Part 12

The fundamental assumption of the economists is that competitive distribution is indispensable, both in order to secure a fruitful distribution of the resources and efforts of society between the three factors of production, and also owing to the need of an incentive to keep individuals working hard enough to ensure a supply of goods sufficient to maintain and improve the standard of life of the community. Economists do not assume that men would not work at all if they were guaranteed a living wage whether they did or not, but that men would not work enough, and would be guided in the direction of their efforts by personal idiosyncrasy rather than by the needs of the community. The only alternatives to a great falling off in national wealth are, in their view, either competitive distribution or enforcement of work by a rigid discipline, which would be as hard as the present system, while being less adaptable.

Against this analysis idealist thinkers rebel, on the ground that it fails to justify the great inequality in the distribution of wealth between different individuals and classes of society. Their protest dates from the harsh dogmatism of the economists who propounded the now discredited 'Iron Law of Wages' and 'Wages Fund Theory', which both consigned wage-earners to lives of unremitting toil for a reward inevitably limited to a very small amount. Against these views appeal is made to justice and equality, and the result is summed up in the phrase 'to each according to his needs, from each according to his ability', i.e. the community should be so organized that each member receives that which he needs, while giving in return work according to the best of his ability. An alternative and cruder theory is that which demands absolute equality in the distribution of wealth. The economic basis for these theories is the claim that all production is the result of labour, and that the workers are entitled to the 'whole produce of their labour', interest and rent being 'surpluses' appropriated by the capitalist owing to the exploited workers being kept at the level of subsistence. The economic statement of the case is generally associated with the name of Marx, who was, however, greatly influenced by English writers; but the driving force of the movement is moral and emotional.

DISTRICT COURTS, an important series of courts in the United States, each under a single judge, and having original jurisdiction in civil, criminal, and admiralty causes. Generally there is one for each state. By the Judiciary Code, enacted by Congress in 1911, the circuit courts, which had hitherto shared original jurisdiction with the district courts, became only appellate tribunals.

DISTRINGAS (Lat., that you distrain), a notice proceeding upon an affidavit filed in the High Court by a party not the registered holder of shares or stock but beneficially interested therein, and served upon the particular company or public body, whereby it is precluded from registering any transfer of the shares or stock or any mandate for payment of the dividends without previous intimation to such party. The latter has thus the opportunity, if desired, to apply for an interim injunction, and, should he not do so within eight days from the date upon which the transfer or mandate was lodged, the restraint flies off.

DITHYRAM'BUS, or DITH'YRAMB, in Greek literature, a poem sung in honour of the god Bacchus or Dionysus, at his festivals. The choral portion of Greek tragedy arose out of the dithyramb. It was composed in a lofty and often inflated style: hence the term is applied to any poem of an impetuous and irregular character.

DITMARSHES (Ger. _Dithmarschen_), a district of Holstein, in Germany, consisting of a monotonous flat stretching along the North Sea, between the mouths of the Elbe and the Eider, and so little raised above the sea as to require the protection of strong embankments. Ditmarshes was incorporated in Prussia in 1866. The area is 500 sq. miles, and the total pop. 96,373.

DIT'TANY, the popular name of the plants of the genus Dictamnus, an herb of the rue family (Rutaceae), found in the Mediterranean region. The leaves are pinnate, the large white or rose-coloured flowers are in terminal racemes. The whole plant is covered with oily glands, and the secreted oil is so volatile that in hot weather the air round the plant becomes inflammable. _D. Fraxinella_ and _D. albus_ are found in gardens.

DITTAY, in Scots law, a technical term signifying the matter of charge or ground of indictment against a person accused of a crime; also, the charge itself.

DIURET'ICS are agents used to increase the flow of urine. Many drugs are used for this purpose: caffeine and theobromine, digitalis and squills, potassium salts, carbonates, calomel and blue pill.

DIVAN', a Persian word having several significations. It is used in Turkey for the highest Council of State, the Turkish ministry; and for a large hall for the reception of visitors. Low couches, covered with rich carpets and cushions, are ranged along the walls of the room. Hence in Western Europe the term is applied to a caf['e], and to a kind of cushioned seat. In India the term is applied to the Prime Minister of a native State. Among several Oriental nations this name is given to certain collections of lyric poems by one author. The _divans_ of Hafiz and Saadi, the Persian poets, are among the most important.

DIVERGENT, in algebra, opposed to convergent, a term applied to an infinite series which cannot be said to have a sum because there is no definite limit towards which the sum of its terms tends as the number of terms is increased indefinitely.

