Cholet, Or Chollet

Cholet, Or Chollet, a town of France, department of Maine-et-Loire, on the Maine, 30 m. S. S. W. of Angers; pop. in 1866, 13,360. It is largely engaged in manufactures, having establishments for the spinning of cotton and woollen goods, known as toiles de Cholet, or cholettes, paper mills, bleacheries, tanneries, and dye houses. It suffered greatly from civil war during the revolution, its manufactures being destroyed, and the workmen put to death or dispersed. Since then it has been entirely rebuilt. A number of battles were fought here in 1792-4 between the republicans and the Ven-deans, in most of which the latter were defeated.

Choptank River

Choptank River rises in Kent co., Delaware, flows S. W. into Maryland, and near the S. extremity of Talbot co. spreads into an estuary several miles wide and nearly 20 m. long, through which it flows into Chesapeake bay; total course, 100 m. It is navigable for sloops to the mouth of Tuckahoe river, a distance of about 50 m.

Chore Damp

Chore Damp, the name given by miners to the irrespirable gas (carbonic acid) which fills the mine after an explosion of fire damp. This gas is also found in badly ventilated parts of mines, its presence being detected by the difficulty of making candles burn, and the violent headaches it brings upon those who remain for any time where it is abundant. When carbonic oxide is present, the gas is exceedingly dangerous to breathe for an instant; but one may sometimes stay with safety for a minute or two in an atmosphere of choke damp in which a candle cannot be lighted.

Chorea

Chorea. See St. Vitus's Dance.

Choteau

Choteau, a N. county of Montana, bordering on British America; area, about 12,500 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 517. It is drained by Milk river, by the Missouri, and by Dog, Judith, Arrow, Teton, and Bear's or Maria's rivers, affluents of the Missouri; Medicine or Sun river forms a portion of the S. boundary. The Bear's Paw, Little Rocky, and Judith mountains lie wholly or partly in the county. Some gold has been found, and coal is abundant. The estimated value of farm productions in 1870 was $1,647, and of live stock $6,000. Capital, Fort Benton.

Chowan

Chowan, a N. E. county of North Carolina, bounded S. by Albemarle sound, and W. by Chowan river, a broad arm of the sound; area, about 240 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 0,450, of whom 3,309 were colored. It was one of the original precincts of the lords proprietors under King Charles II., and was occupied by a tribe of Indians called Chowan-okes. The surface is slightly uneven, and the soil generally of good quality. The chief productions in 1870 were 9,170 bushels of wheat, 137,047 of Indian corn, 41,130 of sweet potatoes, and 1,331 bales of cotton. There were 451 horses, 037 milch cows, 1,177 other cattle, and 5,829 swine. Capital, Edenton.

Chrism

Chrism (Gr. ointment), in the Roman and Greek churches, ointment consecrated by the bishops, and used in the administration of baptism, confirmation, ordination, and extreme unction. There are two sorts of chrism used in the Roman church: one made of olive oil and balsam, which is used in baptism, confirmation, and in conferring orders; the other is composed only of oil, and is used in extreme unction. These are always blessed by the bishop on Maunday Thursday, and each priest is required to obtain a fresh supply and burn the old oils. In the Greek church, besides the oil and the balsam, it is usual to employ 35 kinds of spices. The Maronites formerly used balsam, musk, cloves, incense, roses, and other substances.