a 



HYPO HYSTKRICS. 



this divisiiA, present an eminently metallic lustre, 

 usually of copper-red colour. Colour, grayish or 

 iprncniin black ; opaque ; hardness equal to tliat of 

 quam ; specific gravity, 3.389. It consists of silex 

 64.26, magnesia 14.00, alumine2.25, lime 1.50, oxide 

 ..t iron 24.60, and water 1. 00. 



HYPO, the Greek , a preposition which occurs 

 in many compound words used in English, and mostly 

 lijrntfies under. 



HYPOCHONDRIASIS (from the Greek /-., un- 

 der, and xJff , ^ le cartilage ; \\vncehypochondrium, 

 the region of the abdomen, which lies under the short 

 ribs) ; one of the most troublesome of diseases. Its 

 seat is in the abdomen, particularly under the short 

 ribs ; but when it lias increased to a certain degree, 

 it manifests itself, in the most various ways, in the 

 whole body, as there are few diseases of which the 

 hypochondriac does not at some time or other com- 

 plain, lie feels a pressure on the right side, and thinks 

 it is owing to a complaint of the liver; he lias pains 

 in the breast, and immediately apprehends inflamma- 

 tion of the lungs ; his head feels heavy, and nothing 

 is ii.i in- certain than an approaching apoplexy ; he 

 sees specks before his eyes, and a cataract is unavoid- 

 able ; if the heart beats stronger than usual, a poly- 

 pus in that organ is probable ; and an unimportant 

 pimple becomes the indication of inveterate ulcers ; 

 and so on. All these effects of the disease are ex- 

 plicable from its nature, seat, and causes. Hypo- 

 chondria is a disturbance of the functions of the 

 nervous system of the abdomen. Hence the sensibi- 

 lity of the nervous system is morbidly heightened, 

 but its power of action lessened. At the same time, 

 the separation between the nervous system of the 

 abdomen and that of the brain is rendered less com- 

 plete, so that certain feelings reach the brain, and 

 thus affect the thoughts much more than in a state of 

 health. The disturbance in the function of the ab- 

 dominal nervous system produces next a weakness 

 and disturbance in the digestion, which generally 

 produce the first and most numerous attacks of hypo- 

 chondria, from which all the others originate, in 

 proportion as the morbid sympathy extends over the 

 whole body. Hence, first, is produced spasmo- 

 dic contractions under the short ribs, sometimes on 

 one side, sometimes on the other, sometimes in the 



Eit of the stomach ; torpidity of the bowels, flatu- 

 'ncy, inflation of the abdomen, want of appetite, 

 increased pressure, and, generally, disagreeable feel- 

 ings after eating. In the progress of the disease, a 

 slow and somewhat difficult inspiration comes on, in- 

 describable anxiety, and pain and giddiness in the 

 head. Also, when the stomach is empty, this organ 

 sometimes suffers pain and sickness, and vomiting 

 takes place. For moments, particularly after diges- 

 tion is finished, the hypochondriac feels easy, well, 

 and serene; but, all at once, the old complaints 

 seize again upon their victim. The disturbance of 

 the nervous system also lias, as well may be con- 

 ceived, a great influence upon the mind and humour 

 of the patient. Sometimes he is melancholy, some- 

 tiroes gay to an excess. Uninterruptedly occupied 

 with the state of his body, he takes notice of every 

 fcding, and wishes to have every trifling pain ex- 

 plained, considering every one as a symptom of a 

 serious disease. For every thing he wants physic. 

 In the hours of anxiety, hypochondriacs are con- 

 stantly in dread of death. Sometimes anxiety attacks 

 them so suddenly, that they must jump up, and can- 

 not find quiet any where. Sometimes memory leaves 

 them, so that they cannot think of their name. In 

 the midst of the most serious conversation, nay, even 

 of prayers, the most ludicrous ideas or images strike 

 them. Others, all at once, feel a desire to perform 

 IV strangest actions, from which they can restrain 



themselves only with great difficulty. This deplor- 

 able disejise may be occasioned by any circumstances 

 which disturb the functions of the abdominal nervous 

 system, heighten its sensitiveness, debilitate diges- 

 tion, and lessen the separation of the reproductive 

 nervous system from the sensitive. Among the 

 chief causes are great exertions of the mind in 

 studying, a sedentary or dissipated life, excess in 

 exciting liquors, particularly coffee ; also want of 

 exercise or the physical and mental powers, pro- 

 ducing ennui. Hypochondria is physically con- 

 sidered not a dangerous disease. It is true, the 

 genuine hypochondriac believes, at least for six 

 days of every week, that his hour is come. He 

 passes a wretched existence, and is a real torment to 

 his family and physician. Hypochondria can be 

 cured but slowly. A hypochondriac must abstain 

 from much physic, but the difficulty is to persuade 

 him to do so. He would often rather take ten medi- 

 cines than one. He ought to avoid sensual indul- 

 gences, but his irritated nerves refuse obedience to 

 duty ; lie ought to master his feelings, but the lx>dy 

 has become the governing power ; he ought to take 

 much exercise, but his indolence finds continual 

 excuses for omitting it ; he ought to observe a strict 

 diet for years, and confidingly follow the directions 

 of his physician, but he is impatient to be cured 

 immediately, and his most solemn promises are for- 

 gotten in a week ; he would have ten physicians at 

 once, not to follow their advice, but to quarrel with 

 all, and to tell them that they know nothing of his 

 case. Thus it happens, that a hypochondriac is sel- 

 dom entirely cured, but, after having suffered for 

 years, he dies of some additional disease; or, in very 

 advanced age, when the irritability of the nerves is 

 lessened, the disease disappears. 



HYPOGASTRIC (from uVa, under, and y^T e/ 

 the abdomen); seated in the lower part of the belly. 



HYPOTHECATION. See Bottomry. 



HYPSIPYLE; daughter of Thoas, king of Lem- 

 nos. When the Lemnian women murdered their 

 husbands, in their sleep, because they had taken 

 Thracian slaves for concubines, she alone pre- 

 served her father, and concealed him in the island of 

 Chios. Hypsipyle received the Argonauts, who had 

 landed on Lemnos, with great kindness, and bore 

 Jason two sons, Thoas and Euneus. When the. 

 Lemnian women discovered that Hypsipyle had pre- 

 served her father, they attempted to murder her, 

 and would have accomplished their purpose, had she 

 not saved herself by a timely flight ; but she was 

 seized shortly after by pirates, who sold her to king 

 Lycus (or Lycurgus of Nemsea), who intrusted her 

 with the education of his son, Opheltes. When the 

 army of the seven princes passed through the terri- 

 tories of Lycurgus, on their way to Thebes, they 

 found Hypsipyle alone in a wood, with the boy at 

 her breast. To procure them refreshments, she put 

 down the boy ; but, while she was gone, a serpent 

 killed him. In remembrance of him, the Greeks 

 instituted the Nemaean games. Hypsipyle was 

 thrown into confinement, and would have atoned for 

 her misfortune with her life, had not her sons res- 

 cued her. 



HYRCANIA ; a province of ancient Persia, en- 

 compassed with mountains, and fertile in wine and 

 fruit. It now contains the northern half of Khora- 

 san, and the southern portion of Mazanderan, along 

 the Caspian sea. The inhabitants of Hyrcania were 

 probably descended from the northern Scythians. 

 As early as the first century, Hyrcania possessed 

 independent sovereigns, who were often formidable 

 to the Parthian monarchy. 



HYSON TEA. See Tea. 



HYSTERICS are with women nearly the same a 