[Illustration: Red-throated Diver (_Colymbus septentrionalis_)]

DIVERS, birds remarkable for the habit of diving. The divers (Colymbidae) are a family of swimming birds, characterized by a strong, straight, rather compressed pointed bill about as long as the head; a short and rounded tail; short wings; thin, compressed legs, placed very far back, and the toes completely webbed. They prey upon fish, which they pursue under water, making use partly of their wings, but chiefly of their legs and webbed feet in their subaqueous progression. The leading species are the great northern diver (_Colymbus glaci[=a]lis_), the red-throated diver (_C. septentrion[=a]lis_), and the black-throated diver (_C. arcticus_). These birds inhabit the Arctic seas of the New and Old Worlds; they are abundant in the Hebrides, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. The great northern diver, loon, or ember goose is about 2-3/4 feet long, and is of handsome plumage.

DIV'IDEND, literally what is to be divided, a term used in arithmetic and in reference to stocks. In the latter sense it is the interest or profit of stocks divided among, and paid to, the proprietors. No dividend must be paid except out of profit (Companies Act of 1862). The term also signifies the payment made to creditors out of the estate of a bankrupt.

DIVIDING ENGINE, a machine for marking the divisions on the scales of scientific, mathematical, or other instruments. Some of these perform work of extraordinary fineness and accuracy. It may also be employed to measure lengths accurately, or to divide a given length into any number of equal or unequal parts. See _Graduation_.--Cf. Stewart and Gee, _Practical Physics_ (vol. i).

DIVIDING RANGE, GREAT, an Australian chain of mountains, forming the watershed between the rivers flowing into the Pacific and those running westward. It is situated at an average distance of 30 miles from the sea, though in some places it recedes as much as 60 miles, and stretches from Cape York on the north to Wilson's Promontory on the south. The culminating point is Mount Townshend (7353 feet).

DIVI-DIVI, the pods of _Caesalpinia coriaria_, a tree which grows in tropical America, and a member of the family which yields sapan, brazil, and other red woods. The pods are about 1 inch broad and 3 inches long, but are generally bent or curled up; are excessively astringent, containing a large proportion of tannic and gallic acid, for which reason they are used by tanners and dyers.

DIVINATION, the act of divining; a foretelling future events, or discovering things secret or obscure, by the aid of superior beings, or by other than human means. Cicero divided it into two kinds, _natural_ and _artificial_, or _intuitive_ and _inductive_. _Natural_ divination was supposed to be effected by a kind of inspiration or divine afflatus; this method of divination is familiar as represented by oracles; _artificial_ divination was effected by certain rites, experiments, or observations, as by sacrifices, observation of entrails and flight of birds (ornithomancy), of the behaviour of fishes (ichthyomancy), lots, omens, and position of the stars. Among modes of divination were: _axinomancy_, by axes; _belomancy_, by arrows; _bibliomancy_, by the Bible; _oneiromancy_, by dreams; _pyromancy_, by fire; _hydromancy_, by water; _coscinomancy_, by observing the results of the turning of a sieve hung on a thread. Cf. Bouch['e]-Leclercq, _Histoire de la divination dans l'antiquit['e]_.

DIVINE RIGHT, the claim set up by some sovereigns or their supporters to the absolute obedience of subjects as ruling by appointment of God, insomuch that, although they may themselves submit to restrictions on their authority, yet subjects endeavouring to enforce those restrictions by resistance to their sovereign's acts are considered guilty of a sin. This doctrine, which came into general use in the seventeenth century, and is so celebrated in English constitutional history, especially in the time of the Stuarts, may now be considered to be exploded. Hobbes was one of the chief supporters of the theory of Divine Right, whilst Milton was a strong opponent. Cf. J. N. Figgis, _Theory of the Divine Right of Kings_.

DIVINE SERVICE, TENURE BY, a species of tenure, now obsolete, by which the tenant held the land on condition of performing some divine service, such as saying so many masses or distributing a certain amount in alms.

DIVING, the art or act of descending into the water to considerable depths, and remaining there for a time. The uses of diving are important,

## particularly in searching for pearls, corals, sponges, examining

foundations of bridges, salvage of wrecked ships, recovering valuables, clearing propellers, valves, and cleaning bottoms of ships when no dry docks are available. Without the aid of artificial appliances a skilful diver may remain under water for two, or even three minutes; accounts of longer periods are doubtful or absurd. Various methods have been proposed, and engines contrived, to render diving more safe and easy. The great object in all these is to furnish the diver with fresh air, without which he must either make but a short stay under water or perish.

