434 GLOSSARY 



Al-i-men'ta-ry (Lat. alere, to feed), having nourishing qualities capable 

 of being used as a food, or pertaining to food. 



Al'ka-li (Ar. al, the, and kali, a plant whose ashes were used in making 

 glass), a substance whose properties are in contrast with those of 

 an acid. An alkali forms soap when united with an oil. 



ATka-loid (Ar. alkali, and eidos, form), the substance in certain vege- 

 table drugs which gives the drugs their characteristic qualities. A 

 small dose of an alkaloid produces the same effect as a large dose 

 of the drug from which it is derived. 



A-me'ba (Gr. amoibe, change), the simplest form of animal life, con- 

 sisting of a single lump of jelly, capable of changing its shape at will. 



Am-y-lop'sin (Gr. amulon, starch), the ferment in the pancreatic 

 juice which changes starch to glucose. 



A-nat'o-my (Gr. ana, up, and temnein, to cut), the science which tells 

 of the structure of living bodies. 



An-e'mia (Gr. a, without, and haima, blood), the state of the blood in 

 which there are too few red blood cells and too little plasma. 



An-es-the'si-a (Gr. an, not, and aisthanesthai, to perceive), a tempo- 

 rary lack of sensibility produced by drugs. 



An'ti-dote (Gr. anti, against, and didonai, to give), a substance which 

 prevents a poison from acting upon the cells when it is introduced 

 into the body. 



An-ti-sep'tic (Gr. anti, against, and sepein, to rot), a substance which 

 prevents the growth of bacteria, and hence prevents rotting. 



An-ti-tox'in (Gr. anti, against, and toxikon, poison), a substance which 

 is produced in the body to overcome the poison of a disease. It is 

 commonly applied to a substance used in the treatment of diphtheria. 



An'trum (Gr. antron, a cave), the hollow cavity within the upper jaw 

 bone. 



A-or'ta (Gr. aeirein, to lift up), the large artery which rises from the 

 left side of the heart, and distributes blood to all parts of the body. 



Ap-O-plex'y (Gr. apo, from, and plessein, to strike), a sudden loss of 

 consciousness, usually due to pressure upon the brain caused by a 

 burst artery. 



Ap-pen-di-ci'tis, inflammation of the vermiform appendix. 



Ap'pe-tite (Lat. ad, to, and peter e, to seek or long for), a strong desire 

 for something. It is used mainly of the desire for eating and drinking. 



A'que-ous hu'mor (Lat. aqua, water, and humor, a liquid), the liquid 

 which fills the eyeball in front of the lens. 



