from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. In 1859 he removed to New York, and, after filling the chair of physiology in a school of medicine in New Orleans, became professor of physiology and microscopic anatomy in the Bellevue Hospital medical college and lecturer in the Long Island college-hospital. In 1874 he was appointed surgeon-general of New York state. He is the author of a number of important medical treatises, among which are a Textbook of Human Physiology; The Source of Muscular Power; and Physiology of Man.
Flint-Implements of the primitive people of prehistoric times are commonly found on the graves or on the sites of settlements of the earlier inhabitants of almost every country in Europe. They consist of spearheads, arrowheads, daggers, knives, saws, borers, scrapers, chisels and axes. No modern savages or barbarous tribes have produced anything so finely finished as the weapons and implements of the prehistoric peoples. Some of them, as the knife-blades and dagger-blades of Denmark and Sweden, are marvels of workmanship. Flint is the only kind of stone capable of being worked into a variety of shapes by flaking and chipping. See Ancient Stone Implements by Evans.
Flint, Mich., the capital of Genesee County, in southeastern Michigan, is situated on Flint River, 60 miles northwest of Detroit, and is served by the Chicago and Grand Trunk and Flint and Pére Marquette railroads. Flint is known as the vehicle-city, because of its extensive factories. The Buick Motor Co. at completion will be the largest in the world. It is the seat of the state Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and of Oak-Grove Home, a private establishment for the care of the feeble-minded. Population 38,550.
Flodden, Battle of, fought on Flodden Hill on the Scottish borders, between James IV of Scotland and an English army under the Earl of Surrey, Sept. 9, 1513, was the most grievous defeat that Scotland ever suffered. King James had 30,000 men, and the Earl of Surrey 32,000; the former lost from 5,000 to 12,000 men, including the archbishop of St. Andrews and 12 earls, and the latter 4,000 men. The sixth canto of Sir Walter Scott's Marmion contains a splendid and fairly accurate description of the battle. See Robert White's The Battle of Flodden and Scott's Marmion.
Flood-Plains are level tracts of land which have been formed by the sediment deposited by a river when in flood. The flood-plains of the Nile, the Mississippi, the Po and other rivers are of great extent and very fertile. Frequently the course of a river changes by a gradual swing to one side, owing to the settling of sediment in its own channel, and in this way a delta of flood-plains is apt to be formed, as in the case of the Nile and the Mississippi, at its mouth.
Flora, an ancient Italian deity, the Roman goddess of flowers. At Rome she had two temples. She was represented as a flower-crowned maiden, in the full bloom of maidenly beauty. On the occasion of her festival, held at the end of April, the dwellings were decked with flowers, and feasting, dancing and singing prevailed everywhere.
Flor′ence, a city of Italy and capital of the province of Florence (Firenze), is situated in the valley of the Arno. The province of Firenze has an area of 2,265 square miles, with a population of 995,048. The establishment here in 1864 and 1865 of the seat of the Italian government was the means of increasing the city to nearly double its former extent. The chief building in the city is the cathedral, the foundations of which were laid in 1298; while in 1887 the finished building was uncovered with great pomp in the presence of the Italian sovereigns. The dome served Michael Angelo as a model for St. Peter's. The church contains sculptures by Michael Angelo and other famous artists. There are many other handsome churches in Florence, containing a wealth of paintings and sculpture. Among the famous palaces are Il Bargello, Vecchio, Signoria, Uffizi, Pitti, Riccardi and Strozzi. The Pitti palace contains the national library, with 200,000 volumes and 10,000 manuscripts, and the famous Florentine gallery of art, filling 23 rooms. The city of Florence sprang originally from Fiesole, at the foot of which it lies extended. In the 11th century it was bequeathed to Pope Gregory VII, and, under the protection of Rome, became a city of importance. By 1250 it had become one of the first cities of Italy and held its place for many years. In 1348 the black death carried off 100,000 of the city's inhabitants. In 1529 the city was besieged by an army under the duke of Orange and, fell Aug. 8, 1530. After the constitution of the united kingdom of Italy, Florence held the position of provisional capital from 1864 to 1871. Its population is about 227,000. In art Florence holds a unique place, the Florentine school being the most important in Italy. In literature its position is hardly less important, as is attested by the names of Dante and Boccaccio. See Mrs, Oliphant's The Makers of Florence; Ruskin's Mornings in Florence; George Eliot's Romola.
Flor′ida, meaning the land of flowers, is the most southern portion of the United States. It is a peninsula, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It covers an area of 58,680 square miles of which 4,400 square miles are water, and is about 450 miles long and 100 broad.
Surface and Drainage. It is for the
