DOMESTIC ECONOMY, HYGIENE, DIETETICS. 



441 



Spermatic cord. A cord consisting of blood-vessels, 

 nerves, and the canal of the sperm, which supports 

 the testicle. 



Spermatozoa. The formative agents in generation 

 found in the semen of the male. 



Sphincter. A round muscle closing an outlet. 



Spicula. A splinter of bone. 



Spleen. A spongy organ situated deep in the upper 

 abdomen, between the kidney and stomach. 



Sputa. Expectorated matter. 



Squamous. Scaly. 



Stercoraceous. Kxcrementitious. 



Stern utatives. Remedies which provoke sneezing. 



Stethoscope. An instrument for exploring the chest. 



Sthenic. Possessing excessive strength. 



Stun. Unconsciousness produced by a blow or fall. 



Stupor. Diminished sensibility or exercise of the in- 

 tellectual faculties. 



Styptic. Arresting hemorrhage ; astringent. 



Sublingual gland. A salivary gland under the tongue. 



Sudoriferous. A name given to the sweat glands of 

 the skin. 



Suppository. A semi-solid medicine deposited in the 

 rectum. 



Suppurate. To discharge matter or pus. 



Suspensory bandage. A bandage for supporting the 

 scrotum. 



Sympathetic nerves. The nervous system of the auto- 

 matic functions. 



Symptom. A sign of disease. 



Syncope. Fainting. 



Tampon. A plug made of lint or cotton. 



Tapping. Drawing off fluids in cavities by puncturing 



the surface. 



Tenesmus. Violent contractions. 

 Testes. The male organs contained in the scrotum. 

 Testicles. Testes. 



Tetanus. Permanent contraction of muscles. 

 Therapeutics. The department of medical science 



concerned in the treatment of disease. 

 Thoracic. Pertaining to the chest. 

 Thyroid glands. Throat glands. 

 Tissues. The anatomical elements cf organs. 

 Tonics. Remedies which improve the health and 



strength. 

 Tonsil. A gland at the side of the throat near the soft 



palate. 



Toxic. Poisonous. 

 Trachea. That part of the windpipe between the larynx 



or vocal organs and the bronchial tubes. 

 Traumatic. Pertaining to a wound. 

 Tubercle. Concretions of degenerated matter. 

 Tubule. A little tube or canal. 

 Tympanitic. Having a drum-like sound from the 



accumulation of air. 

 Tympanum. The drum of the ear. 



Ulcer, ulceration. A chronic sore situated in the soft 



parts. A diseased action resulting in ulcer. 

 Umbilicus. The navel. 

 Ureemic. Pertaining to urine. 

 Urea. A constituent of urine. 

 Ureters. The canals, two in number, carrying the 



urine from the kidneys to the bladder. 

 Urethra. The canpl or pipe leading from the bladder 



for the conveyance of urine from the body. 

 Uric acid. A constituent of urine ; in excess it forms 



combinations,, producing calculus or stone. 

 Urine. The secretion of the kidneys which collects in 



the bladder and is discharged through the urethra. 

 Uterus. An organ situated between the bladder and 



rectum and above the vagina, which holds the foetus 



during gestation. 

 Uvula. A fleshy organ hanging from the center of the 



soft palate. 



Vaccine. Pertaining to smallpox. 



Vagina. The canal, five or six inches in length, lead- 

 ing to the uterus or womb. 



Varicose. Pertaining to a dilated vein. 



Vascular. Full of blood-vessels. 



Vaso-motor. Affecting vessels by reflex nervous 

 action. 



Vein. A bloed-vessel which, with one exception, car- 

 ries the blue or venous blood. 



Ventricle. A chamber in the heart. 



Vertigo. Dizziness. 



Vesicle. A bladder-like sac. 



Vesicular. Full of little vessels. 



Vicarious. In place of another ; a function performed 



through other than the natural channels. 

 Virus. The poison transmitting infectious disease. 

 Viscus, viscera. An organ of the body. Organs. 

 Vitality. The vital principle. 

 Void. To evacuate. 

 Vomiting. Emptying the stomach upward. 



Water-brash. A profuse flow of saliva. 



Womb. An organ situated between the bladder and 



rectum and above the vagina, which holds the f cetus 



during gestation. 



Zoon, Zoa. Animal. Animals. 

 Zymotic. Epidemic and contagious. 



SICK BOOM. 



In preparing a meal for anyone whose appe- 

 tite is delicate, it should be made to look as 

 tempting as possible. The tray should be 

 covered with the whitest napkin, and the sil- 

 ver, glass, and china should shine with clean- 

 liness. There should not be too great a 

 variety of viands, and but a very small portion 

 of each one. Nothing more quickly disgusts 

 a feeble appetite than a quantity of food pre- 

 sented at one time. 



The patient should never be consulted be- 

 forehand as to what he will eat or what he 

 will drink. If he asks for anything, give it to 

 him, with the doctor's permission ; otherwise 

 prepare something he is known to like, and 

 offer it without previous comment. One of 

 the chief offices of a good nurse is to think for 

 her patient. His slightest want should be an- 

 ticipated and gratified before he has had time 

 to express it. Quick observation will enable 

 her to detect the first symptom of worry or 

 excitement, and to remove the cause. An in- 

 valid should never be teased with the exertion 

 of making a decision. Whether the room is 

 too hot or too cold ; whether chicken broth, or 

 beef tea,~ or gruel is best for his luncheon, and 

 all similar matters, are questions which should 

 be decided without appealing to him. 



Household troubles should be kept as far as 

 possible from the sick room. Squabbles of 

 children or servants should never find an echo 

 there. In the event of some calamity occur- 

 ring, for which it is absolutely necessary the 

 sufferer should be informed, the ill news 

 should be broken as gently as possible, and 

 every soothing device employed to help him 

 to bear the shock. 



Above all, an invalid, or even a person 

 apparently convalescent, should be saved from 

 his friends. One garrulous acquaintance ad- 

 mitted for half an hour will undo the good 

 done by a week of tender nursing. Whoever 

 is the responsible person, should know how 

 much her patient can bear ; she should keep 

 a careful watch on visitors of whose discretion 

 she is uncertain, and the moment she preceives 

 it to be necessary, politely but firmly dismiss 

 them. 



