PRO
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PRO
Kepler's Problem, in Aftronomy, is the determining of a Planet's Place from the Time. See Planet.
It took its Name from Kepler, who firft ptopos'd it. The ^Problem, ftated in form, ftands thus : To find the Petition of a right Line, which palling thro one of the Foci of an Ellipfis, /hall cut off an Area defcrib'd by its Mo- tion which /hall be in airy given Proportion to the whole Area of the Ellipfis.
The Propofer knew no way of folding the Problem di- rectly, and geometrically ; and therefore had recourfe to an indirect Method ; for which he was tax'd with an a.y.a- nnpm*., or want of Geometry ; and his Aftronomy char- ged with not being Geometrical. But the Problem has fince been folved directly and geometrically feveral ways, by feveral Authors; particularly Sir If. Newton, Dr. Keill, i£c. See Planet, Place, &c.
Celiac Problem, in Geometry, is the doubling of a Cube. See Cube, &c.
This 'Problem was fo call'd from the People of 2)elos, who, upon confulting the Oracle for a Remedy againft a Plague they were then infefted with, were anfwer'd, that the Plague fhould ceafe, when Apollo's Altar, which was in form of a Cube, fhould be doubled. See Duplica- ture.
This 'Problem coincides with that for finding two mean Proportionals between two given Lines; whence that, alfo, is call'd the 2Jeliac Problem. See Proportional.
PROBLEMATICAL Refolmion, in Algebra, a Method of folving difficult Queftions by certain Rules, call'd Ca- nons. See Solution and Canon.
PROBOSCIS, in Natural Hiftory, the 'Trunk, or Snout of an Elephant ; and fome other Animals. See Trunk.
The Probofcis is a Member iffuing out of the middle of the Forehead, ferving inftead of a Hand ; and having a little Appendix faften'd to the end thereof, in form of a Finger.
By theProbofcis, the She- Elephant fucks herfelf; and by the fame, conveys the Milk to her Young.
The Probofcis, Mr. Tlerham obferves, is a Member fo admirably contrived, fo curiouily wrought, and with fo great agility apply'd by that unwieldy Animal ; that it may pafs as an Initance of the Creator's Skill, $3c.
All Quadrupeds have the length of their Neck equal to that of their Feet ; the Elephant alone excepted ; in whom the Shortnefs of the Neck is compenfated by the Length of the Frobofcis.
The Cameleon has alfo a kind of Trunk or Probofcis, which is its Tongue ; and which it darts nimbly out of its Throat, as if it fpat it ; and draws it in again inftanta- neoufly. It ferves like the Elephant's Trunk, to lay hold on, and take in its Food. See Cameleon.
The Microfcope fhews us a little Trunk in Flies, and Gnats; by means whereof, they fuck the Blood of Ani- mals, or Liquors, for their Food.
The Word is Greek, w$$oexis t where it has the fame Sig- nification.
PROCATARCTIC Caufe, the original or pre-exiiient Caufe of an Effect. See Cause.
Such, e.gr. is a Difeafe which co-operates with fome 0- ther Difeafe, fubfequent thereto.
Thus, Anger, or Heat of Climate, bring on fuch a Dif- pofition of the Juices, asoccafions a Fever ; where the ill Difpofition is the immediate Caufe, and the Heat or Anger, the ProcatarSic Caufe.
The Word is form'd from the Greek rt&y&iufw, tmtigre- dior, I go before.
PROCEDENDO, in Law, a Writ whereby a Plea or Caufe, formerly call'd from a bafe Court to the Chancery, King's Bench, or Common Pleas, by Writ of Privilege or Certiorari, is releas'd, and rcturn'd to the other Court to be proceeded m; upon its appearing that the Defendant has no Caufe of Privilege, or that the Matter comprized in the Party's Allegation is not well ptoved.
PROCEDURE, in Law, the Courfe of the feveral Afls, Expeditions, and Inftruclions of a Procefs, or Law-Suit. See Process.
A Frocedtire is either Civil or Criminal : Civil Pro- cedure, is that where the Eflate alone is concern'd : Cri- minal or extraordinary Procedure, is that where the Perfon is profecuted.
PROCEED, among Merchants, that which arifes from a Thing. In this fenfe they fay, the neat Proceed.
PROCELEUSMATICUS, in the antient Poetry, a Foot confiding of four Syllables; as Honorms. See Foot.
PROCESS, in Law, in its general Senfe, is ufed for all the Proceedings in any Caufe, or Action real or pcrfonal, civil-or criminal, from the original Writ, to the end. See Action.
In prance, they carry on a formal Procefs againft the Me- mory of People kill'd in Duels; or that have murder 'd theiofelves.
Pyrates, when taken in the Fact, are hang'd without any Procefs ; as are fometimes alfo Rubbers.
