CARAWAY 



1177 



CARBOLIC ACID 



and sixteenth centuries to vessels undertaking 

 long voyages. The caravel was a ship of 200 

 or 300 tons, having a deep hull and high decks 

 fore and aft, and carrying a double tower at the 



A CARAVEL, 



stern and a single one at the bow. The vessel 

 had four masts. Faithful reproductions of the 

 three ships of the fleet of Columbus, the Nina, 

 Pinto, and Santa Maria, were constructed in 

 Spain, towed to the United States, and exhib- 

 ited at the World's Columbian Exposition in 

 Chicago in 1893. Afterwards they were a per- 

 manent exhibit in the lagoons of Jackson Park, 

 the site of the fair grounds. 



The word is also applied to a small fishing 

 vessel of ten or fifteen tons used in Spain, 

 Portugal and the Azores, and to a large Turkish 

 warship. 



CAR 'AW AY, a plant often cultivated for 

 its fruit or seeds, which have a spicy fragrance 

 and a warm, biting taste. These seeds are used 

 in cakes, candies, breads, some varieties of 

 cheese, and also in medicine. By distillation 

 of these seeds a light, easily-evaporated oil is 

 obtained. The plant is a native of Europe and 

 of Asia, and has finely-cut leaves and white 

 flowers. It is a biennial (see BIENNIALS). 



CARBIDES, kahr'bydz, compounds formed 

 by the union of carbon with metals. Those 

 of most interest are the carbide of iron and the 

 carbide of calcium. The presence of carbon 

 in iron in varying proportions changes its prop- 

 erties, the difference between pig iron, wrought 

 iron and steel being due largely to the different 

 proportions of carbon and carbide of iron in 

 each. Calcium carbide is of interest as the 

 source of acetylene gas and of calcium cyanam- 

 ide (see ACETYLENE). It is a grayish, coarse- 



grained solid, from which the gas is set free 

 when it is placed in water. Calcium carbide is 

 manufactured at Niagara Falls, N. Y., and at 

 Sault Sainte Marie, Mich. J.F.S. 



CARBOHYDRATES, karbohy'drates. When 

 you sit down in the morning and enjoy your 

 breakfast of oatmeal or other cereal, relish 

 your piece of bread and butter and sip your 

 coffee, to which you have added milk and 

 sugar, you are introducing into your body a 

 number of substances that belong to the group 

 known as carbohydrates. The carbohydrates 

 are chemical compounds that are found in 

 great quantities in the animal and vegetable 

 world, and are composed of carbon, oxygen and 

 hydrogen. Among the carbohydrates are 

 starch, various kinds of sugar, and cellulose. 

 All vegetable foods are rich in carbohydrates. 

 Starch forms a great proportion of the nourish- 

 ing part of the cereals, wheat, oats, corn, rye 

 and rice; these contain, besides, a good pro- 

 portion of jats and proteins, the other chief 

 groups which form the nourishing part of the 

 various articles of food (see FAT; PROTEINS). 

 Granulated sugar is a pure carbohydrate. Mo- 

 lasses, honey and fruits contain large propor- 

 tions of carbohydrates in the form of special 

 sugars. Milk also contains a carbohydrate 

 known as lactose, or sugar of milk. 



The carbohydrates are among the most 

 necessary and most important substances in our 

 daily food. The starches and sugars found in 

 all vegetable foods are easily digested. Like 

 the fats, they serve as fuel to keep the body 

 warm and to provide energy for its movements. 

 Neither fats nor carbohydrates, however, can 

 be converted into muscle, as can proteins. It 

 is impossible to live on carbohydrates alone, 

 or even on carbohydrates and fats together. 

 A certain amount of protein is necessary in the 

 diet, to provide for the growth of the body, and 

 to repair the waste of muscular tissue, which is 

 always going on. See FOOD. J.F.S. 



CARBOLIC, karbol'ik, ACID, or PHENOL, 

 jee'nol, or jee'nohl, an acid obtained from coal 

 tar, having a peculiar and not unpleasant odor. 

 When pure, carbolic acid is in the form of 

 white crystals; when long exposed to the light, 

 however, these crystals turn red. Carbolic 

 acid is easily melted. It is only slightly soluble 

 in cold water. It is a powerful disinfectant, and 

 is employed for cleansing surgical instruments, 

 walls, floors and utensils used about those 

 afflicted with contagious diseases. It was for- 

 merly in general use to protect wounds in sur- 

 gery, but under modern methods it is not com- 



