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slender race. The prevailing form of religion is the even when the attention is, in the first instan Koman Catholic, but the non-united Greek Church, voluntarily directed to them, as in also numbers many adherents. Education is still plans which have been recommended for the in a backward state. Capital of the country, Eszék | duction of sleep, when there exists no ** (q. v.).

SLEEP. This term is employed to designate that state of suspension of the sensory and motor functions which appears to alternate in all animals with the active condition of those functions, and which may be made to give place to it by the agency of appropriate impressions upon the sensory nerves. This definition, which we have borrowed from Dr Carpenter's article on 'Sleep' in Todd's Cyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiolo, may seem somewhat complex, but cannot be simplified without rendering it less stringent. The necessity for sleep arises from the fact, that the exercise of the animal functions is in itself destructive of the tissues of the organs which minister to them, so that if the waste produced by their action were not duly repaired, they would speedily become untit for further use; and it is on the nutritive regeneration of the tissues which takes place during true healthy sleep that its refreshing power depends. While the sensory and motor functions are suspended during the condition we designate as sleep, the organic functions are uninterruptedly carried on, the respiratory, cardiac, and peristaltic movements proceeding with equal uniformity during the sleeping and waking

states.

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Greek verb. In either case, whea the sens
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monotony of the impression (whether reserved from
the organ of sense or from the cerebrum tests to
retain it there; so that the will abati se a i
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and allows it to yield itself up to the side
influence. This last method is peculiarly eri-L
when the restlessness is dependent upon
mental agitation, provided that the will las nomer
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and to reduce them to the tranquilising state ui
mere mechanical repetition.'

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The access of sleep is sometimes quite su 1 ien tie individual passing at once from a state of conjeta mental activity to one of entire torpor generally, however, it is gradual, the mind whe remaining poised, as it were, between sleep azi Le opposite condition being pervaded by a confusion which almost amounts to weld deran the ideas dissolve their connection with it one one; and its own essence becomes so vazu azi There can be no doubt that the state of sleep is diluted that it melts away in the nothiness of one to which there is a periodical tendency, and slumber.'-Macnish, Philosophy of Sleep, p. 21 that this disposition is so arranged as to correspond amount of sleep required by man is affected by so in its recurrence with the diurnal revolution of the many conditions (amongst which must be esperar earth. Although in man and most animals night is, mentioned age, temperament, habits, and preve from its darkness and silence, the natural period for exhaustion), that no general rule can be laid d wa repose, yet there are numerous exceptions to the on the subject. The condition of the fetus may be rule. For example, amongst lepidopterous insects, regarded as one of continuous slumber: on its s butterflies are active during the day, hawk-moths entrance into the world, the infant pass mat E during the twilight, and moths during the night. its time in sleep, and this is particularly the ease a Amongst birds, the goatsucker, or night-jar, and children prematurely born, such children see many the owls, are nocturnal, and, as a general rule, to awake for the purpose of receiving food. Darg the same is the case with carnivorous animals. The the whole period of growth, in which it is necessary causes of sleep may be divided into the direct and that the constructive operations of the body simani prothe predisposing. The direct cause of sleep is that ponderate over the destructive processes, an ex feeling of exhaustion or fatigue which is usually of sleep is required; and by the time that addit experienced when the waking activity has continued has been attained, and the constructive and destruc during a considerable portion of the twenty-four tive processes balance each other, the norma? hours a feeling that the brain requires repose; amount of sleep has gradually fallen to absuit, use and, in fact, unless the brain be in an abnormal third or less of the diurnal cycle. In very od ax condition, sleep will at last supervene, from the again, in consequence of the deficient enery 4 absolute inability of that organ to sustain any nutritive process, a larger amount of sleep a further demands upon its energy. Among the required. With regard to the influence of tempera predisposing causes which favour the access of ture, it is observed that a plethoric halt of t sleep, we must especially notice the absence of usually predisposes to sleep, while thin wry pha sensorial impressions; thus, darkness and silence of a nervous temperament require com;arat.va.g usually promote repose; and the cessation of the little sleep. Persons of lymphatic temperament are sense of muscular effort which usually takes place usually great sleepers, but this is probaby dư, 28 when we assume a position that is sustained without Dr Carpenter suggests, to the fact, that "tarım it, is no less conducive to slumber.'- Carpenter's the dulness of their perceptions they are less eas Human Physiology, 6th ed. 1864, p. 592. On the kept awake by sensorial or mental excitement other hand, persons accustomed to live where there than persons of a happier temperament. Be is a continuous noise, as in the neighbourhood of ence of habit is by no means inconsiderale og te mills or forges, often cannot sleep if the noise is amount of sleep required by individuais, and tra suspended. These cases, however, probably fall influence may be brought to act on the protra e within the next general predisposing cause-namely, as well as the abbreviation of the usual peri the monotonous repetition of sensorial impressions. extreme examples, we may mention that tieneral Thus, the droning voice of an unimpressive reader or Eliott, celebrated for his defence of Gibraltar, dad preacher, the gentle ripple of the ocean, the hum of not sleep more than four hours out of the twettr bees, the rustling of foliage, and similar monotonous four (which is probably the smallest allow entr impressions on the auditory nerves, are usually pro- rest compatible with a life of vigorous ext. 2 vocative of sleep. In these and similar cases, the while Dr Reid, the metaphysician, culi taas as influence of the impressions is exerted in withdraw-much food, and afterwards as much sleep, as ing the mind from the consciousness of its own sufficient for two days. Moreover, the LAP DOW operations, and in suspending the directing power habit in producing an aptitude for repose, or a reas of the will; and this is the case, says Dr Carpenter, ness to wake at particular periods, as we

