NOD 
Nocturnal, or Nocturlabihm, a»i in- 
strument chiefly used at sea, to take the 
altitude or depression of some stars about 
the pole, in order to find the latitude and 
hour of the night. Some nocturnals are 
hemispheres, or planispheres, on the plane 
of the equinoctial. Those commonly in use 
among seamen are two; the one adapted 
to the polar star, and the first of the guards 
of the little bear; the other to the pole- 
star, and the pointers of the great bear. 
This instrument consists of two circular 
plates applied to each other. The greater, 
which has a handle to hold the instrument, 
is about two inches and a half diameter, 
and is divided into twelve parts, agreeing to 
the twelve months, and each month sub- 
divided into every fifth day ; and so as that 
the middle of the handle corresponds to 
that day of the year wherein the star here 
regarded has the same right ascension with 
the sun. If the instrument be fitted for 
two stars, the handle is made moveable. 
The upper left circle is divided into twenty- 
four equal parts for tlie twenty-four hours 
of the day, and each hour sub-divided into 
quarters. These twenty-four hours are 
rioted by twenty-four teeth to be told in the 
night. Those at the hours twelve, are dis- 
tinguished by their length. In the centre 
of the two circular plates is adjusted a long 
index, moveable upon the upper plate. 
And tlie three pieces, viz. the two circles 
and index, are joined by a rivet rvhich is 
pierced through the centre with a hole, 
through which the star is to be observed. 
“ To use the Nocturnal,” turn the upper 
plate till the long tooth, marked twelve, be 
against the day of the month on the under 
plate : then, bringing the instrument near 
the eye, suspend it by the handle with 
the plane nearly parallel to the equinoctial ; 
and viewing the pole-star through the hole 
of the centre, turn the index about till, by 
the edge coming from the centre, you see 
the bright star or guard of the little bear (if 
the instrument be fitted to that star) ; then 
that tooth of the upper circle, under the 
edge of the index, is at the hour of the 
night on the edge of the hour circle : which 
may be known without a light, by counting 
the teeth from the longest, which is for the 
hour twelve. 
NODE, in surgery, a tumor arising on 
the bones, and usually proceeding from some 
venereal cause ; being much the same with 
what is otherwise called exostosis, 
NODES, in astronomy, the two points 
wherein the orbit of a planet intersects the 
NOL 
ecliptic, whereof thenode, where the planet 
ascends northwards, above the plane of the 
ecliptic, is called the ascending node, the 
northward node, and the head of the Dra- 
gon, and is marked thus g3 ; tlie other node, 
where the planet desends to the south, is 
called the descending node, the southward 
node, or the Dragon’s tail, marked thus gj. 
The line wherein the two circles inter- 
sect, is called the line of nodes. It appears 
from observation, that the line of the nodes 
of all the planets constantly changes its 
place, and shifts its situation from east to 
west, contrary to the order of the signs ; 
and that the line of the Moon’s nodes, by a 
retrograde motion, finishes its circulation 
in the compass of nineteen years ; after 
which time, either of the nodes having re- 
ceded from any point of the ecliptic, re- 
turns to the same again ; and when the 
Moon is in the node, she is also seen in the 
ecliptic. If the line of nodes were im- 
moveable, that is, if it had no other motion 
than that whereby it is carried round the 
Sun, it would always look to the same 
point of the ecliptic, or would keep pa- 
rallel to itself, as the axis of tlie earth 
does. 
From what has been said, it is evident 
that the Moon can never be observed pre- 
cisely in the ecliptic, but twice in every 
period ; tliat is, when she enters the nodes. 
When she is at her greatest distance from 
the nodes, viz, in the points, she is said to 
be in her limits. The Moon must be in or 
near one of the nodes, when there is an 
eclipse of the Sun or Moon. 
NOL AN A, in botany, a genus of the 
Pentandria Monogynia class and order. 
Natural order of Asperifoleie, or Luridse. 
Borraginea;, Jussieu, Essential character r 
corolla bell-shaped ; style among tlie germs ; 
seeds five, berried, two-celled. There is 
but one species, viz, N. protrasta, trailing 
nolana. 
NOLLE proseyui, is used where the plain- 
tiff will proceed no further in his action, 
and may be as well before as after a ver- 
dict, and is stronger against the plaintiff 
than a nonsuit, which is only a default in 
appearance; but this is a voluntary acknow- 
ledgment that he has no cause of action. 
In criminal cases it can only be entered by 
tlie Attorney General. 
NOLLET (John Anthony), in bio- 
graphy, a French ecclesiastic and celebrated 
natural philosopher in the eighteenth cen- 
tury, was born at Pimpre, in the diocese of 
NoyoD,in the year 1700. His parents, who 
