Page images
PDF
EPUB

VOCABULARY.

Abdomen. That portion of the trunk situated between the dia

phragm and the pelvis.

Abductor. A muscle drawing away from the median line.

Abnormal.

Abortion.

Unnatural.

Premature expulsion of a fœtus.

Abscess. A circumscribed cavity containing pus.

Acetated. Combined with acetic acid.

Acids. Chemical agents which redden vegetable blues. They are usually sour in taste.

Acronarcotic. Combining irritant and narcotic action.

Actual Cautery. A hot iron used in cauterization.

Acute. Sharp. A disease having rapid progress and short duration

is said to be acute.

Acupressure. The compression of blood-vessels by needles.

Adductor. A muscle drawing toward the median line.

Adhesion. Sticking together of unlike particles.

Adipose. Fatty.

Etiology. The science of the causes of discase.

Afferent. Conveying toward the center.

Albuminoid. Resembling albumen.

Albuminuria. The presence of albumen in the urine.
Algid. Cold.

Alkalies. Substances which have the power of restoring the blues reddened by acids.

Alimentary Canal. The tube extending from the mouth to the

anus.

Alterative. A medicine producing gradual change.

Alveoli. The sockets for the teeth.

Amenorrhoea. Absence of the menstrual discharge.

Amnion. The sac inclosing the fœtus.

Amorphous. Without regular shape.

Amylaceous. Starchy.

Anæmia. A lack of red corpuscles in the blood.

Anæsthesia. Loss of sensibility.

Anasarca. An accumulation of serum in the cellular tissue.

Anastomosis. Communication of vessels.

Anatomy. The science that describes the form and position of

parts.

Aneurism. A dilatation or rupture of an artery.

Aneurismal Varix. Swelling of a vein from entrance of arterial blood.

Anhydrous. Containing no water.

Ankylosis. Abnormal rigidity of a joint.

Anodyne. Medicine to allay pain.

Antacid. A remedy against acidity.

Anterior. In front.

[blocks in formation]

Antidote. A remedy against poison.

Antipyretic. Opposed to fever.

Antiseptic. Preventing putrefaction.

Anus. The opening at the inferior extremity of the rectum.

Aorta. The great artery of the body.

Aphasia. Loss of the power of speech.

Aphonia. Loss of voice.

Aphthæ. Small white ulcers of the mucous membrane.

Apnoea. Absence of breath.

Apophysis. A bony process.

Apoplexy. Hæmorrhage into the substance of an organ.

Apyrexia. Absence of fever.

Aqueous. Watery.

Areola. 1. A circle around the nipple. 2. An inflamed circle around

an eruption.

Areolar Tissue. Cellular or connective tissue.

Articulation. The joining of bones.

Arthritis. Inflammation of a joint.

Artery. A vessel conveying blood from the heart.

Ascaris. A worm found in the intestines.

Ascites. A collection of serous fluid in the abdomen.

Asphyxia. Without pulse. Suspended animation.

Assimilation. The process by which bodies appropriate and trans

form other matters into their own substance.

Asthenia. Want of strength. Exhaustion.

Astragalus. The ankle-bone.

Astringent. Having the power of contracting organic tissues.

Ataxic. Irregular.

Atlas. The first cervical vertebra.

Atony. Loss of tone. Weakness.

Atrophy. Wasting away.

Auricles. The upper chambers of the heart.

Auscultation. The act of listening.

Automatic. Involuntary.

Autopsy. The examination of a body after death.

Axilla. The arm-pit.

Axis. 1. A right line passing through the center of a body. 2. The second cervical vertebra.

Bacteria. Microscopic organisms found in decomposing matter, and believed to be the cause of many diseases.

Ballottement. The falling back of the fœtus in utero when displaced by the examining finger.

Base. A foundation. 1. That which serves as a support. 2. A

chemical substance which, uniting with an acid, will form a salt. Basis. The principal ingredient of a compound prescription.

Benign. Of a mild character.

Bile. The secretion of the liver.

Biliary. Relating to bile.

Biology. The science of life.

Bistoury. A small, narrow-bladed knife used in surgery.

Bolus. A large pill.

Borborygmus. A rumbling in the intestines.

Bougie. An instrument, shaped like a candle, for dilating mucous canals.

Brachial. Pertaining to the arm.

Bronchi. The branches from the trachea leading into the lungs.

Bulimia. Abnormal appetite.

Bursa. A small sac containing fluid, found near the joints.

Cachexia. A generally bad condition of the body.

Cadaver. A dead body.

Cæcum. The beginning of the large intestine.

Cæsarean Section. The operation of removing a child from the uterus by incision through the abdomen.

Calcareous. Having the nature of lime.

Calculus. A stone.

Callus. The new material thrown out to unite the fracture of a

bone.

Capillary. Hairlike in size.

Capsule. 1. A. membranous expansion inclosing a part. 2. A gclatinous envelope in which medicines may be given.

Carcinoma. Cancer.

Cardiac. Pertaining to the heart.

Caries. Ulceration of bone.

Carminative. A remedy which allays pain by causing the expulsion of flatus from the alimentary canal.

Cartilage. A smooth, elastic tissue, somewhat softer than bone. Catalepsy. A discase in which there is sudden suspension of the senses and of the will, the body remaining in whatever position it is placed.

Catamenia. The menstrual discharge.

Cataplasm. A poultice.

Cataract. An opacity of the crystalline lens.

Catarrh. Increased secretion from a mucous membrane.

Cathartic. A medicine producing free discharges from the bowels.

Catheter. A tubular instrument for introduction into the canals of

the body.

Caustic. A substance which burns living tissues.

Cellular. Composed of cells.

Cellulitis. Inflammation of the cellular or connective tissue.

Cephalalgia. Headache.

Cephalic. Relating to the head.

Cerebellum. The lesser brain.

Cerebrum. The brain.

Cervical. Pertaining to the neck.

Cervix. Neck.

Cholagogue. A medicine increasing the flow of bile.

Chorea. St. Vitus's dance.

Chorion. The outer envelope of the ovum.

Chronic. Of long duration.

Chyle. The milky fluid made from chyme.

Chyluria. Milky urine.

Chyme. The mass into which food is changed by the stomach.

[blocks in formation]

Clinical. At the bedside.

Clonic. Convulsions with alternate relaxation.

Clyster. An enema.

Coagulation. Curdling of a fluid.

Coaptation. Fitting together. The act of adapting to each other

the ends of a broken bone.

Coeliac. Relating to the abdominal cavity.

Cohesion. The force which holds like particles together.

Collapse. Complete prostration of the vital powers.
Colliquative. Applied to exhausting discharges.

Colloid. Jelly-like.

Collyrium. Eye-water.

Colostrum. The first milk secreted after confinement.

Colotomy. The operation of opening the colon.

Coma. A state of profound insensibility.

Comminuted. Broken in small pieces.

Complication. The existence of two or more disorders at the same time.

Compound Fracture. One which communicates with the surface by a wound.

Confluent. Running together.

Congenital. Existing from birth.

Congestion. The accumulation of blood in any organ.

Conjunctiva. The membrane covering the globe of the eye and lining the eyelid.

Connective Tissue. A lace-work of fibrous threads which extends through all the organs of the body, binding their elements together. Contagion. The communication of disease by contact.

Continuity. An uninterrupted connection of parts.
Contra-indication. An indication against.

Contusion. A bruise.

Convalescence. The period of recovery from disease.

Convulsions. Involuntary contractions of the muscles.

« PreviousContinue »