SLEEP OF PLANTS-SLESVIG.

The sleep of soldiers during a siege, of sailors or others who must take their rest as they best can, will often come on at command; nothing more being necessary to induce it than to assume a recumbent, or, at all events, an easy position, and to close the eyes. Thus, Captain Barclay, in his celebrated match, in which he walked 1000 miles in 1000 successive hours, very soon got into the habit of falling asleep the moment he lay down.

gaged, or whose occupations subject them to great mental exertion or to the vicissitudes of fortune. It is, moreover, a symptom of many chronic diseases, as gout, chronic rheumatism, skin-diseases, disorders of the urinary organs, dyspepsia, hysterica, &c. It may also be excited by certain beverages and articles of diet; thus green tea and strong coffee often occasion wakefulness, and a full meal of animal food late in the day often disturbs the sleep of persons accustomed to dine at an earlier hour.

The condition of the great nervous centres during sleep is a subject of much interest, on which con- In the treatment of sleeplessness, or insomnia, as siderable light has recently been thrown by the it is usually termed by medical writers, the first observations of Mr Durham.* These observations indication is to remove the cause which occasions were made on a dog from which a portion of bone it, and more particularly to correct a close or conabout as large as a shilling was removed from the taminated air; to reduce the temperature of the parietal region of the skull, and the subjacent dura apartment when it is high, and the quantity and mater cut away so as to expose the brain; and Mr warmth of the bedclothes; to remove all the Durham draws the following conclusions from them: excitants to the senses; to abstract the mind from 1. Pressure of distended veins upon the brain is not, all exciting, harassing, or engaging thoughts; and as is generally believed, the cause of sleep, for to remove or counteract the morbid conditions of during sleep the veins are not distended. 2. During which this is a symptom or prominent consequence.' sleep, the brain is in a comparatively bloodless con--Copland's Dictionary of Medicine, art. 'Sleep and dition; and the blood in the encephalic vessels is Sleeplessness.' A careful regulation of the secretions, not only diminished in quantity, but moves with by the due use of purgatives and alteratives, will diminished rapidity; and this is corroborated by often remove this symptom; and recourse should the observations of Dr J. Hughlings Jackson on the not be had to anodynes and narcotics until morbid ophthalmoscopic condition of the retina during secretions and fæcal accumulations have been com. sleep, the optic disc being then whiter, the arteries pletely got rid of. But these medicines are of great smaller, and the retina generally more anæmic than service when the system is thus prepared for their in the waking state. 3. The condition of the cere- reception. The choice of the individual drug or bral circulation during sleep is, from physical causes, combination of drugs must be dependent upon the that which is most favourable to the nutrition of peculiarities of the case, but, as a general rule, there the brain-tissue. is no more serviceable narcotic mixture for an adult than 25 or 30 minims of the solution of hydrochlorate of morphia (of the British Pharmacopoeia), and 10 minims of chloric ether, taken in half a wine-glassful of water: medicines of this class should, however, never be resorted to without the advice of a physician.

