fought the battle that started the
American Revolution.
During the war Revere set up a factory
that made gunpowder for the military
forces. He also served in the army,
defending Boston Harbor. After the war,
Revere returned to his work as a silversmith.
He also manufactured copper
sheeting. Paul Revere died on May 10,
1818, in Boston.
#More to explore
American Revolution • Minuteman
Revolution,
American
#see American Revolution.
Revolution,
French
#see French Revolution.
Revolution,
Russian
#see Russian Revolution.
Reye’s Syndrome
Reye’s syndrome is a serious disease of
children. Luckily it is not very common.
But when doctors do not treat it right
away, it can cause brain damage or even
death. Some doctors believe that Reye’s
syndrome is brought on by a medicine
called aspirin.
Reye’s syndrome often strikes children
who are getting over influenza, the common
cold, or some other disease that is
caused by a virus. The first symptom, or
sign, of Reye’s syndrome is frequent
vomiting. Then the person might
become tired and confused. Some
people breathe rapidly and have violent
muscle movements called convulsions.
The person may finally fall into a coma,
which is like a deep sleep from which
someone cannot be awakened.
Doctors think that aspirin triggers
Reye’s syndrome. Some of a person’s
cells might have a problem that does not
appear until the person takes aspirin. To
prevent Reye’s syndrome, doctors recommend
that children under 12 do not
take aspirin.
Reye’s syndrome is a serious disease that
requires a hospital stay. In the hospital,
doctors give the person fluids and medicines
to reduce brain swelling. The person
also gets help with breathing. If the
disease is treated early enough the person
can usually make a full recovery.
#More to explore
Virus
Henry
Wadsworth
Longfellow’s
poem Paul
Revere’s Ride
made that
event an
American
legend.
58 Revolution, American BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Reykjavik
Population
(2008 estimate)
119,000
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland, an
island country in the North Atlantic
Ocean. It is Iceland’s largest city by far.
The name Reykjavik means “bay of
smokes.” It refers to the steaming-hot
water that spouts from the ground at
nearby hot springs.Water piped from
the hot springs is used to heat the city.
Reykjavik has many businesses and
industries. The city is a fishing port. It
has factories that process fish, other
foods, and aluminum. However, most
people work in service industries such as
sales, banking, and health care.
According to legend a Viking founded
Reykjavik in 874. It was a small fishing
village until the 1900s.
Denmark began to rule Iceland in the
late 1300s. In 1786 Reykjavik became
the island’s capital. Iceland’s lawmakers
have met in the city since 1845. In 1944
Iceland became an independent country
with Reykjavik as its capital.
..More to explore
Iceland • Vikings
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceroses are heavy mammals with
thick skin and hooves. There are five
species, or types, of rhinoceros. Illegal
hunting has left most of them in danger
of dying out.
The Sumatran, the Javan, and the great
Indian rhinoceroses are found in Asia.
The black rhinoceros and the white, or
square-lipped, rhinoceros are found in
Africa.
Most rhinoceroses live by themselves.
They generally live in grasslands or in
marshes. The Sumatran rhinoceros prefers
the forest.
Rhinoceroses weigh 3 to 5 tons. They
are about 8 to 13 feet (2.5 to 4 meters)
long. Some have one horn on the top of
the head. Others have two horns. The
animals cannot see well, but they have a
good sense of hearing and smell. They
eat grass, reeds, and twigs.
..More to explore
Mammal
The black rhinoceros of Africa has two
horns and is known for its bad temper.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Rhinoceros 59
Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the smallest U.S.
state. It was one of the 13 original
American Colonies. Its official name,
The State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations, dates back to colonial
times. Providence was the first settlement
and is now the state capital. Rhode
Island’s nickname, the Ocean State,
comes from its coastline along the Atlantic
Ocean.
Geography
Rhode Island lies in the northeastern
part of the United States. It is one of the
states in the New England region. The
Atlantic Ocean borders the southern
part of the state. Connecticut is to the
west and Massachusetts is to the north
and east. The eastern half of Rhode
Island is indented by the waters of Narragansett
Bay.
Rhode Island has two natural regions.
The western two thirds of the state lies
within the Appalachian Mountains. It is
a rough, hilly region with many forests
and lakes. The rest of the state is a shallow
lowland area that extends into
southern Massachusetts. The lowlands
include numerous islands, sandy
beaches, and salt marshes. Rhode Island
has a damp climate with short summers
and long, cold winters.
People
Whites of European heritage make up
more than four fifths of Rhode Island’s
population. The Hispanic population in
Rhode Island has grown a great deal. It
doubled between 1990 and 2000. During
that period, Hispanics went from
about 4.5 to almost 9 percent of the
