The monitor is any of various lizards of the family Varanidae, found in Africa, South Asia, and Australasia.
Monitors are generally large and carnivorous, with well-developed legs and claws and a long powerful tail that can be swung in defence. Monitors include the Komodo dragon, the largest of all lizards, and also the slimmer Salvador's monitor (Varanus salvadorii), which may reach 2.5m. Several other monitors, such as the Lace monitor (Varanus varius), the perentie Varanus giganteus of Australia, and the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) of Africa, are up to two metres long. Research Monitor
John Ericsson was a Swedish-American engineer. He was born in 1803 and died in 1889. In 1836 he invented the screw-propeller. He went to the United States in 1839, and in 1841 produced the war steamer 'Princeton', which revolutionized the navies of the world. During the American Civil War he was employed in building monitors; the first of which, the Monitor, destroyed the Confederate ironcladMerrimac, in 1862. He is the author of a great number of valuable inventions, the most important of which are connected with engines and naval equipments. Research John Ericsson
John Howard was an English prison reformer and philanthropist. He was born in 1726 and died in 1790 of fever. His father, a wealthy London tradesman, died when his son was about 19 years old, and left him an independent fortune. In 1756 John Howard undertook a voyage to Lisbon to view the effects of the recentearthquake. The vessel in which he embarked being captured, he was consigned to a French prison. The hardships he suffered and witnessed prior to his release first roused his attention to the subject of his future researches. In 1773 he resolved to devote his time to the investigation of the means of correcting the existing abuses in the management of prisons. With this view he visited most of the English county jails and houses of correction, and in March, 1774, he laid the result of his inquiries before the House of Commons, for which he received a vote of thanks.
In 1775 and 1776 he visited many of the continental prisons, as well as those of Scotland and Ireland; and the substance of his investigations appeared in a work he published in 1777. This work was supplemented by his experiences of foreign prisons (1778-1783). In 1789 he published an Account of the Principal Lazarettos in Europe, with notes on Continental and British prisons and hospitals. In the same year he made a final journey through Germany and Russia, when prisons and hospitals were everywhere thrown open for his inspection as a friendly monitor and public benefactor. Research John Howard
Amniocentesis is a medical procedure sometimes performed during pregnancy to help determine the health and maturity of an unborn baby. It involves the withdrawal and study of a small amount of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the foetus in the mother's uterus. Laboratory tests on the fluid, which contains cells shed by the foetus, enable detection of many serious disorders that may affect the foetus. Such disorders include Down's syndrome and spina bifida. Amniocentesis involves little risk to either the mother or the foetus.
Amniocentesis is mostly performed around the 16th week of pregnancy on 'at risk' mothers. These include those more than 35 years of age and those with genetic disorders in the family. If tests reveal serious abnormality, likely to cause death or pronounced handicap, the parents may choose to end the pregnancy. Otherwise, doctors can plan ahead for early treatment, either in the womb or at birth. If there is some medical reason for delivering a baby before it is due to be born, amniocentesis may be performed later in pregnancy. In this case, tests show whether the baby is likely to survive outside the womb. An obstetrician performs amniocentesis with the aid of ultrasound which enables the obstetrician to monitor the position of the foetus while inserting a long hollow needle through the mother's abdominal wall and into the uterus. The obstetrician then withdraws a small amount of amniotic fluid, which is sent away for testing. Research Amniocentesis
An endoscope is a long slender medical instrument originally used for examining the interior of hollow organs including the lung, stomach, bladder and bowel, but with the advent of fibre optics and keyhole surgery endoscopes are increasingly used for general interior investigations (endoscopy) . There are various types of endoscope in use - some rigid, some flexible - with names prefixed by their site of application (for example, bronchoscope and laryngoscope). The value of endoscopy is in permitting diagnosis without the need for exploratory surgery. Biopsies (tissue samples) and photographs may be taken by way of the endoscope as an aid to diagnosis, or to monitor the effects of treatment. Some surgical procedures can be performed using fine instruments introduced through the endoscope. Research Endoscope
The first Battle of Drewry's Bluff occurred on May the 15th 1862 when five Federal war-ships, including the Monitor attacked Fort Darling at Drewry's Bluff on the James River in Virginia. Captain Farrand held the fort with 20000 Confederate troops. The Federal fleet was badly disabled and had to retire.
Again between May the 13th and 16th, 1864, during Butler's operations with the Army of the James around Bermuda Hundred, Fort Darling at Drewry's Bluff, was the scene of some sharp fighting. It was held at that time by Beauregard, who had about 20000 men. Butler with an army of some 20000 strong made an attack on the morning of the fourteenth and succeeded in carrying some of the Confederate lines. Beauregard hastened to strengthen his position with reinforcements, which opportunely arrived. On the sixteenth Beauregard made a return attack with a strong force and compelled Butler to retire. Research Battles of Drewry's Bluff
The Battle of Charleston Harbour was a battle of the American Civil War occurring on April the 7th 1863, in which monitors were first tried (without success) against land fortifications. The Federal Admiral Dupont proposed to capture Charleston from the Confederates by destroying FortSumter with iron-clads and rams. He entered the Harbor with seven Ericsson monitors, the frigate 'Ironsides' and the 'Keokuk', both partially iron-clad. The monitor 'Weehawken' led the way. An advance was immediately made upon FortSumter, Forts Morris and Moultrie being disregarded. The Confederates opened fire upon the fleet from all three forts, including 300 guns. The fleet was quickly disabled and thrown into the utmost confusion. The 'Ironsides' became entangled with the monitors, the 'Keokuk' was struck ninety-nine times, the 'Passaic' twenty-seven times. Dupont was compelled to leave the Harbor after a few hours' firing, acknowledging the impossibility of taking the city with his fleet. Research Battle of Charleston Harbour
The Battle of Hampton Roads was the first battle between armoured warships. It was an inconclusive naval engagement during the American Civil War on the 8th and 9th of March 1862 off the south-east coast of Virginia.
The Confederate iron-clad Merrimac, commanded by Franklin Buchanan, was sent to raise the blockade of James and Elizabeth rivers by destroying the Union war-vessels. The Union frigateCumberland was utterly destroyed and sunk by the Merrimac, which next, aided by three wooden Confederate steamers, attacked and burned the Congress. On March the 9th the Monitor, a Union iron-clad of a new type, appeared, and a fight of four hours followed. Captain Worden, of the Monitor, was temporarily blinded and LieutenantGreene took command. The Merrimac was finally compelled to withdraw. Research Battle of Hampton Roads
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research National Physical Laboratory
