GLOSSARY OF SOME MEDICAL TEEMS. 



ABSCESS, PURULENT. An accumulation of 

 pus in some tissue or organ of the body. 



ABSCESS, SEROUS. An accumulation of 

 fluid in some tissue or organ of the body. 



ABSORBENTS. (1) A term applied to 

 medicines which possess the power of 

 sucking or drawing off morbid matters 

 in the system. (2) Vessels which ab- 

 sorb or take up various fluid elements 

 of the body. 



ACUTE. A term applied to diseases with 

 violent symptoms, which terminate in a 

 few days in relief, cure, or deatli. 



ADHESION. The means by which parts, 

 naturally or artificially separated, be- 

 come united. 



ALTERATIVES. Medicines which induce 

 change or correct morbid conditions, 

 without producing marked effects. 



ANEMIA. A state of body arising from 

 deficiency or impoverishment of the 

 blood. 



ANAESTHETICS. Remedies applied to pre- 

 vent pain by temporarily destroying 

 sensation. 



ANCHYLOSIS. Stiffness or fixture of a 

 joint. 



ANEURISM. A pulsating tumour contain- 

 ing blood. Dilatation of an artery. 



ANIMALCULA. Very minute animals, in- 

 visible to the naked eye. 



ANODYNES. Medicines which assuage 

 pain. 



ANTISEPTICS. Chemical agents which pre- 

 vent decomposition of tissues by forming 

 a chemical combination with one or more 

 of their constituents. 



ARTERIES. Vessels which convey the 

 blood from the heart to all parts of the 

 body. 



ASPHYXIA. Suspended animation. Suf- 

 focation . 



ASTHENIC. (1) A type of disease marked 

 by great debility the opposite to 

 sthenic. (2) Loss of strength. 



ASTRINGENTS. Medicines which have the 

 power of contracting muscular fibre, and 

 of coagulating certain fluids. They thus 

 restore tone and check morbid discharges. 



ATROPHY. (1) Wasting away of the 



body. (2) General debility arising 

 from want of nourishment. 



AUSCULTATION. A method of distinguish- 

 ing disease by listening to sounds within 

 the chest either by direct application of 

 the ear or by means of a stethoscope. 



BILE. A thick, yellow bitter fluid se- 

 creted from the blood by the liver. 



CAPILLARIES. The hair-like extremity of 

 a vein or artery. 



CARIES. Ulceration or rottenness of a 

 bone. 



CATHETER. An instrument introduced 

 into the bladder through the urethra. 



CHANCRE. An ulcer. 



CHRONIC. A term applied to diseases of 

 long duration the opposite of acute. 



CICATRIX. The scar left after a wound 

 is healed. Scab. 



COAGULUM. (1) The fibrin and corpuscles 

 of blood when separated from the serum 

 or watery part. (2) A clot. 



CONGESTION. Abnormal accumulation of 

 blood in any part. 



CONTAGION. Communication of disease 

 by contact. 



CONVULSIONS. Violent and involuntary 

 contraction of the muscles. 



CRASSAMENTUM. The fibrin and corpus- 

 cles of the blood when separated from 

 the serum or watery part. 



CYST. A bag or sac containing matter or 

 fluid. 



CYSTITIS. Inflammation of the bladder. 



DECOCTIONS. Medicines procured by boil- 

 ing in water. 



DEODORIZERS. Agents which disguise 

 odours, acting mechanically. 



DIAGNOSIS. The forming of an opinion 

 as to the nature and seat of a disease. 



DIGESTION. The process by which a por- 

 tion of the food is rendered fit for ab- 

 sorption into the venous blood. 



DISINFECTANTS. Agents which chemically 

 decompose noxious matters. 



DRASTICS. Powerful purgatives. 



DRENCH. Medicine given in a fluid form. 



DYSENTERY. Inflammation of the mucous 

 lining of the bowels with bloody evacua- 

 tions. 



