POI 
proper is tlrat which we otherwise call a full 
stop or period. See Punctuation. 
Point, in astronomy, a term applied to 
certain points or places, marked in the 
heavens, and distinguished by proper epi- 
thets. Tile four grand points or divisions 
of the horizon, viz. the east, west, north, 
and south, are called the cardinal points. 
The zenith and nadir are the vertical points ; 
the points wherein the orbits of the planets 
cut the plane of the ecliptic are called the 
nodes: the points wherein the equator and 
ecliptic intersect are called the equinoctial 
points; particularly, that whence the sun 
ascends towards the north pole, is called 
the vernal point; and that by which he de- 
scends to the south pole, the autumnal 
point. The points of the ecliptic, whepe 
the sun’s ascent above the equator, and de- 
scent below it, terminate, are called the 
solsticial point ; particularly the former of 
them, the estival or summer point; the lat- 
ter, the brumal or winter point. 
Point of the horizon, or compass, in navi- 
gati'd*'! and geography. 
Point is also used for a cape or head- 
land, jutting out into the sea : thus, sea- 
men say, two points of land are in one 
another, when they are so in a right line 
against each other, as that the innermost 
is hindered from being seen by the outer- 
most. 
Point, in perspective, is used for vari- 
ous parts or places, with regard to the per- 
spective plane. See Perspective. 
Points, in heraldry, are the several dif- 
ferent parts of an escutcheon, denoting the 
local positions of any figure. There are 
nine principal points in an escutcheon ; the 
dexter cWf; the precise middle chief; the 
sinister chief; the honour-point; the fess- 
point, called also the centre ; the nombril- 
point, that is, the navel-point ; the dext,er 
base ; the sinister base ; the precise middle 
base. 
Point is also used in heraldry for the 
low'est part of the escutcheon, which usually 
terminates in a point. 
Point is also an iron or steel instrument, 
used with some variety in several arts. En- 
gravers, etchers, cutters in wood, &c. use 
points to trace their designs bn the copper, 
wood, stone, &c. See Engraving. 
Point, in the manufactories, is a general 
term used for all kinds of laces, wrought 
with the needle ; such are the point de Ve- 
nice, point de France, point de Genoa, &c. 
which are distinguished by the particular 
economy and arrangement of their points. 
POI 
Point is sometimes used for lace woven 
with bobbins, as English point, point de 
Malines, point d’Havre, &c. 
Point of view, with regard to building, 
painting, &c. is a point at a certain distance 
from a building or other object, in which 
the eye has the most advantageous view of 
the same. This point is usually at a dis- 
tance equal to the height of the building. 
Point blank, in gunnery, is the horizon- 
tal position of a gun. 'The point blank 
range is the distance the shot goes before it 
strikes the level ground, when discharged 
in the horizontal or point blank direction. 
See Gunnery. 
POINTED, in heraldry. A cross point- 
ed, is that which has the extremities turned 
off into points by straight lines. 
POINTING, in grammar, the art of 
dividing a discourse, by points, into periods, 
and members of periods, in order to show 
the proper pauses to be made in reading, 
and to facilitate the pronunciation and un- 
derstanding thereof. See Punctuation. 
Pointing, in war, the levelling a can- 
non or mortar, so as to play against any 
certain point. See Gunnery, &c. 
Pointing the cable, in the sea language, 
is untivisting it at the end, lessening the 
yarn, twisting it again, and making all fast 
with a piece of marline, to keep it from 
ravelling out. 
POISONS, those substances which when 
applied externally, or taken into the human 
body, uniformly cause such a derangement 
of tlie animal economy as to produce dis- 
ease. As it is extremely difficult, however, 
to give a definition of a poison, the above 
is subject to great inaccuracy. Poisons are 
divided, with respect to the kingdom to 
which they belong, into animal, vegetable, 
mineral, and vaporous poisons. Poisons 
are only deleterious in certain doses; for 
the most active, in small does, form very 
valuable medicines. There are, neverthe- 
less, certain poisons which are really such 
in the smallest quantify, and which are 
never administered medicinally, as many 
of the animal poisons, the poison of hydro- 
phobia, &c. There are likewise substances 
which are innocent when taken into the 
stomach, but which prove deleterious when 
taken into the lungs, or when applied to an 
abraded surface. Thus carbonic acid gas 
is continually swallowed with fermented 
liquors, and thus the poison of the viper 
may be swallowed with impunity; whilst 
inspiring carbonic acid instantly destroys, 
and the poison of the viper inserted into 
