FIBRE. 578 FICHTE. of fibre than either the fabric or cordage fibres is employed. Fourth, fibres are used in the manu- facture of many plaited or coarsely woven articles emploj-ed in domestic economy, some of which are of commercial importance, while the greater number are 'native' productions. A fifth form of utility is the employment of fibres or fibrous substances in mass as filling material, for stuffing pillows, cushions, mattresses, furni- ture, etc., or as packing substances. A sixth and exceedingly important use is in the manufacture of paper. For further information, consult: Watt, Dictionary of Economic Products of India (Cal- cutta, 1889) ; Morris, Commercial Fibres (Lon- don, 1895) : "Vegetable Fibres," Kew Royal Gar- dens (London, 1898); Dodge, "Useful Fibre Plants of the World," United States Department of Agriculture, Fibre Investigations, Report No. IX. (Washington, 1897). See Flax; Jute; Ramie. FI'BRIN (from Lat. fibra, fibre). A proteid substance somewhat similar to myosin and globu- lin (see Globulins), from which it may be read- ily distinguished by its insolubility in dilute acids and alkalies as well as in dilute solutions of common salt. By the action of pepsin or of trypsin, fibrin is converted into certain forms of globulin. Fibrin may be obtained from blood by beating or stirring with a bundle of twigs, to which the fibrin adheres in strings. The impure substance thus obtained is rinsed with water, and may be boiled with alcohol and ether, to remove fatty matters. The properties of fibrin depend to some extent on the manner in which this method of preparation is carried out. and Denis succeeded in obtaining three distinctly dif- ferent forms of fibrin. Fibrin has the peculiar property of decomposing peroxide of hydrogen without itself undergoing any chemical change. FIBRIN'OGEN. See Globulins. FIBRO'MA. See Tumor. FI'BRO-SARCO'MA. See TUMOB. FI'BROVAS'CULAR BUNDLE ( fibro-, from Lat. fibra, fibre + vascular, from Lat. vasculum, little vessel, diminutive of r<is. vessel). A strand of supporting and conducting tissue in ferns and seed-plants. It usually comprises wood and bast, or may consist entirely of either one. The term 'fibrovascular' is given because there are usually some fibres associated with the vessel- See Anatomy of Plants : Fifre. FIB'TTLA. See Leg. FIBULA PR-ffi'NESTI'NA (Lat., Pramestine brooch). A gold brooch found in 18S6 at Prae- neste. It bears a retrograde inscription in Old Italic characters, which is the oldest extant speci- men of Latin, dating probably from the sixth century B.C., and which is important as showing the reduplicated perfect, the use of the dative ending -oi and the early use of the accusative ending d. The inscription reads: Manios med FHEFHAKED Xi MASIOI, which is equivalent to classical 1. at in Manius me fecit Vumasio (Maniua made for Nunmsius) . FICHEL, fe'shgl', Eugene (1826-95). A French painter, born in Paris. Be was a pupil of Paul I Ida in, in-. His lirst work of importance was exhibited in 1850, "Harvey Demonstrating the < 'irvulai i if I he Bl I to I lharles t." Fichel the miniature style of Meissonier, great can- in finish, archaeological exactness, and a kind of delicate humor, ml' his numerous works are: "A Morning Call" (1855) ; "The Ar- rival at the Inn" ( 18(53) , in the Luxembourg; "The Foundation of the French Academv" (1872) ; "The End of Dinner" (1872) ; and "The Council of War" (1890). FICHET, fe'sha', Guillaume. A French scholar of the fifteenth century. In 1467 he was elected rector of the University of Paris, and he installed in the Sorbonne the first printing- press ever set up in France, with the aid of three printers who came from Mainz to assist him in this work. The first book printed was Lettres de Gasparino (1470). Some of Fichet's own books followed, such as Ficheti Guilielmi Allium et Theologies Voctoris, Rlietoricorum Libri III. (1470). Consult Phillipe, Guillaume Picket, sa vie et ses ceuvres. Introduction de I'imprimerie a Paris (Annecy, 1892). FICHTE, flK'te, Immanuel Hermann ( 1797- 1879). A German philosopher, son of Johann Gottlieb Fichte. He early devoted himself to philosophical studies, being attracted by the later views of his father, which he considered essentially theistic. He also attended the lec- tures of Hegel, but felt averse to what he deemed to be his pantheistic tendencies. Occupied at first as a teacher, Fielite was appointed professor of philosophy in Bonn in 1836, and from 1842 to 1863 held a chair in the University of Tubin- gen. His chief works are: Beitrage zur Cha- in I. leristik der neuern Philosophic (1829: 2d cd. 1841) ; System der Ethik (1850-53) ; Anthropolo- gic (1856). The great aim of his speculations was to find a philosophic basis for the person- ality of God, and for his theory on this sub- ject he proposed the term concrete theism. The regeneration of Christianity, according to him, would consist in its becoming the vital and or- ganizing power in the State, instead of being occupied solely, as heretofore, with the salvation of individuals. FICHTE, Johann Gottlieb (1762-1814). An illustrious German philosopher. He was born the son of a ribbon-weaver, at Rammenau, in Upper Lusatia. May 19, 176-2. As a lad of prom ise he attracted the attention of a neighboring nobleman. Baron von Jliltitz, who assisted him in his early education. In 1776 Fichte was place.! at the gymnasium of Pforta, near Naumburg. and in 1780 he entered the University of Jena, where, as subsequently at Leipzig, he studied theology and philosophy. During the years 17S4 to ITss he supported himself in a precarious way as tutor in various Saxon families. From 1788 to 1790 he taught in private families at Zurich, where he became acquainted with Pestalozzi. Be then re turned to Leipzig and in 1791 obtained a tutoi ship at Warsaw, in the house of a Polish nobleman. The situation, however, proved dis- agreeable, and the philosopher next proi led to K&nigsberg, where he had an interview with Ix :i i>i . of whom he had become an ardent disciple. Be submitted his Kritih aller Offenbarung (Cri- tique of all Revelation) to that philosopher, who praised ii highly, ami advised him to publish it. I be following year it appeared anonymously, and was credited to Kant, who then made known its authorship. This incident established Fichte's fame as a philosopher. In 179 1 he was appointed in l he chair of philosophy at Jena, where he commenced to expound with extraordinary zeal his system of 'transcendental idealism.' In 1795 he published
