SYCAMOEE Bonn, 1874) ; and Klerikale Politik im neun- zehnten Jahrhundert, in defence of Prince Bis- marck's policy (1874; English translation by J. S. Henderson, London, 1874). SYCAMORE, a name properly belonging to a species of fig (ficus sycomorus), the StDNEY 535 of the Greeks, and the plant so called in the Scriptures. The tree is common in Egypt ; its light and durable wood was formerly used for mummy cases, and it is now planted as a shade tree and for its fruit. In the sacred dramas in the middle ages, the true sycamore not being at hand, the large maple was used to represent the tree into which Zacchseus climbed, and that in which the Virgin hid with the infant Jesus to avoid the fury of Herod. From this use the name sycamore was transferred to the maple (acer pseudoplatanus). (See MAPLE.) In the United States the plane or buttonwood tree is frequently called sycamore, as the leaves resemble in shape those of the sycamore maple. SYDEJVHAM, Floyer, an English scholar, born in 1710, died April 1, 1787. He was educated at Ox- ford, where he took the degree of M. A. in 1734. He translated the great- er part of Plato's works (3 vols. 4to, 1759-'8e). Thomas Taylor comple- ted the translation in 1804. Sydenham also published "A Disserta- tion on the Doctrine of Heraclitus" (1775), and Onomasticon Theologi- cum (1784). His suffer- ings from poverty in his old age, and his death in the debtors' prison, led to the foundation of the literary fund. SYDEMIAM, Thomas, an English physician, born at Winford Eagle, Dorsetshire, in 1624, died in London, Dec. 29, 1689. He graduated at Oxford, and in 1648 obtained a fellowship in All Souls' college, and studied there some years, visiting France in the mean while and attending the lectures of Barbeyrac. About 1660 he went to Westminster, and soon ob- tained a large practice and great reputation. Abandoning the routine system then in vogue, he based his practice on principles which recognize that there is in the human system a recuperative power, the vis medicatrix nature, and that this should be aided, not thwarted. He was the first who treated smallpox with cooling remedies, or intermittent fever with cinchona. The preparation known as Syden- ham's laudanum was one of many valuable additions which he made to the materia med- ica. A collective edition of his works in Latin was published in London in 1785 (English translation, 1696). In 1843 a society, com- posed mainly of members of the medical pro- fession, was founded in London under the name of the Sydenham society, having for its object the republication of the works of Sydenham and of other eminent physicians of former times, otherwise inaccessible to professional readers in general, and published his works translated from the Latin by K. G. Latham (2 vols., London, 1848-'50). SYDNEY, a city of Australia, capital of the colony of New South Wales, in Cumberland county, on the S. shore of Port Jackson, about 4 m. from its entrance, 450 m. K E. of Mel- bourne; lat. 33 51' S., Ion. 151 14' E.; pop. in 1871, 75,945, or including the suburbs, 134,- 758. Part of the town stands on a promon- tory, with Darling harbor on the W.; part occupies a narrow valley E. of this ; and the remainder is on undulating ground extending S. and still further E., with extensive water Parliament Buildings, Sydney. frontage on the N. and K E. The greatest length of the city is 3f m. N. and S., and its breadth 2| m. E. and W. The total length of the streets is 115 m., and the number of houses 14,500. The main streets are laid out at right angles, but many are crooked and narrow, giving the city the appearance of an old English town. It is well supplied with water and lighted with gas. Public traffic is carried on by about 600 omnibuses and hack- ney coaches, and 30 steam ferry boats connect with the transmarine suburbs. Most of the public buildings, banks, and warehouses are of freestone in the Italian composite style. The exchange in the Corinthian, the govern- ment house in the Tudor, and the university in the perpendicular English style, are fine speci- mens of architecture. The new post office, opened in September, 1874, and the town hall, which is very large, are imposing edifices. Other noteworthy buildings are the new rail- way station, the courts of justice, the parlia-
