AMYGDALIN 157 ANABAPTISTS AMYGDALIN (aoH^rNOnSH^O), a crystalline principle existing in the ker- nel of bitter almonds, the leaves of the prunus laurocerasus, and various other plants, which, by distillation, yield hy- drocyanic acid. It is obtained, by ex- traction with boiling alcohol, from the paste or cake of bitter almonds, which remains after the fixed oil has been sep- arated by pressure. When obtained pure, it has a sweetish, somewhat bitter taste, and is not poisonous, and, when treated with alkaline solvents, ammonia is ex- pelled, and amygdalic acid, CaoHaeOu, is produced. AMYGDALOID, an igneous crystal- line, or, as the case may be, vitreous rock (lava), containing numerous cells, which owe their origin to the segregation and expansion of steam, with which all lavas are more or less charged at the time of their eruption. The cells vary in size from mere pores up to cavities several inches, or even feet, in diameter. The cells are generally flattened or drawn out in the direction of flow of the lava, and are frequently filled with mineral matter (amygdules), subsequently introduced by infiltrating water. This is the origin of many of the agates and so-called "Scotch pebbles" of jewelers. AMYGDALUS (am-ig'dal-us), a ge- nus of plants belonging to the order drupacese, or almond-worts. It contains, among other species, the common peach, amygdalus persica, with the nectarine (variety nectarina), the almond, amyg- dalus communis, with the variety amara, or bitter almond. AMYL (CoHii), the fifth in the series of alcohol radicals whose general for- mula is C„H2„+,, and of which methyl and ethyl are the first two members. It has an agreeable smell and burning taste. It enters into a large number of chemical compounds, most of which— as, for instance, bromide, chloride, iodide, etc. — are derived from amylic alcohol, which bears precisely the same relation to amyl that ordinary alcohol bears to ethyl, C^Hc AMYL, NITBITE OF (aHnNOj), a valuable drug which must not be con- founded with nitrate of amyl, may be prepared by the action of nitric acid on fusel oil (amylic alcohol). It is a very powerful remedy in all convulsive dis- eases, and is of especial value in angina pectoris, as well as in asthma. Owing to its volatile nature it is usually kept in small glass or composition globes con- taining from two to five drops, one of which, when crushed in the handkerchief, and the vapor breathed, will often give immediate relief. AMYLOID, a term used both in chem- istry and botany, and generally equiva- lent to "starchy." Amyloids are sub- stances like starch, dextrine, sugar, gum, etc., which consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The animal body, chemically considered, is a mixture of proteids, amy- loids or carbohydrates, and fats, plus water and mineral constituents, and the normal food always contains these con- stituents. Of the three items, proteids are, however, absolutely essential, amy- loids and fats only desirable accessories. A compound radical called amyl is formed by the decomposition of starch in a peculiar fermentation — the amylic fermentation. AMYRIDACEiE (am-er-e-das'e-i), an order of exogenous plants. The amyri- dacex have a panicled inflorescence, hy- pogynous stamina, double the petals in number, the fruit sub-drupaceous, sam- aroid, or leguminous, with from one to two seeds, the leaves abounding in resin. They occur in the tropics of India and America, in the latter region extending as far N. as Florida. ANABAPTISTS, members of a well- known sect, which largely figured in the ecclesiastical and civil history of the 16th century. It began to attract notice within four years of the ever-memorable 31st of October, 1517, on which Luther affixed his "theses" to the gate of the castle church of Wittenberg. The most eminent of its early leaders were Thomas Miinzer, Mark Stubner, and Nicholas Storck. They had been dis- ciples of Luther; but, becoming dissatis- fied with the moderate character of his reformation, they cast off his authority, and attempted more sweeping changes than he was prepared to sanction. Dur- ing his absence, they, in 1521, began to preach their doctrines at Wittenberg. Laying claim to supernatural powers, they saw visions, uttered prophecies, and made an immense number of proselytes. In 1525, the peasants of Suabia, Thu- ringia, and Franconia, who had been much oppressed by their feudal supe- riors, rose in arms. The Anabaptists- cast in their lot with the insurgent peas- anti-y, and became their leaders in bat- tle. After a time the allied princes of the empire, led by Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, put down the rebellion, and Mun- zer was defeated, captured, and ulti- mately beheaded. In 1532, some extreme Anabaptists from Holland, led by a ba- ker called John Matthias, and a tailor, John of Leyden, seized on the city of Miinster, in Westphalia, with the view of setting up in it a spiritual kingdom. The name was changed to Mount Zion and Matthias becarme its
