812 



VETCH VICENTE. 



ffical and Chemical Observations, by Monticelli and 

 Covelli.) In March, 1828, towards the end of IH.' 

 and in the middle of 1832, there were other erup- 

 tions. See Volcanoes. 



VETCH (w'cwi) ; leguminous plants, with her- 

 baceous stems, often supporting themselves on 

 surrounding objects, by means of the tendrils with 

 which their leaves are terminated. These last are 

 pinnated, and provided with stipules at the buse. 

 The flowers are disposed in clusters upon an axil- 

 lary and more or less elongated peduncle, and are 

 succeeded by pods. In short, the general habit of 

 these plants is precisely similar to that of the pea. 

 Upward of eighty species are known, most of which 

 inhabit the northern and temperate parts of the Eu- 

 ropean continent. The common vetch, or tare, is 

 extensively cultivated in Europe, and considered a 

 valuable agricultural plant. It is not very delicate 

 as regards the nature of the soil, but succeeds best 

 in dry and warm exposures, and especially in calca- 

 reous districts. The crop is cut at the time of 

 flowering, to be given green to cattle ; or these are 

 turned into the field to graze. It is an excellent 

 fodder for milch cows and working stock. A se- 

 cond crop is cut when the seeds are nearly ripe, 

 which is dried for winter's use. The seeds are 

 sometimes permitted to ripen, and are given to all 

 kinds of poultry, especially to pigeons, which are 

 often fed on them exclusively. 



VETERANS, with the Romans ; soldiers who 

 had served a number of campaigns, or at least had 

 reached their fiftieth year, so as to be entitled to a 

 discharge. If they, nevertheless, continued in ser- 

 vice, they were treated with particular distinction. 



VETERINARY ART. This, according to the 

 present acceptation of the phrase, comprehends a 

 knowledge of the external form, as well as the in- 

 ternal structure and economy, of the domestic quad- 

 rupeds, the appropriate management of them, the 

 nature, causes, and treatment of their disorders, 

 and the art of shoeing such of them as may require 

 it. The word is derived from the Latin veterina- 

 rius, which some of the ancient writers, particularly 

 Columella, used to denote a farrier, horse doctor, 

 or one who lets horses to hire, its radical being the 

 verb veho (to carry) ; whence veterinarius came to 

 signify anything connected with or relating to beasts 

 of burden. The first veterinary school was insti- 

 tuted in 1762, at Lyons ; in 1766, that at Alfort 

 was opened. A similar institution was established 

 at Berlin in 1792, and in the year following one in 

 London. 



VETO (Latin, I prohibit} ; used in English and 

 other modern languages as a substantive, to denote 

 the power, given by law to any individual, to de- 

 feat the resolution of a deliberative body. In the 

 former republic of Poland, every member of the 

 diet could, by his Nie Pozwalam (I don't permit it), 

 defeat the resolution of the rest. This abuse, called 

 the liberum veto, was, in the partition of Poland, 

 supported by Russia as necessary to Polish liberty ! 

 The real motive of Russia was, to prevent a union 

 of action among the Poles. The French constitu- 

 ent assembly, in 1789, allowed the king a veto on 

 its resolutions ; but the first time that he made use 

 of it, it ruined him. The king of England has a veto 

 upon the resolutions of both houses ; but a long 

 period has elapsed since it has been used. The 

 king of the French has a veto. The king of Nor- 

 way has the same power; but if three successive 

 storthings repeat a resolution, it becomes law with- 

 out the king's assent ; thus nobility was abolished 



in Norway. The same provision was introduced 

 into the Spanish government by the constitution of 

 the cortes. The president of the United States hits 

 a veto ; but he must return the bill with his reason* ; 

 and, if then, two-thirds of each house vote for it, 

 it becomes a law. 



VETURIA. See Coriolanus. 



VIATICUM; literally provision for a journey; 

 in Catholic theology, the eucharist administered to 

 patients beyond hope of recovery. Protestants also 

 often take the Lord's supper, before death, but do 

 not give this name to it. 



Viaticum is sometimes used as a more delicate 

 name to the aid afforded in money or provisions to 

 a traveller. 



VIBRATION. See Acoustics and Pendulum. 



VICAR (from vicarius) : representative, vice- 

 gerent. (Respecting the vicars of the former Ger- 

 man empire, see German Empire.) The pope calls 

 himself vicar of Christ on earth. An apostolic vicar 

 is a priest of high standing, who has received special 

 powers to decide in certain cases, without asking 

 lor instructions. Bishops have grand-vicars, who 

 can discharge most of the functions of the bishops 

 in their dioceses. They cannot, however, grant con- 

 firmation, consecrate churches, &c. In England, 

 the vicar is a particular kind of parish priest. 

 The priest of every parish is called rector, unless 

 the predial tithes are appropriated, and then he is 

 styled vicar; and when rectories are appropriated, 

 vicars are to supply the rector's place. For the 

 maintenance of the vicar, in such cases, there was 

 set apart a certain portion of the tithes, commonly 

 about a third part of the whole, which are now 

 what are called the vicarial tithes, the rest being 

 reserved to the use of the appropriators, and, for 

 this reason, termed the rectorial tithes. The name 

 of curate is given to a clergyman in the church of 

 England, who is employed to perform divine service 

 in the place of the incumbent parson, or vicar. He 

 must be licensed by the bishop, or ordinary. See 

 Plurality. 



VICK, in smithery and other arts, is a machine, 

 or instrument, serving to hold fast any thing 

 worked upon, whether it is to be filed, bent, rivet- 

 ed, &c. 



Vice is also used in the composition of divers 

 words, to denote the relation of some person that 

 comes instead, or in the place of another ; as, rice- 

 admiral, vice-chancellor, vz'ce-chamberlain, uice-pre- 

 sident, &c., are officers who take the place of ad- 

 mirals, &c. 



VICE-ADMIRAL. See Admiral. 



VICENTE, GIL, (called the Portuguese Plau- 

 tus), was born at Barcellos, of a good family, about 

 the year 1480. He devoted himself at first to the 

 study of law, but soon abandoned it, for the purpose 

 of cultivating dramatic poetry. As his rank en- 

 titled him to admission to court, he contributed to 

 its amusement by writing occasional pieces for all 

 the festivities, and displayed much skill in his com- 

 positions. His dramatic pieces were first exhibited 

 at the court of Emanuel, and the first was printed 

 in the year 1504. They were received with great 

 applause; and the reputation of the poet was 

 raised still higher in the reign of John III. who 

 sometimes amused himself with taking part in the 

 performance. Vicente educated his daughter Paula, 

 though she was one of the ladies of honour to the 

 queen Maria, for the stage, and she became distin- 

 guished, not only as one of the best performers of 

 her time, but as a poet and a musician. Vicente 