This article would be imperfect without a brief reference to the conditions in which there is either an excess or a deficiency of sleep. There are numerous instances on record in which sleep has been continuously prolonged for weeks, or even months. Dr Carpenter refers to two such cases, namely, those of Samuel Chilton (Phil. Trans. 1694) and Mary Lyall (Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin. 1818). Blanchet, a French physician, has recently recorded three cases of what he terms constitutional lethargic slumber' in the Comptes Rendus, 1864. In one of these cases, the patient, a lady aged 24 years, who had slept for 40 days when she was 18 years of age, and 50 days when she was 20, at length had a sleep of nearly a year, viz., from Easter Sunday 1862 to March 1863. During this period, a false front tooth was removed in order to feed her with milk and soup, her only food. She was motionless and insensible. The pulse was low, the breathing scarcely perceptible, there were no evacuations, and she shewed no signs of leanness, her complexion remaining florid and healthy. In such cases as these, it is not a prolongation of healthy natural sleep that is present, but a condition of hysteric coma.

Again, there are certain states of the nervous system in which there is either an entire absence of sleep (and this may continue for many days, or even weeks) or incomplete sleeplessness. Complete sleeplessness is often a most important symptom of disease. It frequently accompanies certain forms of continued fever, inflammatory affections of the brain, the eruptive fevers, &c., and when it continues for many days and nights, delirium, followed by stupor, is very apt to supervene. When the wakefulness is unattended by any disorder sufficient to account for it, some serious disease of the brain is most probably impending, such as palsy, apoplexy, or insanity. Incomplete or partial sleeplessness is a symptom of far less grave import. It is of frequent occurrence in persons whose minds are much en

The Physiology of Sleep, in Guy's Hosp. Reports, Third Series, vol. 6, pp. 149-171.

SLEEP OF PLANTS, one of the phenomena of Irritability (q. v.) in plants. Light acts on plants as a powerful stimulus, essential to their active and healthful vegetation. When it is withdrawn, the flowers of many plants close, and the greater number shew a tendency to it, whilst leaves more or less decidedly incline to fold themselves up. The leafstalk also generally hangs down more or less, although in some plants it is more erect during sleep. The sleep of plants, however, is not always noc turnal. The flowers of some open and close at particular hours of the day. Thus, the crocus is a morning flower, and closes soon after mid-day; whilst some flowers expand only in the evening or during the night. Their hours of vegetative rest are probably as essential to the health of plants as those of sleep are to animals. It was Linnæus who first observed the sleep of plants in watching the progress of some plants of lotus, the seeds of which he had sown.

SLEEPERS, timbers laid asleep or resting along their whole length. They are chiefly used along the top of dwarf-walls for the support of the timbers. of the ground floor of houses. The timbers supporting railway rails, and laid at right angles to them across the railway, are also called sleepers.

SLESVIG, a duchy known till the 14th c. as South Jutland, formed part of the Danish dominions till 1864, when it fell into the hands of the Austrian. and Prussian sovereigns, who have not yet (Febru ary 1866) settled its future destiny. The population. in 1860 was 409,907. Within its old recognised. limits, it was bounded on the N. by Jutland; on. the E. by the Little Belt and the Baltic; on the W. by the German Ocean; and on the S. by Holstein, from which it was divided by the Eyder and the

SLESVIG.

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The numerous islands which skirt the west coast of S. have probably, at some not very remote period, formed part of the mainland, for navigation is so seriously impeded by the sandbanks, that this coast is now accessible for ships by only three passages. The cluster of small islands known as the Halligers, which lie, unprotected by dams, in the midst of these submerged sand-tracts, are so constantly exposed to the action of waves and storms, that the inhabitants are compelled to raise their houses on piles. On the eastern coast of S. lie the islands of Alsen, Aroe, and Femern, where the principal bays and inlets are the Haderslev and Aabenrade Fiords, opening into the Little Belt; the Flensborg Fiord, the Slie, the Eckernforde Fiord, and the Kieler Fiord, which formed the ancient boundary between S. and Holstein on the S.-E., while the Eyder completed it on the S.-W. The principal branches of industry are agriculture, the rearing of cattle, fishing, and ship-building. The Slie is the chief seat of the herring and salmon fisheries, which, although still of some importance, are very inferior to those of the middle ages, when, according to the Danish historian, Saxo Grammaticus, herrings were so plentiful in the Belts and Cattegat, that they could be caught with the bare hands. The chief towns of S. are Flensborg (q. v.), Slesvig, Haderslev (pop. 8000), Husum, and Tonder, neither of which has more than 5000 inhabitants. On the south frontier, and partly in Holstein, Rendsborg (pop. 11,000). S. has 800 country schools, diffused over every part of the duchy. With regard to the language spoken by the mixed population of the duchy, it may be asserted that rather more than the half speak Danish; and of the remainder, about 30,000 persons who belong to the islands on the western coast, which once formed part of the old province of North Friesland, stiil use the Frisic language, the rest of the inhabitants using either Low or High German. The original Danish element of S. has remained purest in the northern half of the duchy; while in the southern parts, where the inhabitants are naturally brought much in contact with Holstein, they have of late years adopted the views, tastes, and language of their German neighbours. The Lutheran is the established religion of Slesvig.

