Q 
said he invented many theorems, particu- 
larly these three : — 1. Only three polygons, 
or regular plane figures, can fill up the 
space about a point; viz. the equilateral 
triangle, the square, and the hexagon. 
2. The sum of the three angles of every 
triangle is equal to two right angles. 3. In 
any right-angled triangle the, square on the 
longest side is equal to both the squares on 
the two shorter sides. For the discovery of 
this last theorem, some authors say, he 
offered to the gods a hecatomb, or a sacri- 
fice of a hundred oxen. Plutarch, however, 
says it was only one ox ; and even that is 
questioned by Cicero, as inconsistent with 
his doctrine, which forbade bloody sacri- 
fices. The more accurate therefore say, he 
sacrificed an ox made of flour, or of clay, 
and Plutarch even doubts whether such 
sacrifice, whatever it was, was made for 
the said theorem, or for that concerning the 
parabola, which it was said Pythagoras also 
tbnnd out. 
In astronomy his inventions were many 
and great. It is reported that he discovered 
or maintained the true system of the wor ld, 
which places the sun in the centre, and makes 
all the planets revolve about him : from him 
it is to this day called the old, or Pythago- 
QUA 
lean system ; and is the same as that lately 
revived by Copernicus. He first discovered 
that Lucifer and Hesperus were but one and 
the same, being the planet Venus, though 
formerly thought to be two different stars. 
The invention of the obliquity of the zo - 1 
diac is likewise ascribed to him. He first 
gave to the world the name Kosmos, from 
the order and beauty of all things compre- 
hended in it; asserting that it was made 
according to musical proportion : for as he 
held that the sun, by him and his followers 
termed the fiery globe of unity, was seated 
in the midst of the universe, and the earth 
and planets moving around him, so he held 
that the seven planets had an harmonious 
motion, and their distances from the sun 
corresponded to the musical intervals or 
di visions of the monochord. 
Pythagoras and his followers held the 
transmigration of souls, making them suc- 
cessively occupy one body after another ; 
on which account they abstained from flesh, 
and lived chiefly on vegetables. 
PYTHAGOREANS, a sect of ancient 
philosophers, so denominated from their 
being the followers of Pythagoras of Sam»s. 
See Pythagoras. 
Q. 
Q Or q, the sixteenth letter, and twelfth 
’ consonant, of our alphabet, but is 
not to be found either in the Greek, old La- 
tin, or Saxon alphabets ; and, indeed, some 
would entirely exclude it, pretending that 
k ought to be used wherever this occurs. 
However, as it is formed in the voice in a 
different manner, it is undoubtedly a dis- 
tinct letter; for in expressing this sound 
the cheeks are contracted, and the lips, 
particularly the under one, are put into 
a cannular form, for the passage of the 
breath. 
The q is never sounded alone, but in 
conjunction with u, as in quality, question, 
quite, quote, &c. and never ends any English 
word. 
As a numeral, Q stands for .500 ; and with 
a dash over it, thus, Q, for 500,000. 
Used as an abbreviature, q. signifies quan-^ 
VOL. V. 
tity, or quantum : thus, among physicians, 
q. pi. is quantum placet, i. e, as much as 
you please of a thing ; and q. s. quantum 
suificit, i. e. as much as is necessary. Q. E. D, 
among mathematicians, is quod erat demon- 
strandum, i. e. which was to be demonstrat- 
ed ; and Q. E. F. quod erat faciendum, i. e. 
which was to be done. Q. D. among gram- 
marians, is quasi dictum, i. e. as if it were 
said. 
QUACK, a medical impostor, who “ for 
the good of the public,” and “ by the bles- 
sing of God,” undertakes with his powders, 
potions, or balsam, to cure “ all disorders.” 
Thus, ignorance and blasphemy unite in 
picking the pockets and ruining the consti- 
tution of thousands of credulous people in 
this and other countries. The pretension 
to infallibility in any one medicine, as a 
cure for any one disorder, is next to ab- 
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