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Mitscherlich, Eilhard

(Encyclopedia)Mitscherlich, Eilhard īlˈhärt mĭchˈərlĭkh [key], 1794–1863, German chemist. He was professor at Berlin from 1822. Noted for his discovery of the principle of isomorphism, he did important wor...

Kato, Tomosaburo

(Encyclopedia)Kato, Tomosaburo tōmōsˌäˌbo͞orōˈ, käˈtō [key], 1861–1923, Japanese admiral. He was naval chief of staff (1894–95) and chief assistant to Admiral Togo in the Russo-Japanese War. As navy ...

Archimedes' screw

(Encyclopedia)Archimedes' screw, a simple mechanical device believed to have been invented by Archimedes in the 3d cent. b.c. It consists of a cylinder inside of which a continuous screw, extending the length of th...

Caus, Salomon de

(Encyclopedia)Caus or Caux, Salomon de both: sälōmôNˈ də kō [key] 1576–1626, French engineer and physicist, educated in England. From 1614 to 1620 he was engineer to the Elector Palatine, Frederick, at Heid...

ahimsa

(Encyclopedia)ahimsa əhĭmˈsä [key] [Sanskrit,=noninjury], ethical principle of noninjury to both men and animals, common to Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. Ahimsa became influential in India after 600 b.c., co...

soul

(Encyclopedia)soul, the vital, immaterial, life principle, generally conceived as existing within humans and sometimes within all living things, inanimate objects, and the universe as a whole. Religion and philosop...

European Free Trade Association

(Encyclopedia)European Free Trade Association (EFTA), customs union and trading bloc; its current members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. EFTA was established in 1960 by Austria, Denmark, Great...

Duruy, Victor

(Encyclopedia)Duruy, Victor vēktôrˈ dürüēˈ [key], 1811–94, French historian. He was a professor at Reims and Paris, and as minister of public instruction (1863–69) under Napoleon III he encouraged the ad...

Davis, Andrew Jackson

(Encyclopedia)Davis, Andrew Jackson, 1826–1910, American spiritualist, b. Blooming Grove, N.Y. He became a professional clairvoyant, known as the “Poughkeepsie Seer,” after being mesmerized in 1843. He was po...

informed consent

(Encyclopedia)informed consent, in medicine, a patient's written consent to a surgical or medical procedure or other course of treatment, given after the physician has told the patient all of the potential benefits...