in surgery and medicine, an absolute and perfect corruption or death of the parts.

SPHÆRANTHUS, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of Syngenesia, and to the order of Polygamiæ segregata; and in the natural system arranged under the 4th order, Compositæ. Each partial calyx contains eight florets; the florets are tubulated, the female being scarcely distinguishable. The receptacle is scaly; and there is no pappus. The species are three, the indicus, africanus, and chinensis.