In algebraical work, authors should be very exact in their copy, and compositors as careful in following it, so that no alterations may be necessary after it is composed, the over-running of this kind of matter being troublesome and costly. CELESTIAL AND ASTRONOMICAL SIGNS. _The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac._ ♈ Aries. ♉ Taurus. ♊ Gemini. ♋ Cancer. ♌ Leo. ♍ Virgo. ♎ Libra. ♏ Scorpio. ♐ Sagittarius. ♑ Capricornus. ♒ Aquarius. ♓ Pisces. _The Sun and Major Planets._ ☉ Sun. ☿ Mercury. ♀ Venus. 🜨 Earth. ♂ Mars. ♃ Jupiter. ♄ Saturn. ⛢ Uranus. ♇ Neptune. ⚳ Ceres, ⚴ Pallas, ⚵ Juno, ⚶ Vesta, [symb] Astræa, [symb] Hebe, [symb] Iris, and the other asteroids, or minor planets, are now commonly designated by a circle enclosing a number which indicates the order of their discovery: thus, ①, ②, ③, &c. _Lunar Signs._ 🌚 New Moon. 🌛 First Quarter. 🌝 Full Moon. 🌜 Last Quarter. _Aspects and Nodes._ ☌ Conjunction; happens when two planets stand under each other in the same sign and degree. ☍ Opposition; happens when two planets stand diametrically opposite each other. △ Trine; happens when one planet stands from another four signs, or 120 degrees, which make one-third of the ecliptic. □ Quartile; happens when two planets stand three signs from each other, which make 90 degrees, or the fourth part of the ecliptic. ⚹ Sextile; is the sixth part of the ecliptic, which is two signs, and make 60 degrees. ☊ The Dragon’s Head, or ascending node, and ☋ The Dragon’s Tail, or descending node, are the two points in which the eclipses happen. _Planets that denote the Seven Days of the Week._ _Dies Solis_—Sunday. _Dies Lunæ_—Monday. _Dies Martis_—Tuesday. _Dies Mercurii_—Wednesday. _Dies Jovis_—Thursday. _Dies Veneris_—Friday. _Dies Saturni_—Saturday. Many signs and symbols have been invented by pseudo-astronomers to impose upon the credulity of the ignorant; among which are signs to give notice on what day it is proper to let blood, to bathe and to cup, to sow and to plant, to take physic, to have one’s hair cut, to cut one’s nails, to wean children, and many other absurdities; as well as symbols that serve to indicate hail, thunder, lightning, or any occult phenomena. ECCLESIASTICAL SIGNS. ℟ Response, used in prayer-books. ℣ Versicle, used in prayer-books to denote the part recited by the priest. ✠ or ✝ A sign of the cross employed by Roman Catholic ecclesiastical dignitaries before their signatures. In Roman Catholic prayer-books, it also denotes the place where the priest is to make the sign of the cross. * Used in Roman Catholic prayer-books to denote the place in a single verse where the response begins. MEDICAL SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS. ℞ stands for _Recipe_, or Take. ā, aa, of each a like quantity. ℔ a pound. ℥ an ounce. ʒ a drachm. ℈ a scruple. j stands for 1; ij for 2; iij for 3; and so on. ss. signifies _semi_, or half. gr. denotes a grain.