RES 



[ 221 ] 



REV 



teen cubic inches of air being the average 

 quantity taken in at each inspiration ; 

 and expiration, which alternates with 

 inspiration. It is by respiration that the 

 blood becomes freed of its carbon and, at 

 the same time, obtains fresh supplies of 

 oxygen. 



RE'SPIRATORY. Serving for the function 

 of breathing ; connected with the function 

 of respiration. 



RESU'PINATE. (resupinatus, Lat.) In 

 botany, a term applied to leaves, when 

 the under surface is turned upwards. 



RESPLE'NDENT FE'LSPAR. Another name 

 for Adularia, or moon-stone. 



RE'TE MUCO'SUM. (from rete, a net, and 

 mucosum, mucous, Lat.) A tissue lying 

 immediately under the epidermis, or 

 scarfskin, and the cutis vera, or true 

 skin. The black colour of negroes de- 

 pends upon a black pigment, situated in 

 this substance. 



RETI'CULAR. (reticulaire, Fr.) Having 

 the form of net- work, as a reticular mem- 

 brane, reticular tissue, &c. 



RETI'CULATE. } (reticulatus, Lat. from 



RETI'CULATED. \ rete, a net ; reticule, 

 rticul6e, Fr.) Made of net-work ; 

 formed of interstitial vacuities. Johnson. 



RE'TICULE. (reticulum, dimin. of rete, 

 Lat. a small net.) A name given to 

 the second stomach of ruminant animals. 



RK'TINA. (from rete, a net, Lat. retine, 

 Fr.) The net-like expansion of the optic 

 nerve placed at the back of the eye, and 

 which has been called one of the mem- 

 branes of that organ. The retina is an 

 exceedingly thin and delicate layer of 

 nervous matter, supported by a fine mem- 

 brane. No nerve but the optic nerve, 

 and no part of that nerve but the retina, 

 is capable of giving rise to the sensation 

 of light. 



RE'TINASPHALTUM. The name given by 

 Mr. Hatchett to a sub-species of bitumen. 

 It is an opaque, ochre-yellow, and brittle 

 substance found in Bovey coal and fossil 

 wood. Fracture vitreous, and imperfectly 

 conchoidal. Specific gravity 1*13. Ac- 

 cording to its analysis by Mr. Hatchett, 

 who deems this substance to be an im- 

 perfectly mineralized resin, it consists of 

 resin 55, asphaltum 41, earthy matter 

 3 ; = 99. 



RE'TINITE. Another name for Retinas- 

 phaltum. 



RE'TORT. A globular vessel with a long 

 neck, sufficiently bent as to make with 

 the belly of the vessel an angle of sixty 

 degrees. Retorts are used for distil- 

 lation, and some other chemical pro- 



RETRA'CTILE. Capable of being drawn 



back ; as the organs of certain animals. 

 RETROFLE'CTED. (from retro, back, and 



fiecto, to bend, Lat.) Bent in different 

 directions, usually in a distorted manner. 



RETROMI'NGENT. (from retro, backwards, 

 and mingo, to stale, Lat.) Passing the 

 urine backwards ; belonging to the class 

 of retromingents. 



RETROMI'NGENTS. In zoology, a class of 

 animals, whose characteristic is, that, 

 both male and female, they void their 

 urine backwards. 



RETU'NDATED. (from retundo, Lat. to 

 blunt.) Blunted, or turned at the edge. 



RETU'SE. (retusus, Lat. blunted.) 



1 . In conchology , a shell ending in an 

 obtuse sinus is termed a refuse shell ; 

 bluntly notched. 



2. In botany, leaves are called refuse, 

 when ending in a broad shallow notch, or 

 sinus. 



REVE'RSKD. (reversus, from re and verto, 

 to turn, Lat.) Turned upside down ; 

 turned side for side. 



1. In conchology, a reversed shell is one, 

 the volutions of which are the reverse 

 way of the common corkscrew. 



2. In botany, when the upper lip of the 

 corolla is larger and more expanded than 

 the lower. 



REVIVIFICA'TION. (revivification, Fr. from 

 re and vivifico, Lat.) Renewal of life ; 

 restoration to life. A dormant vitality 

 may exist in a system of organs which 

 have been brought into a perfectly dry 

 state ; and this is the case not with vege- 

 tables only, but with many species of ani- 

 malcules, and even with some of the more 

 highly developed worms. These may be 

 kept in a dry state for an indefinite length 

 of time, and when moistened with water, 

 shall resume their activity, as if restored 

 to life. The revivification of animalcules 

 is a curious phenomenon. The Rotofer 

 redivivus, or wheat animalcule, can live 

 only in water, and is commonly found in 

 that which has remained stagnant for 

 some time in the gutters of houses. But 

 it may be deprived of this fluid, and re- 

 duced to perfect dryness, so that all the 

 functions of life shall be completely sus- 

 pended, yet without the destruction of the 

 vital principle ; for this atom of dust, 

 after remaining for years in a dry state, 

 may be revived in a few minutes by being 

 again supplied with water. This alter- 

 nate suspension and restoration of life 

 may be repeated, without apparent in- 

 jury to the animalcule, for a great num- 

 ber of times. Dr. Roget, Bridgewater 

 Treat. 



REVIV'ISCENCE. Revivification ; renewal 

 of life. 



RE'VOLUTE. (revolutus, Lat. rolled back- 

 wards.) In botany, applied to leaves, 

 when the margins are rolled backwards 

 towards the under surface. 