Process, is alfo ufed in a more reftrain'd fenfe, for tW by which a Man is firft call'd into Court ; this being the beginning or ptincipal part, and that by which the reft of the Bufinefs is direcled.
The Difference between this Frocefs, and a Precept or Warrant of the Jullices, is this ; the Precept or Warrant is only to attach or convene the Party, before any Indifl- ment or Conviclion, and may be made either in the N lroe of the King, or the Juftice : But the Procefs is always j n the King's Name, and ufually after an Indiflment. See Precept.
Process, in Chymiftry, the whole Courfe of an Opera- tion or Experiment. See Operation and Experiment.
Process, Processus, in Anatomy, is a Term of e - qual Import with Apopbyfis, Prominence, Protuberance and Production ; which fee.
Procefs is particularly apply'd to certain Eminences of the Bones, and other Parts; diflinguifti'd by peculiar Names, exprefling their Place, Form, or the like : As FroceJJus Peritonei, FroceJJits Vermiformes, Froceffus Pa- fillares, Ciliares, Use. See Bone, Vermiformes, Pa- pillares, Ciliares, Peritonaeum, &c.
PROCESSION, in Theology, a Term ufed for the manner wherein the Holy Spirit is conceiv'd to iflue from the Father and the Son, in the Myftery of the Trinity. See Spirit, Trinity, Person, cj?c.
The Greeks and Latins are not agreed about the Procef- fion of the Holy Spirit. See Greek,
Procession, is alfo a Ceremony in the Rcmifi Church, confiding in a formal March of the Clergy in their Robes, and the People after them, putting up Prayers, ringing Hymns, i£c. and in this manner, making a Vifit to fome Church, or other holy Place.
There are general Proceffions of all the People in Jubi- lees, and in publick Neceffities. See Jubilee.
The Proceffions of the Holy Sactament are very folemn.
They have alfo Proceffions, frequently, a-round the Chutch, at the Salutations, &c. in the Mafs.
Antiently, among us, there were, in each Parifli, cufto- mary Proceffions of the Parifh-Prieft, and the Patron of the Chutch, with the chief Flag, ot holy Banner, attended by the other Parilhioners, each Afcenfion- Week ; to take a Circuit round the Limits of the Pari/h, and pray for a Blef- fing on the Fruits of the Earth. Of which Cuflom there Hill remains a Shadow in that annual Perambulation, {fill call'd Froceffioning ; tho' the Order, and Devotion of the antient Proceffions, be almoft loft.
PROCESSUM Continuendo, a Writ for the Continuance of a Procefs, after the Death of the Chief Juftice, or other Juftices in the Writ or Commiffion of Oyer and Terminer. Regifler of Writs.
PROCHE1N Amy, in Law, the Perfon next a-kin to a Child in Nonage ; and who, in that refpefl, is allow'd in Law to deal and negotiate for him, to manage his Affairs, to fee him redrefs'd of any Wrong, and to be his Guar- dian, if he hold in Socage.
By Statute of Wcflminfter, the profecution of any Action at Law, is by the Guardian, if the Plaintiff be an Infant ; and by the Frocbein Amy, Froximum Amiaim, if the In- fant be Defendant. See Guardian.
PROCIDENTIA, or Prolapsus ^k», in Medicine, is when upon a Difcharge by Stool, the pateftinum ReSum is protruded fo far, as that it cannot be drawn back again into the Body; or when drawn back, falls again. See Rec- tum.
7'his is fometimes a Chronic Difeafe, efpecially when it arifes from a Palfy : Its Caufes are a Relaxation of the Fibres of the Reflum, either from the AdftriCtion of the Alvus, a Diarrhea, Dyfentery, or Tenefmus.
'Tis very difficultly cured, when attended with Hemor- rhoids : The principal Cure is by Aftringents.
External Affiftance is requir'd to reduce the fallen Gut ; which, if it be not foon had, is apt to tumefy and mortify, by the Contact of the Air. _ 'Tis fubjefl to relapfe after Reduflion in Children, efpe- cially, upon violent Crying ; and is difficult to keep up, in cafe of a Diarrhea.
Procidentia Uteri, the Defcent, or falling down of the Womb ; from a Relaxation of the Ligaments, which hold it in its place. See Uterus.
If the Uterus fall into the Vagina, fo that its Orifice may be either perceiv'd with the Finger within, or by the Eye juft without, the Labia Vulv<e ; it is call'd a bearing
down of the Womb. If it fall quite down, fo as to hang
pendulous without the Labia, but fo as that no more of the Infide than the Orifice is feen, it is call'd a Prolafftis,
or Procidentia. If, falling thus low, it be turn'd infide
out, and hang like a flefhy Bag, with a rugged unequal Surface, it is call'd a Perverflo Uteri.
Thefe Diforders may proceed from violent Motions, ve- hement Coughing, Sneezing, Fluor Albus. They appear moft frequent in Women with Child, from the Weight
prefling
