Pepperell

3671

Per Capita

physician, was born in Philadelphia. He was
professor of clinical medicine in the University
of Pennsylvania in 1874-84, professor of the
theory and practice of medicine in 1884-98,
and provost of the university in 1881-94. He
took a prominent part in establishing the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania Hospital and was also
one of the founders of the American Society
for the Extension of University Teaching, and
the Pennsylvania Museum and School of In-

Pepper.

i, Part of catkin; 2, flower; 3,
stamen; 4, vertical section of
fruit.

dust rial Art. He founded the Philadelphia
Medical Times, and edited it in 1870-1. In
conjunction with John F. Meigs he edited a
System of Medicine by American Authors
(5 vols., 1885-86). He was author of Tre-
phining in Cerebral Disease (1871); Theory
and Practice oj Medicine (1893); etc.

Pepperell, Sir William (1696-1759), Am-
erican colonial soldier, born in Kittery, Me.
When King George's War broke out in 1744,
Pepperell was very active in raising troops
and was asked to take command of the col-
onial expedition against the strong fortress of
Louisburg on Cape Breton Island. He landed
before Louisburg late in April, 1745, and, being
supported by a British fleet under Commodore
Warren, succeeded by June 17 in forcing the
place to capitulate. When Pepperell returned
to New England in 1746 he was highly hon-
ored, was created a baronet by King George
n. When the French and Indian War broke
out, he was created a major-general, and was
put in command of the defenses of the borders
of New England. He was acting governor of
Massachusetts during i756-i7$8> was pro-

moted to be a lieutenant-general in 1759, and
died in the same year.

Peppermint (Mentha Piperila), a herba-
ceous European plant with a creeping root, a
smooth stem, stalked ovate leaves, and lax
spikes of labiate flowers. The whole plant
yields a marked aromatic odor. An essential
oil is distilled from the fresh flowering tops,
cut in August and dried on the ground before
being distilled. Preparations of this oil are
used in medicine as stimulants and carmina-
tives.

Peppergrass, a name given to members of
the genus Lepidium, a division of the order
Cruciferse The only member of the genus of
any importance is L. sativum, the common
garden cress.

Pepsin, an enzyme secreted by glands in the
gastric mucous membrane; it has the power,
when in acid solution, of converting proteids
into soluble peptones.

Peptones are the soluble primary products
formed in digestion by the breaking down oi
proteid food substances through the action oi
the pancreatic and gastric ferments.

Pepys, Samuel (1633-1703), English dia-
rist, was born probably in .London. In 1659
he entered official employ, and began his
Diary. This, for the next ten years, forms a
minute record of his official and personal inter-
ests, of his amours and his disputes with his
wife, and of the habits and scandals of Lon-
don. In 1673 he was appointed secretary for
the affairs of the navy, and in the same year
entered Parliament as member for Castle Ris-
ing. In 1684 he was again appointed secretary
to the Admiralty, and was also president of the
Royal Society. In 1690 he published his Mem-
oirs of the Navy. He left his library to Mag-
dalene College, Cambridge, and there his
Diary remained until it was deciphered by J.
Smith and published in 1825.

Pequot, a former Algonquin tribe of s,e.
Connecticut. They were practically one tribe
with the Mohegans before the English settle-
ment, but about that time a party under Uncas
seceded, retaining the name Mohegan. The
Pequots numbered at least 3,000.

Perak, British protected state, Malay Pen-
insula, with Strait of Malacca on w. Area,
about 8,000 sq. m. Perak is traversed by two
chains of mountains (7,000 ft.), and is well
watered, the chief river being the Perak.
Thaipeng, or Taiping, is the chief town; Port
Weld is the seaport; p. 600,000. Exports in-
clude tin, sugar, indigo, cocoanuts, tanning
barks, and rattans.

Per Capita, Per Stirpes. These terms