, &c. all expressive of his lameness and his profession. He was father of Cupid by Venus.

VULCANALIA, festivals in honour of Vulcan, brought to Rome from Præneste. The streets were illuminated, fires kindled every where, and animals thrown into the flames, as a sacrifice to the deity.

VULCANO. See VOLCANO. VULGAR. a. (vulgaire, Fr. vulgaris, Lat.) 1. Plebeian; suiting to the common people; practised among the common people (Addison). 2. Vernacular; national (Fell). 3. Mean; low; being of the common rate (Broome) 4. Public; commonly bruited (Shakspeare).

· VeʻLGAR S. (rulgaire, Fr.) The common people (King Charles).

1.

VULGARISM. s. (from vulgar.) Grossness; meanness; vulgarity (Reynolds). VULGARITY. s. (from vulgar.) Meiness; state of the lowest people (Brown). 2. Mean or gross mode (Dryden). VULGARLY. ad. (from vulgar.) Commonly; in the ordinary manner; among the Common people (Hammond).

VULGATE, a very ancient Latin translation of the Bible, and the only one the church of Rome acknowledges authentic. (See BIBLE.) The ancient vulgate of the old testament was translated almost word for word from the Greek of the LXX. The author of the version is not known, nor so much as guessed at.

VULGATE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. This the Romanists generally hold preferable to the common Greek text, in regard it is this done, and not the Greek text, that the council of Trent had declared authentic. Accordingly that church has, as it were, adopted this edition. The priests read no other at the altar, the preachers quote no other in the pulpit, nor the divines in the schools.

VULNERABLE. a. (vulnerabilis, Latin.) Susceptive of wounds; liable to external injunes (Shakspeare).

VULNERARY. a. (vulnerarius, Latin.) Useful in the cure of wounds (Wiseman)

To VULNERATE v. a. (vulnero, Latin) To wound; to hurt (Glanville). VULPINE. a. (vulpinus, Lat.) Belonging

to a fox.

VULTUR. Vulture. In zoology, a genus of the class aves, order accipitres. Bill straight, hooked at the point; head bare of feathers, with a naked skin in front; tongue cleft, neck retrac ile. Seventeen species, scattered over the globe; all of them exotic to our own country. These are a rapacious tribe, feeding on carcases, however putrid; but, unless pressed by VOL. XI. PART II.

hunger, seldom attacking living animals; bold, gregarious, fly slowly, unless when very high in the air, and have an exquisite sense of smell. Tongue large, fleshy; head, and often the cheeks, chin and neck, on the upper part, naked; legs and feet strong, mostly covered with scales; first joint of the middle toe generally connected to the outer by a strong membrane; wings lined on the inside with down.

The following are the principal species:

1. V. gryphus. Of prodigious size; a caruncle on the crown as long as the head; throat naked. Inhabits South America; measures, with the wings extended, from tip to tip, not less than from twelve to sixteen feet; builds under the protection of the highest rocks; lays two white eggs. It is a bird of fearful and enormous power, but, happily for mankind, in every country extremely rare. Feuillée has well described a specimen that fell a prey to his own courage.

"I discovered," says he, in the valley of Ilo, in Peru, a condor perched on a high rock before me; I approached within musket shot, and fired; but as my piece was only loaded with swan-shot, the lead was not able sufficiently to pierce the bird's feathers. I perceived, however, by its manner of flying, that it was wounded; as it rese heavily, and with a good deal of difficulty reached another rock, about five hundred yards distant, upon the shore; I therefore loaded again with a ball, and hit the bird under the throat, which made it mine. I accordingly ran up to seize it; but even in death it was terrible, and defended itself on its back, with its claws extended against me; so that I scarce knew how to lay hold of it. Had it not been mortally wounded I should have found it no easy matter to take it; but I at last dragged it down from the rock, and, with the assistance of one of the seamen, carried it to the tent, to make a coloured drawing.

"The wings of this bird, which I measured exactly, were eleven feet four inches, from one extremity to the other: the great feathers, of a beautiful shining black, were two feet two inches long. The thickness of the beak was proportionable to the rest of the body; the length about four inches; the point hooked downwards, and white at its extremity, the other part being of a jet black. A short down, of a brown colour, covered the head; the eyes were black, and surrounded with a circle of reddish brown; the feathers on the breast, neck, and wings, were of a light brown; those on the back rather darker; its thighs were covered with brown feathers down to the knee: the thigh bone was ten inches long; the leg five inches: the toes were three before and one behind: the later was an inch and a half long, with a single joint; and the claw with which it was armed was black, and three quarters of an inch: the other claws were in the same proportion; and the leg and tocs covered with black scales.