FISKE. G84 FITCH. produced The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch. Mrs. Fiske is an actress of strong intelligence and no little power of dramatic realism, with an insis- tent quality which, if at times verging upon mannerism, is capable of greal effect in passages of sustained emotion. Consult: Strang, Famous Actresses of the Day in America (Boston, 1899) ; .McKay and Wingate, Famous American Actors of To-day (New York, 1896); Hapgood, The Stage in America, 1897-1900 (New York. 1901). FISKE, Stephen (1840—). An American journalist and author, born at New Brunswick, N. J. He was educated at Rutgers College (New Brunswick), became a special correspondent and editorial writer for the Ni w York Herald, and in a reportorial capacity accompanied Prince Albert Edward (later Edward VII.) on the latter's American tour. Subsequently he corresponded for the Herald during a part of the Civil War, and became dramatic critic of that journal. At one time he was impressario of the Royal English Opera, London. He was later appointed dramatic critic of the Spirit of the Times, of New York City. His writings comprise several plays, in- cluding an adaptation of Dickens's Martin rhn~- zleicit, Holiday Tales, and two collections of Sketches, English Photographs and Offhand Por- traits of Prominent New Yorkers (1884), the latter containing much interesting material orig- inally published in the Knickerbocker magazine. FISK UNIVERSITY. An institution for the education of colored persons, founded in 1806. at Nashville, Tenn., by the American Missionary Association of New York and the Western Freed- man's Aid Commission of Cincinnati. The uni- versity early became well known through the efforts made on its behalf by Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, from whom the institution took its name, and from the 'jubilee singers,' composed of its students, who toured the United States and Great Britain, raising $150,000 for the institution's needs. The university at present comprises theo- logical, normal, college, preparatory, music, and industrial departments. The attendance in all departments in 1902 was over 500. At the same time the total value of the university property was about $350,000. and the annual income from endowment and tuitions about S6000 It ha- had two presidents. K. M. Cravath DD ' and G. G. Merrill, D.D. FISSION, fish'un (Lat. fissio. from findere to split; connected with Skt. bhid, to split. Goth. beitan, OHG. bizzan, Ger. beissen, AS. bitan, Engl bite), in plants. A term which has been ap- plied to cell-division in general. but which is now becoming restricted to cell-division in the bacteria and blue-green alga> (Cyanophyi ), and to tlir splitting of chromosomes.' See Cell (iii Plants). In animals of lowest organization, the processofreproductionby 'budding' orcell division. FISSION FUNGI. See Schizomycetes. FIS'TULA (Lat., pipe). A term formerly ap- plied to such an abscess (q.v.) as had contracted to narrow, hard, open passages in the soft tis- sues of the body, lined by a kind of false mem- brane, giving rise to a thin discharge. t the presenl time the term fistula is generally limited to the opening of such a passage when' in close contact with a mucous membrane, the word inus' being used in the former sense. Thus it is common to speak of salivary fistula;, uri- nary fistula-, etc.; and the most common and troublesome kind of all is the fistula in ano in connection with the lower bowel or rectum. The treatment of fistula should only be intrusted to experienced surgeons. Modern surgery has done much to secure certainty in the treatment of anal fistula; and it is due to the skill of American surgeons, and especially to that of J. Marion Sims, of New York, that a cure for the dis- tressing condition known as vesicovaginal fistula has been devised. In farriery, the name is given to a pus-dis- charging abscess usually situated on the withers of a horse. When it appears on the head it is called poll evil. Such abscesses are usually due to chafing halter, harness, or saddle, or to blows Horses with high withers, or saddle-horses with low withers upon which the saddle rides far forward, are especially liable to this affection. The most satisfactory treatment is to open the abscess at its lowest point, so as to allow for drainage, and to wash out with antiseptic solu- tions. FIS'TULI'NA. See Fungi, Edible and Poi- sonous. FITCH, or FITCHEW, ftch'u (from ODutch vitsche, visse, fisse, polecat) . The European pole- cat (q.v. I. * FIT (AS. fitt, struggle, of unknown etymol- ogy). A name popularly applied to a convulsion (q.v.), or, indeed, to any sudden seizure of dis- ease implying loss of consciousness. (See Hys- teria: Epilepsy.) The term is also used col- loquially to designate a mood or a temporary change in mental attitude, without disease, as denoted by such expressions as 'a fit of the blues,' 'a fit of abstraction,' 'an economical fit,' etc. FITCH, Ebenezer (1750-1833). An American educator, bom in Norwich. Conn. He graduated at Yale in 1777, and for some time was tutor there. In 1791 he became principal of the school at Williamstown. .Mass.. and when it be- came Williams College he was elected its first president, which position he resigned in 1815, to become pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Bloom field, N. Y. FITCH, Graham Xkwei.i. (1809-92). An American legislator, bom in Le Roy, N. Y. He studied medicine, and removed to* Logansport, Ind., in 1834. From 1844 to 1847 he was a professor in Rush Medical College, Chicago, and from 1878 to 1883 in the Indiana Medical Col- lege. From 1836 to 1830 he was a member of the State Legislature, and from 1849 to 1853 was in Congress. In 1857 he was elected to the United States Senate, and served until 1861. In the fall of that year lie was commissioned colonel of the Forty sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which he had himself raised. Late in 1862 lie was compelled to resign, as a result of wounds received in act ion. FITCH, John (1743-98). A distinguished American inventor, who was one of the firsl to apply steam to the propulsion of boats. II,- was born at Windsor, Conn., and was* the son of a farmer. After receiving : union seliool educa- tion he made a few voyages before the mast, and at the time of the Revolution he became a sutler with the American Army, and amassed extensive profits, which he invested in Virginia. In 1780 Fitch became deputy surveyor of Kentucky, and