DIVING-BELL, a contrivance for the purpose of enabling persons to descend and to remain below the surface of water for a length of time, for various purposes, such as laying foundations of bridges, blasting rocks, and recovering treasure from sunken ships. Diving-bells have been made of various forms, more especially in that of a bell or hollow truncated cone, with the smaller end closed, and the larger one, which is placed lowermost, open. The air contained within these vessels prevents them from being filled with water on submersion, so that the diver may descend in them and breathe freely for a long time, provided he can be furnished with a new supply of fresh air when the contained air becomes vitiated by respiration. The diving-bell is usually made of cast iron, and weighted, and has several strong convex lenses set in the sides or roof, to admit light to the persons inside. It is suspended by chains from a barge or lighter, and can be raised or lowered at pleasure upon signals being given by the persons within, who are supplied with fresh air pumped into a flexible pipe by means of force-pumps carried in the lighter, while the heated air escapes by a cock in the upper part of the bell. Modern diving-bells are usually rectangular in shape, and have a trunk or tube on top reaching to the surface of the water, and fitted with an air-lock to enable men to go into or out of the bell without moving it from the bottom; they are fitted with telephones and electric lights. A constant flow of fresh air is kept up, and all excess of air escapes from the lower part of the bell, the pressure of the air being kept slightly above that of the water outside. The diving-bell has long been found highly useful for carrying on work under water, a steam-crane being usually employed for the movements required. A form, called the _nautilus_, has been invented which enables the occupants, and not the attendants above, to raise or lower the bell, move it about at pleasure, or raise great weights with it and deposit them in any desired spot.

[Illustration: Diving Dress

1. Ordinary diving-dress with (2) helmet. 3. Front view and (4) back view of self-contained diving apparatus.

Reproduced by courtesy of Messrs. Siebe, Gorman, & Co]

DIVING-DRESS, a waterproof dress of india-rubber cloth used by professional divers, and covering the entire body except the head. The dress has a neck-piece or breastplate, fitted with a segmental screw bayonet joint, to which the head-piece or helmet, the neck of which has a corresponding screw, can be attached when wanted. The helmet has usually three eyeholes, covered with strong glass, and protected with guards. Air is supplied by means of a flexible air-pipe which screws on to a non-return valve on the helmet, and is connected with an air-pump on the surface. To allow of the escape of excess air a valve is fitted in the helmet, so constructed as to prevent water getting in, though it lets the air out. It can be adjusted by the diver to suit his convenience, no matter at what depth he may be. Leaden weights are attached to the diver, and his boots are weighted, so that he can descend a ladder and walk about on the bottom. Communication can be carried on with those above by signals on the breast-rope between the diver and his attendant, or he may converse with them through a speaking-tube or by telephone, which is usually fitted in the breast-rope. One form of diving-dress makes the diver independent of any connection with persons above water except by breast-rope. It is elastic and hermetically closed. A reservoir containing highly compressed air is fixed on the diver's back. This supplies him with air by a self-regulating apparatus at a pressure corresponding to his depth. When he wishes to ascend, he simply inflates his dress from the reservoir. Another form, known as the Fleuss dress, also makes the diver independent of exterior aid. The helmet contains a supply of compressed oxygen, and the exhaled breath is passed through a filter in the breast-piece which deprives it of its carbonic acid, while the nitrogen goes back into the helmet to be mixed with the oxygen, the supply of which is under the diver's own control, and to be breathed over again. A diver has remained for an hour and a half under 35 feet of water in this dress. The safe limit for diving is 200 to 300 feet, the deepest dive in this country being 210 feet; but great care must be exercised in bringing the diver to the surface. Diving for pearls, sponges, valuables, &c., is now to a great extent carried on by means of diving-dresses.--BIBLIOGRAPHY: C. W. Domville-Fife, _Submarine Engineering of To-day_; G. W. M. Boycott, _Compressed Air Work and Diving_.

DIVINING ROD, a rod, usually of hazel, with two forked branches, used by persons who profess to discover minerals or water under ground. The rod, if carried slowly along by the forked ends, dips and points downwards, it is affirmed, when brought over the spot where the concealed mineral or water is to be found. Divination by means of rods is of great antiquity, and has been described by Cicero and Tacitus; their rods, however, were short bits of stick, and the forked hazel twig does not seem to have come into use before the early sixteenth century. Dr. H. Mayo gave a collection of discoveries made by it in his work _On the Truth contained in Popular Superstitions_ (1847-51). The use of the divining rod is still common in many parts.--Cf. P. L. L. de Vallemont, _La Physique Occulte: ou Trait['e] de la baguette divinatoire_.

