CAEBONIFEROirS 346 CARD tion of animals, and in all ordinary com- bustions, from the oxidation of carbon in the fuel. It exists in large quantity in all limestones and marbles. It is evolved from the colored parts of the flowers of plants both by night and day, and from the green parts of plants dur- ing the night. During the day plants "absorb it from the atmosphere through their leaves, and it forms an important part of their nourishment. CARBONIFEROUS, a term applied to the extensive and thick series of strata with which seams of palaeozoic coal are more or less immediately associated. It is applied as well to that great system of formations which yield our main sup- ply of coal, or to some divisions of that system, such as the Carboniferous lime- stone and the Carboniferous slates. It is also applied to the fossils found in any stratum belonging to the system. CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM, the Carboniferous succeeds the old Red Sandstone or some other member of the Devonian system, and passes upward into the Permian series. Its constituent groups vary much in the thicknesses of their sandstones, clays, limestones, and coals in different parts of the world, ac- cording to their conditions of deposition in conterminous seas, estuaries, and lagoons. Carboniferous fossils comprise laby- rinthodont and other amphibia; hetero- cercal fishes of many forms; numerous insects, myriapods, and arachnids; crus- taceans of all orders except the highest decapods; mollusks of all the known or- ders; polyzoa; corals of the "rugose" kind; foraminifera; and some plants of the conifer and cycad groups, but far more of the fern, equisetum, and lycopod orders. The Carboniferous Limestone consists of corals, encrinites, shells, and forami- nifera of a great sea, with muds, sands, and coal-beds on its margins. These constitute the coal-measures of Russia, Styria, Italy, Corsica, the Boulonnais, etc., and the Lower coal-measures of Scotland. CARBORUNDUM. See ABRASIVES. CARBOY, a large and somewhat globular bottle of green glass protected by an outside covering of wickerwork or other material, for carrying vitriol or other corrosive liquid. CARBUNCLE, a beautiful gem of a deep-red color with a mixture of scarlet, found in the East Indies. When held up to the sun it loses its deep tinge, and becomes exactly the color of a burning coal. CARBUNCLE, in surgery, an inflam- mation of the true skin and tissue be- neath it akin to that occurring in boils. It is more extensive than the latter, and instead of one has several cores. It is associated with a bad state of general health, from which condition its danger arises, for it may threaten life by ex- haustion or blood poisoning. With re- gard to the local treatment, the principal thing to be done is to make a free in- cision into the tumor; as much of the contents as possible should then be pressed out, and a poultice applied. The patient's strength should be supported by nourishing and easily digested food, and tonics should be administered. CARBURETOR. See SIOTOR VEHICLE. CARCAJOU, a species of badger found in North America, Meles labradoHca. CARCANET, a necklace or collar of jewels. CARCASS, in military language, an iron case, with several apertures, filled with combustible materials, which is dis- charged from a mortar, howitzer, or gun, and intended to set fire to buildings, ships, and wooden defenses. CARCASSONNE (kar-ka-son'), the Carcaso of Caesar, the capital of the French department of Aude, on the Aude river and the Canal du Midi, 56 miles S. E. of Toulouse by rail. It is divided by the river into two parts, the old and the new town. The new town is well and regularly built; but the old town or cite, built on a height, is much more pic- turesque, with its ramparts and towers, some parts of them dating from the time of the Visigoths, and the rest, with the many towered castle, from the 11th or 13th century. In 1210 this old town suf- fered greatly at the hands of the fierce bigot Simon de Montfort and his crusad- ers, who here burned 400 of the Albigen- ses. In 1356 it effectually resisted the Black Prince. Of several fine churches the finest is St. Nazaire. Cloth-making is the staple industry; and there are also manufactures of paper, leather, linen, soap, etc. Pop. about 30,000. CARCHEMISH, an ancient city on the Upper Euphrates, N. E. of the modern Aleppo, was long the N. capital of the HiTTiTES (g. v.), and was a city of great size and importance. CARD, an instrument for combing, opening, and breaking wool, flax, etc., and freeing it from the coarser parts and from extraneous matter. It is made by inserting bent teeth of wire in a thick piece of oblong board to which^^ handle is attached. But wool and cotton are I
