GLOSSARY 435 



Ar'gon (Gr. a, not, and ergon, work), a gas (discovered in 1894) which 

 forms about one per cent of the air. It resembles nitrogen. 



Ar'sen-ic (Gr. arsenikori), a gray metal whose combinations with oxy- 

 gen are very poisonous. 



Ar'ter-y (Gr. aer, air, and terein, to hold), the tubes which conduct 

 blood to the cells of the body. After death they are empty, and it 

 was formerly supposed that in life they contained only air. 



As-phyx'i-a (Gr. a, not, and sphuzein, to throb), death by suffocation. 



As-sim-i-la'tion (Lat. ad, to, and similis, like), the process of chang- 

 ing digested food to substances like those which compose the body. 



A-stig'ma-tism (Gr. a, not, and stigma, a point), the condition of art 

 eye in which one part of the rays are brought to a focus sooner than 

 another part. 



Au'ri-cle (Lat. auris, an ear), the upper two cavities of the heart. 

 They are thin and resemble dog's ears. 



Bac-te'ri-um (pi. bacteria) (Gr. bacterion a staff), the simplest and 



smallest form of plant life, consisting of a tiny sphere or rod. Some 



kinds can grow in the human body and produce disease. 

 Bel-la-don'na (Ital. bella, beautiful, and donna, lady), an herb which 



produces excitement of the brain and great weakness. It enlarges 



the pupils of the eyes, and was formerly used by ladies to render 



themselves more beautiful. 

 Bi'ceps (Lat. bis, twice, and caput, head), the muscle upon the front of 



the upper arm which bends the elbow. Its upper end has two 



branches. 

 Bi-chlo'ride of mer / cu-ry, a compound of .mercury and chlorine. It 



is very poisonous especially to bacteria of disease. When dissolved 



in water in the proportions of one part to five thousand, it kills 



disease germs. 

 Bi-cus'pid (Lat. bis, twice, and cuspis, a point), the fourth and fifth 



teeth from the middle upon each side of each jaw ; each bicuspid 



ends in two points. 

 Bile (Lat. bills), a yellow, bitter fluid formed by the liver cells and 



poured into the intestine. It is a part of the waste of the body, 



but while it is being excreted it assists the pancreatic juice and 



intestine in performing their work. 

 Bil-i-ru'bin (Lat. bills, bile, and ruber, red), the coloring matter of 



the bile. It consists of broken down hemoglobin. 



