VARIETY 



G03S 



VASSAR COLLEGE 



the vein, which may cause hemorrhage. Phy- 

 sicians recommend the use of an elastic stock- 

 ing, or bandage, which gives support to the 

 vein by means of uniform pressure. A badly 

 affected limb should be given complete rest un- 

 til there is relief. The only positive cure is a 

 minor operation consisting of the cutting out 

 of sections of the enlarged vein. C.B.B. 



VARIETY, vari'eti, a term used in botany 

 and zoology classifications. A variety is a di- 

 vision of a species, and includes an individual 

 or group of individuals which show certain dif- 

 ferences from the rest of the species to which 

 they belong. See CLASSIFICATION, subhead Va- 

 riety. 



VAR'NISH, a clear, liquid preparation which 

 hardens when exposed to the air. It is used to 

 preserve various surfaces from the influence of 

 the air and moisture and to beautify such sur- 

 faces. It consists of a solution of resinous 

 gums in alcohol, turpentine or linseed oil, and 

 imparts a thin, transparent gloss to wood, met- 

 als, paint, paper, leather and other substances. 

 The resinous substances commonly used are 

 copal, lac, mastic, sandarac, amber and asphalt. 

 The principal coloring matters employed are 

 dragon's blood, saffron, gamboge, cochineal, 

 tumeric and coal-tar dyes. 



Varnishes are divided into three classes, ac- 

 cording to the solvents used. Those in which 

 the gums are dissolved in alcohol are called 

 spirit varnishes. They consist chiefly of a solu- 

 tion of lac and are made in revolving churns. 

 They dry rapidly, leaving a very hard and 

 brilliant coat which cracks and scales if ex- 

 posed to the weather, and are used chiefly for 

 cabinet work, gilding and metal work. Turpen- 

 tine varnishes are brighter and less brittle. The 

 principal solvent is turpentine, though linseed 

 oil is frequently added to increase the tenacity. 

 These varnishes are used for oil paintings. 



In oil varnishes the solvents are linseed, 

 poppy or walnut oil, and the basis is copal, a 

 fossil gum found in Zanzibar, New Zealand, 

 Sierra Leone and the Philippine Islands. In 

 varnishes of the best grade only Calcutta lin- 

 seed oil and the white, transparent pieces of 

 copal are used. To hasten the drying process 

 the oil is boiled or combined with more vola- 

 tile substances. The gum is melted in copper 

 vessels and simultaneously the oil is heated to 

 the boiling point. A certain proportion of the 

 boiling oil is added to the liquid copal and the 

 mixture is boiled until it becomes clear. There 

 is great risk of burning, and the kettles are usu- 

 ally placed on truck wheels so they may be 



quickly removed from the fire. By alternate ad- 

 dition of oil and copal, the mixture is brought 

 to the proper consistency. It is then allowed 

 to cool, and oil of turpentine is added. The 

 varnish is strained through cotton and pumped 

 into tanks, where it is left to age for at least 

 six months. 



The black, opaque varnish known as japan is 

 a solution of asphaltum, and in Japan is made 

 from the resin of the lacquer tree. C.H.H. 



Consult Hurst's Painters' Colors, Oils and Var- 

 nishes; Holley's Analysis of Paint and Varnish 

 Products. 



VASCO DA GAMA. See GAMA, VASCO DA. 



VASE, a hollow vessel of pottery, stone, 

 metal or glass, used chiefly as an ornament. 

 Information relating to vases will be found in 

 the articles POTTERY, DRESDEN CHINA, MAJOL- 

 ICA and ETRUSCAN ART. 



VASELINE, vas'elin, or vas'eleen, a trade 

 name for a soft, amber-colored grease used 

 extensively as an ointment. It is a prepara- 

 tion of petrolatum, or the residue from the dis- 

 tillation of petroleum. Vaseline is insoluble in 

 water, but can be slightly dissolved in alcohol 

 and completely in ether. It has the advan- 

 tage of never becoming rancid, and is a popu- 

 lar external remedy for burns, raw sores, sun- 

 burn, skin irritations and the like. As an in- 

 ternal remedy it is valued in the treatment of 

 coughs, hoarseness and throat irritation. Other 

 preparations of petrolatum are marketed under 

 various names, such as petroleum jelly and 

 cosmoline. C.B.B. 



VASSAR COLLEGE, vas'ahr kol'ej, near 

 Poughkeepsie, N. Y., is one of the foremost 

 American col- 

 leges for women. 

 It was founded 

 in 1861 through 

 the generosity of 

 Matthew Vassar, 

 who donated 200 

 acres of land and 

 nearly $800,000 

 for the founding 

 of a college for 

 women. Vassar 

 was the first 

 school of its kind 

 in America to be 

 incorporated as a 



TAYLOR HALL 

 One of Vassar's newest 



college and fully bulldln * s . com P le 

 equipped to do college work. The highest 

 standards are maintained. All undergraduate 

 courses lead to the degree of A. B., and for 



