DROPSY. 472 DROTJET. and drnwin-r olT the lluid llirougli a tube. This optTatioii, iiiuier antiseptic jneeautioiis, is prae- tieally free from dan-ier, and may be repeated from lime to time by the surgeon as the pressure or weight of the accumulation becomes inij>ortant. Excessive dropsy of a limb is sometimes relieved by niakinj: several punctures through the skin. DKOPWORT. See Spir«a. DROS'ERA. See Sindew. DROSOM'ETER (from Gk. Splurot, drosos, dew + lUrpov. imlruii, measure). An apparatus for measuring the quantity of dew formed in a unit of time per >init area of surface. The surface may be citlier a horizontal metal ])latc or a leaf hanging naturally, or a bit of wool or cotton re|>resenting a large surface of fine fibres. The unit of time is usually one hour, and the iiiea-surement is made in the early morning, be- fore the rising sun evaporates the dew. When the apparatus is made self-registering, the surface, with its accumulating dew, hangs at one end of a delicate balance, or from a delicate spiral metallic spring, and by its gradual sinking moves the index that makes the record on a moving sheet of paper. Al- thougii many forms have been suggested, yet none have been considered to give results that arc comparable with each other from day to day, owing largely to the fact that the slightest change in the surface that receives the moisture alters the quantity of dew that is caught. Even the same bit of wool, when used day after day, changes its nature in this respect. If a metallic surface is used, its behavior must be compared frequently with a standard, partly because dif- ferent metals have dilTcrent jiroperties, but prin- cipally t)ocause the same surface, when it be- comes greasy, dirty, or scratched, has ditreront properties. Many peculiarities of the deposition of dew on difTerent objects are explained in de- tail in the popular work by Charles Tomlinson, entitled The Deir-drop and the Mist (T.ondoii, 1800). Jloreover. the case of the natural deposi- tion of dew on the grass and other plants very near the surface of the ground is not at all parallel to that where it is deposited upon metal plates or other bodies used as drosometers, partly because of the location, partly because of the ditl'erence in the substances, ami largely because of the influence of slight local currents of air. DROSSINIS, dnVs-se'nIs. George ( 185»— ) . A modern Greek writer, lie was born at Athena, and although originally a lawyer, later devoted himself entirely to belles-lettres. His works, which are characterized by simplicity of language and genuine feeling, include five collections of Ivrical poetry and the following prose writings: Rural Letle'rx (1882): Three nai/s in Tinoo (188.5); and Trilrs and Urmini.ireiwex (1880). He also conducted the puldieatinn Ilrxtiti. which he acquired during his residence in (Jermany (ISStiSS), where tran-lalions have been made of several of his chief productions. DROSTE-niJLSHOFF, drAs'tr hi.ilsliAf. A:^- ^"ETTE Ij iz.viiKTH, linroness von (1707-1848). A German lyric poet. She was born at Hillsliofi^. near Miinster. i)asscd her life largely in seclusion. and died at Mecrslmrg. on T.ake Constance. Her fledirhir (ISrjS; new ed. 18!).')) are excellent in technique and gracefully sweet in character, par- ticularly in their pictures of nature. In lyric and narrative forms they are wcllnigh equally suc- cessful. Selections from them find jjlace in most gi^neral collections of German verse. The post- humously printed Dcs geistliehc Juhr (1852; new ed. 18831 consists largely of religious verses. L'nder the editorship of Schiiking her collected works, including the Lil:tc llubvn (1800), a])- |ieared in three volumes in 1878-71). Consult ."^chiieking. .l/i/it7/c roii JJrostv-Iliilshoff (Han- over, 1871). DROUAIS, drnTTA'. A French family of ar- tists. Ill UEKT ( 10'.l!l-1707 ) was best known as a l>orlrait jiainter. There arc two portraits by him in the Louvre — one of the painter Chris- tophe. and the other of the sculptor Kobert le Lorrain. He assisted Xattier and Van Loo in the execution of costumes and accessories. His son FR.>"rois Hubert (1727-75) was a painter of children's Jiortraits. It was the fashion to be painted by Francois at the time of Louis XV., and he has left many examples of his art. These include Madame de Pompadour in a variety of costun)es. and also Madame du Barry painted as a muse, a boy. or a sultana. The most char- acteristic of his pictures is "A Child Playing with a Cat" (1765). Je.x Germai.n- (170:i-S8| was the son of Francois, and the most celebrated of the family. He was born in Paris, and studied imder David. In 17S4 he won the .cademy prize for painting, and the following year went to Rome. Three years afterwards he died in Italy. He broke away from eighte<-nth-century traditions, and shows distinct force and origi- nality in his two pictures in the Louvre — "Le Christ et la Cananf-enne" and "Marius i) Min- turnes." Poth of these were painted during his stay in Rome. DROXJET, drnna'. Henri (1829—). A French naturalist and administrator, born at Troves. In the pursuit of his researches in natural science, he traveled throughout France examining State and private eoUei-tions. and in lS."i7 iindertook a scientific journey through Portugal. From ]8.')8 to lS7(i he was a member of the depart- ment;il administration. His publications number the following: Enumt'ralion drx niollimquex tcr- restrcs et fliivialiles t-ivants de la Franee conli- nentale (1855): Ksaai xiir les molliisiiiies ter- restres ct fliniatiles de la Giiiianc frnnrnixe (1859) : Siir Irrrr ct siir mer (1870) ; and Mijer <l Ir Knhrl (1887). DROUET, .Te.vx B.vi'tiste. Coimt d'Krlon (1705-1844). A marshal of France. He was bom .July 29. 1705. at Rheims. and entered the army as a private in 1782, took part in the campaigns of 1793-90, aiid became itidedecamp to (Jeneral Lef^v^e. He distinguished himself during the sieges of Valenciennes. Le Quesnoy. ami Condi'-, and in 1797. under Hoclie. forced the surrender of the fortress of Khrenbreitstein. His ini))ortant services caused hi< rapid promotion, ami he he- eame brigadier-general in 1799. Made a general of division in 1800. he took an active jiart in the campaign of 1805-07. distingiiisliing himself at .Tena. and being wounded at Friedland. His con- duct won him the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor and the title of Comte d'Erlon. He took a prominent part in the Peninsular War. and fought bravely against Wellington in 1814. After the fall of Napoleon he was given eonmiand of the Sixteenth Division, but was shortly afterwards