In accordance with the conditions stipulated in the treaty of Vienna, August 1864, by which the duchies of Holstein and S. were ceded to Austria and Prussia, the island of Aroe and other districts of S., measuring about 115 sq. m., were to be reunited to Denmark; while the latter power was to give in exchange a territory of about 130 sq. m., which, although situated within the boundary of S., had hitherto been under the jurisdiction of Jutland.

S., which forms part of the ancient Cimbrian Peninsula, has from the earliest period been a debatable land between Danes and Germans; and according to the authorities of the latter, it was anciently included in the Marches of the empire, having been incorporated by Henry the Fowler in 930, and reorganised by Otho L, when in 948 the latter erected bishops' sees in Aarhuus, Ribe, and Slesvig. In 1027, the Danish king Knud (our Canute) obtained from Conrad II. the recognition of the independence of S., which was declared to belong unconditionally to Denmark, and thenceforth given as a Danish tief of

the crown to the younger sons of the regal house fa 1232, King Valdemar Seir, whose father, Prine Kani Laward, had ruled ably over the duchy, gave which was then, and for some time later, known as South Jutland-to his younger son Abel. The t terms of the donation became a subject of dispute during the successive reigns of Valdemar's sad, Eric, Abel, and Christopher, and began the long course of civil wars and family feuds which are associated with this much-contested territory. Abel, and his sons after him, backed by their kinsmen, the Counts of Holstein, maintained that Vali smar had given the duchy as an hereditary, inaliena da, and indivisible fief; while, on the part of the Dansà crown, it was contested that South Jutland was merely a precarious fief, which might be recalled at the pleasure of the sovereign. Its vicinity to H 4stein tended to keep up the feuds, to which the vexed question of its mode of tenure had g occasion, and which, in fact, only ceased when the resources of the conflicting parties were extansted, although the bitterness and ill-will with which they were fed seemed to know no intermission. T following brief summary gives the skeleton of the leading events of the history of S. from the dawn f its troubles till the final outbreak in 1848, when, by the influence of the neighbouring Holstein nors the Germanised great landed proprietors of S entered upon the course of armed opposition to the mother-country, which has culminated at the present moment in the forcible separation from the Danish crown of the duchy of S., and its imminent incorporation in the Prussian monarchy. In 1 Queen Margaret (q. v.) gave S. in fief to Gerhard Duke of Holstein; and on the extinction of his mais heirs in 1459, it virtually lapsed to the crown, wia which it was united in 1460 under the rule of Chræ tian I. (the founder of the Oldenburg linei, by mode disastrous to the integrity of the Danish monarchy. See DENMARK. After frequent divsen among the younger members of the royal House, whi gave rise to a great number of collateral lines of the Oldenburg family (of which the Glucksbar ~~6derborg and the Augustenburg are, with the exp tion of the imperial House of Russia and the da al House of Oldenburg, the chief representativesi, tas ducal portions of S. were inalienably incorporated with the crown of Denmark under King Frederi IV. in 1721. This act, which had the guarante f the great powers, had resulted directly from the treasonable attitude maintained in the prena wars with Sweden by the Holstein-Gottorp pen, 18 of S., and was ratified by Russia and Swedes, less than by England and France. The different orders of the duchy took the oaths of allegare for themselves and their heirs, the S. arms were e ars tered with those of Denmark Proper, and the di by was included with the latter in one common maa of administration. In 1848, the revoluti mars may ment of continental Europe fanned the flame së dem content in the duchies into a blaze, and the in per classes of S., who had in the course of time text strongly imbued with the German tendencies of the Holstein nobles, with whom they fraternisesi, warmË the latter in open armed rebellion under the leadership of the princes of Augustenburg Germanised S. nobles, influenced by the pri of hatred to Denmark, which had long been ing strength in the university of Kiel, read t admit the difference between their relations be the crown and those of the Holsteiners, with wis they demanded to be indissolubly as rated a separate legislative and executive chamers. The king refused to separate S. from the momam, the irritation increased on both sides; the reva troops appeared in the duchies to restore crat.

