INOWRAZLAW

inowrazlaw, the polish form of the german _jung-breslau_, by which the place was formerly known, a town in the prussian province of posen, situated on an eminence in the most fertile part of the province, 21 m. s.w. of thorn. pop. (1900) 26,141. iron-founding, the manufacture of machinery and chemicals, and an active trade in cattle and country produce are carried on. in the vicinity are important salt works and a sulphur mine, and since 1876 a brine bath has been within the town. inowrazlaw is mentioned as early as 1185, and in 1772 it passed to prussia. inquest (o. fr. _enqueste_, modern _enquete_, from lat. _inquisitum_, _inquirere_, to inquire), an inquiry, particularly a formal legal inquiry into facts. the word is now chiefly confined to the inquiry held by a coroner and jury into the causes of certain deaths, in matters of treasure trove, and, in the city of london, in cases of fires (see coroner). formerly the term was applied to many formal and official inquiries for fixing prices, &c.