the village blacksmiths swinging their heavy
sledges "with measured beat and slow."

=Pyth'ias=, a Syracusan soldier, noted for his friendship for Damon. When
Damon was condemned to death by Dionysius, the new-made king of
Syracuse, Pythias obtained for him a respite of six hours, to go and bid
farewell to his wife and child. The condition of this respite was that
Pythias should be bound, and even executed, if Damon did not return at
the hour appointed. Damon returned in due time, and Dionysius was so
struck with this proof of friendship, that he not only pardoned Damon,
but even begged to be ranked among his friends. The day of execution was
the day that Pythias was to have been married to Calanth[^e].--_Damon and
Pythias_, a drama by R. Edwards (1571), and another by John Banim in
1825.

=Python=, a huge serpent engendered from the mud of the deluge, and slain
by Apollo. In other words, pytho is the miasma or mist from the
evaporation of the overflow, dried up by the sun. (Greek, _puthesthai_,
"to rot;" because the serpent was left to rot in the sun.)

=Q= (_Old_), the earl of March, afterwards duke of Queensberry, at the
close of the last century and the beginning of this.

=Quacks= (_Noted_).

BECHIC, known for his "cough pills," consisting of _digitalis_, _white
oxide of antimony_ and _licorice_. Sometimes, but erroneously, called
"Beecham's magic cough pills."

BOOKER (_John_), astrologer, etc. (1601-1667).

BOSSY (_Dr._), a German by birth. He was well known in the beginning of
the nineteenth century in Covent Garden, and in other parts of London.

BRODUM (eighteenth century). His "nervous cordial" consisted of _gentian
root_ infused in _gin_. Subsequently, a little _bark_ was added.

CAGLIOSTRO, the prince of quacks. His proper name was Joseph Balsamo,
and his father was Pietro Balsamo, of Palermo. He married Lorenza, the
daughter of a girdle-maker of Rome, called himself the Count Alessandro
di Cagliostro, and his wife the Countess Seraphina di Cagliostro. He
professed to heal every disease, to abolish wrinkles, to predict future
events, and was a great mesmerist. He styled himself "Grand Cophta,
Prophet, and Thaumaturge." His "Egyptian pills" sold largely at 30_s._ a
box (1743-1795). One of the famous novels of A. Dumas is _Joseph
Balsamo_ (1845).

He had a flat, snub face; dew-lapped, flat-nosed, greasy, and
sensual. A forehead impudent, and two eyes which turned up most