SLICKENSIDES-SLIDING RULE.

on the ground that the indivisibility of the two duchies must be firmly established for the German fatherland by these two great powers. Since that time, Duke Frederick of Augustenburg has been in turn the favoured and the rejected candidate for the throne of the new state of S.-Holstein. The upper classes in small numbers in S., in Holstein almost unanimously, are in favour of his claims, while the burgher and lower classes of S. appear equally unanimous in regretting their severance from Denmark; and the decidedly expressed wishes of the Holstein party, backed by the lesser German states, to have the duke as their sovereign, the protests and counter-protests of the Diet and of foreign powers, have all resulted in an announce. ment by Austria and Prussia, that according to the evidence of the cominission appointed to examine the merits of the various claims of Denmark, Augustenburg, and Oldenburg to the duchies, Christian IX. was by right of succession the undoubted possessor, and that from him the duchies had passed by right of victory to Austria and Prussia. This extraordinary solution of the S.Holstein question was ratified at Gastein (August 1865), in a treaty between Austria and Prussia, in which, without regard to the German or Danish proclivities of Holstein or of S., the former duchy is transferred to Austria, and the latter to Prussia, and the garrisons and forts are to be manned at the pleasure of the contracting powers, who are agreed that both duchies shall join the Zollverein (q. v.); while Austria makes over to Prussia the rights acquired by the war over the duchy of Lauenburg for the sum of two and a half million Danish dollars.

the S.-Holstein army, whose ranks were princi-negotiations, Denmark was constrained to accept pally filled by German volunteers, took the field, peace (August 1864), on the hard terms of ceding to aided by the confederate forces sent by the Diet Austria and Prussia, Holstein, S., and Lauenburg, to co-operate with the Holsteiners. The troubles by which the German states were threatened at home led, after a few indecisive engagements had been fought, to the withdrawal of the confederate armies, and Prussia having made a special treaty of peace (after a preliminary truce with Denmark), the duchies were left to themselves, and the royal authority re-established, on the understanding that the king should submit a new form of constitution for Holstein and S. to the Diet, on account of the former being a member of the Confederation; S. being in the meanwhile put under a provisional government of Danish, Prussian, and English commissioners. By the peace with Prussia, it was solemnly guaranteed that all old treaties, including that of 1721, should be maintained in regard to Denmark; and in 1851, Austria threw an army into the duchies to aid Denmark in supporting her authority, and in dissolving the joint S. and Holstein assembly. On the death of Frederick VII. in 1863, Prince Christian of Glucksburg (see DENMARK), having ascended the throne as Christian IX., king of Denmark, Prince Frederick of Augustenburg called upon the S.-Holstein authorities to refuse the oath of allegiance to the new king, and to acknowledge himself as the rightful duke of S.Holstein, basing his claims on his descent from the legitimate and elder male line of the House of Oldenburg. This appeal was responded to by 25 members of the Holstein Diet, who, on behalf of their own duchy and of S., petitioned the German Diet to recognise the validity of the claims of the Augustenburg line, and to pronounce the London protocol of the act of succession devoid of force. The Prince, by this step, set at nought the family compact by which his father, uncle, and himself, for themselves and their heirs, had, at the close of the war of 1848, accepted a sum of money as full indemnity for all claims on the Danish territories, and been allowed on that condition to evade all further conse quences of the open rebellion in which they had stood against the throne. In the meanwhile, the fundamental law of November 1863 for the kingdom of Denmark and the duchy of S., which had passed the Rigsrad, and received the late king's signature shortly before his death, was published, together with a manifesto of Christian IX., stating his intention in regard to Holstein and Lauenburg. The Diet, without committing itself to uphold the Augustenburg claims, put a confederate execution into Holstein; the Danish troops were withdrawn into S.; and on the 6th January 1864, the Holstein towns did homage to the duke; while a Federal commission suppressed the provisional Holstein government, which had exercised its powers since 1862, and established a ducal government at Kiel. The Austrians and Prussians, professing to act for the Diet, summoned the Danish king to withdraw the constitution of November within 48 hours; in reply to which the Danish government demanded a term of six weeks to convoke the Rigsrad, without whose sanction no constitutional change could be adopted. The demand was rejected, and the Austro-Prussian army entered Holstein, and hostilities commenced. For ten weeks the Danes made a gallant stand against their enemy, whose enormous superiority in strength of numbers, and in the efficiency of their artillery and small-arms, made their final victory the inevitable rather than the glorious result of the campaign. The Danes were compelled to suspend hostilities, and to submit to the terms dictated by their conquerors. A conference was held at Vienna, and after protracted