DIVISIBIL'ITY, that general property of bodies by which their parts or component particles are capable of separation. The study of radioactivity has shown that larger atoms may be broken up into smaller ones, and the old conception of the atom as an absolutely indivisible unit is no longer entertained by physicists. (See _Matter_.) Numerous examples of the division of matter to a degree almost exceeding belief may be easily instanced. Thus glass test-plates for microscopes have been ruled so fine as to have 225,000 spaces to the inch. Cotton yarn has been spun so fine that one pound of it extended upwards of 1000 miles, and a Manchester spinner is said to have attained such a marvellous fineness that one pound would extend 4770 miles. One grain of gold has been beaten out to a surface of 52 sq. inches, and leaves have been made 367,500 of which would go to the inch of thickness. Iron has been reduced to wonderfully thin sheets. Fine tissue paper is about the 1200th part of an inch in thickness, but sheets of iron have been rolled much thinner than this, and as fine as the 4800th part of an inch in thickness. Wires of platinum have been drawn out so fine as to be only the 30,000th part of an inch in diameter. Human hair varies in thickness from the 250th to the 600th part of an inch. The fibre of the coarsest wool is about the 500th part of an inch in diameter, and that of the finest only the 1500th part. The silk line, as spun by the worm, is about the 5000th part of an inch thick; but a spider's line is only the 30,000th part of an inch in diameter; insomuch that a single pound of this attenuated substance might be sufficient to encompass our globe. The trituration and levigation of powders, and the perennial abrasion and waste of the surface of solid bodies, occasion a disintegration of

## particles almost exceeding the powers of computation. The solutions of

certain saline bodies, and of other coloured substances, also exhibit a prodigious subdivision of matter. A single grain of sulphate of copper, or blue vitriol, will communicate a fine azure tint to five gallons of water. In this case the sulphate must be attenuated at least 10,000,000 times. Odours are capable of a much wider diffusion. A single grain of musk has been known to perfume a large room for the space of twenty years. At the lowest computation the musk had been subdivided into 320 quadrillions of

## particles, each of them capable of affecting the olfactory organs.

DIVISION, in arithmetic, the dividing of a number or quantity into any parts assigned; one of the four fundamental rules, the object of which is to find how often one number is contained in another. The number to be divided is the _dividend_, the number which divides is the _divisor_, and the result of the division is the _quotient_. Division is the converse of multiplication.

DIVISION, in the army, the smallest formation of troops which is a mixed force. A division, besides three brigades of infantry, includes artillery, engineers, and administrative troops. It is commanded by a major-general, and if at full strength consists of about 20,000 men.

DIVISION, in Parliament, the mode of determining a question at the end of a debate. In the House of Commons the Speaker puts the question, and declares whether in his opinion the 'Ayes' or the 'Noes' have it. Should his opinion not be acquiesced in by the minority, the House is cleared, and the 'Ayes' directed to go into the right lobby and the 'Noes' into the left, where they are counted by two tellers appointed for each party. In the House of Lords the two sides in a division are called 'Contents' and 'Not-contents'.

DIVISION OF LABOUR, a method employed in productive undertakings for the simplifying of the work to be done by each of the workmen engaged therein. The separation of the process of production into a series of simple operations means that less ability on the part of the workman is required in order that he may acquire the necessary skill in performing any

## particular operation, and saves much time, partly because practice leads to

each operation being more quickly performed, and partly by avoiding the waste which takes place in workmen moving from one operation to another. Owing to both of these causes, the cost of producing complicated articles may be immensely reduced. By standardizing operations division of labour tends to the invention of machinery; increases the skill and dexterity of the individual workman in the particular operation in which he is engaged; enables semi-skilled or unskilled labour to replace skilled; makes a more continuous and economical use of capital possible; and conduces to the more economical distribution of labour by classing work-people according to their capacity. It has, however, a deteriorating effect on the labourer's usefulness as an all-round workman, and is liable to kill his interest in his work, thereby reducing the incentive to industry. What is called division of labour in English economics has been sometimes termed _co-operation_ by foreign economists.

DIVORCE (Lat. _divortium_, from _divertere_, to turn apart, separate), a separation, by law, of husband and wife, which is either a divorce _a vinculo matrimonii_, that is, a complete dissolution of the marriage bonds, or a divorce _a mens[^a] et thoro_ (from bed and board), whereby the

## parties are legally separated, but not unmarried. The causes admitted by