SLICKENSIDES are the smooth and polished, and generally glazed surfaces of flaws in rocks. They are considered to have been produced by the friction of the two surfaces during some movement of the rock. But the two surfaces of the flaw are almost always so uneven that it is impossible to conceive that they could have rubbed against each other; besides, the flaws are generally very small, and the true slickenside is always confined to a single stratum, never passing into the bed above or below. We believe they are the castings of liquids

gases confined in the bed, and subjected to great cavities produced by gases in slags, or, to use a very pressure, and are similar in origin to the glazed familiar illustration, by the compressed steam in breakfast rolls.

SLIDING RULE, an instrument invented by the Rev. William Oughtred, an English divine and mathematician, for the purpose of solving arithmetical problems mechanically, consists of three pieces of wood, of which two are fastened together by slips of brass at a sufficient distance from each other to permit of a third sliding between them. The size of instrument which best combines conve nience with accuracy is one about 2 feet long, 2 inches broad, and 4 inch thick. One side of the rule has the following scales marked on it in order: a line of tenths of inches, of equal parts divided into tenths and hundredths of feet; three lines of numbers, each line consisting of the numbers from 1 to 10 twice repeated; a line of sine rhumbs (logarithmic sines of each quarter-point of the compass); a line of meridional parts; and a line of equal parts. Of these, two of the lines of numbers are on the middle piece or slider. On the other side are two lines of natural scales, including sines, secants, tangents equal parts, &c.; two lines of logarithmic sines,

SLIDING SCALE-SLING.

by a railway, which is a branch of the Mand
Great Western, and connects the county town of
Sligo (q. v.) with Dublin. The mineral products of
the county, although not very rich, are various, and
consist of copper, lead, iron, and manganese. The
climate is variable, and although rain is treqamit
it is, on the whole, mild and healthy. The
soil in the north is mossy and sandy, both benz
occasionally intermixed. and at times alternating
with a gravelly loam. The plain of S. 18 a drep
rich loam; and in the southern portion of the
county are found large tracts of corn-land and
pasturage. The occupations of the people are
mainly agricultural, and, until some years back,
they were chiefly engaged in tillage; but the lad
is now chiefly used for pasturage. The number d
acres under crops of all kinds in the year 1962 was
103,301. The cattle in that year numbered 76.25%;
sheep, 44,717; and pigs, 18,062. The number g
holdings ten years before 1852 had been 1392,
which is now somewhat reduced. The extent of
coast-line has led a considerable number of the
population to engage, at least partially and cen
sionally, in fishing. The S. fishery district co
prises 112 miles of coast, and keeps engaged upwara
of 200 registered vessels, employing more than 120
men and boys. The principal towns are 8.2
(q. v.), Ardnaree, and Tobercurry. The number of
pupils attending the national schools throughout the
county in 1864 was 8734, distributed over about 100
schools.

two lines of logarithmic tangents, a third line of iogarithmic sines, and a line of versed sines. Of these, one line of logarithmic sines and one of tangents are upon the slider. The scale in most common use is that of numbers, and a description of the way in which it is used will give a key to the whole working of the instrument. It is necessary, however, to notice as a preliminary, that the scale of numbers is not evenly divided, as in this case only addition and subtraction could be performed, but is divided in proportion, not to the numbers, but to their logarithms, so that 3, whose logarithm is very nearly the half of that of 10, stands almost halfway between 1 and 10; and similarly of the other numbers. All questions of numerical proportion can thus be easily worked by means of the line of numbers on the slider, and the adjacent and corresponding one on the fixed part of the rule. To find a fourth proportional to three given numbers, we place the first term (on the slider) opposite to the second term (on the fixed scale), and opposite the third term (on the slider) is the fourth or number required (on the scale). Multiplication is performed by making 1 the first term of a proportion, and division by making it the second or third. The other scales marked on the rule are useful in the solution of trigonometrical, geographical, and nautical problems, and the results obtained are much more accurate than one at first sight would believe. Sliding rules of circular form have been made by the French, but they are not in any way preferable to the ordinary straight form. SLIDING SCALE, a provision in some of the statutory restrictions formerly in force on the trade in corn, by which, in order to encourage importation when prices were high, and discourage it when low, the import duty was diminished as the price rose, and at famine-prices grain came in duty free. By the act of 1829, wheat was allowed to be imported on payment of a duty of £1, 48. 8d. when the average price over England was 628, a quarter. For every shilling less of price, a shilling was added to the duty; and for a rise of price the duty decreased. SLIGO, chief town of the county of the sa In 1842, while the agitation regarding the corn- name, situated on the river Garrogue; distant from laws was going on, Sir Robert Peel introduced and Dublin, with which it is connected by a branch from carried a modification of the Sliding Scale, which, the Midland Great Western Railway, 131 however, did not succeed in mitigating the popular north-west. The pop. in 1862 was 10,420; of w: m hostility to the corn-laws. By the Sliding-scale Act 8242 were Roman Catholics, and 1557 Protestanta of 1842, the duty per quarter was fixed at £1 when of the Established Church. S. had its orion in the the price of corn was under 51s, and diminished as erection of a Dominican abbey in the 13th 14 the price increased, till on the quarter of wheat Maurice Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, around wà a attaining the price of 738. it fell to 18. See CORN-and a castle also built by him-a town ww LAWS.

SLIGO, a maritime county of the province of Connaught, Ireland, bounded on the N. by the Atlantic and the Bay of Donegal, S. by Roscommon and Mayo, E. by Roscommon and Leitrim, and W. by Mayo. It is 41 miles from east to west, and 38 from north to south; the total area comprising 461,753 acres, of which 290,696 are arable, while 151,723 are uncultivated. The pop. in 1861 was 124,845, of whom 112,436 were Roman Catholics,

and 10,438 Protestants of the Established Church.

The coast-line is very irregular, and indented with numerous bays, and, except in the Bay of Sligo, is rocky and dangerous for navigation. The surface rises gradually from the coast eastwards as far as an elevated range called Slieve Gamph and the Ox Mountains, the highest point of which rises to 1800 feet. S. contains comparatively few and unimportant lakes, but some of these, however, are extremely picturesque, especially Lough Arrow and Lough Gill. Only three of its streams are navigable -the Moy, the Owenmore, and the Garrogue, and they are all inconsiderable. The county is traversed

S. was anciently the seat of the O'Connors, and branches of that family. The domestic feuds of the was the scene of many conflicts between the several O'Connors were among the causes which facilitated the first inroads of the Anglo-Normans. The ds trict contains many remains both of the Celtic and of the Anglo-Norman period. Of the former, the is one very interesting called the Giant's Cairn, D-17 Sligo; and there are many raths, cromlechs, and ancient caverns. The county of S. sends two men bers to the imperial parliament.

gradually formed. In the reign of James I. :

received a charter. The modern town stania wen

bend of the river, chiefly on the left bank Ita handsome public edifices. It possesses few uns for the most part well built, and contains seTITL ant manufactures, but is a place of considera 10 commerce, which is directed with judgment asi energy by a body of town and harbour com sioners. In 1863, 772 vessels, of 123,349 ↑ sa entered and cleared the port. chiefly of corn, flour, meal, butter, provisions die The exprta yarn. Steamers ply regularly between & and Ga The borough returns one member to the gow. imperial parliament.

SLING, a weapon much in use before the intera duction of firearms, consisted of a piece of latter, with a round hole in the middle, and two c about a yard in length. A round pebble heng hung in the leather by the cords, the latter held firmly in the right hand, and swung rawat round. When the stone had attained great S one string was disengaged, on which the stone ♬ off at a tangent, its initial velocity being the sand

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