350 Life and Health 



Scur'vy. A disease caused by use of improper food for a length of time, 



having prominent skin symptoms. 



Se-ba'ceous (Lat. sebum, fat). Resembling fat ; the name of the oily secre- 

 tion by which the skin is kept flexible and soft. 



Se-cre'tion (Lat. seccrnere, secretum, to separate). The process of separat- 

 ing from the blood some essential, important fluid, which fluid is also 



called a secretion. 



Sem'i-cir'cu-lar ca-nals'. Three canals in the internal ear. 

 Sep'ti-cae'mi-a (Gr. o-rjTrTiK6s, putrid, and afyta, blood). Blood poisoning, 



a form of poisoning resulting from the presence in the blood of the 



products of putrefactive micro-organisms. 

 Se'rum (Lat.). The clear, watery fluid which separates from the clot of the 



blood. 

 Spu'tum, pi. sputa (Lat. spuere, sputum, to spit). Matter which is coughed 



up from the air passages. 

 Sta'pes (Lat.). Literally, "a stirrup"; one of the small bones of the 



middle ear. 

 Ster'il-ize (Lat. sterilis, without power to produce seed). The destruction 



of micro-organisms, especially by heat. Commonly applied to the 



preparation of milk for infants and to surgical dressings. 

 Stim'u-lant (Lat. stimulare, to prick or goad on). An agent which causes 



an increase of activity in the body or in 'any of its parts without 



increasing its supply of energy. 

 Styp'tics (Gr. O-TVTTTI^J, astringent). Substances that applied locally arrest 



bleeding. 

 Sub-cla'vi-an vein (Lat. sub, under, and clavis, a key). A great vein, so 



called because it is situated underneath the clavicle, or collar bone. 

 Su-pe'ri-or ve'na ca'va (Lat., upper hollow vein). The great vein of the 



upper part of the body. 

 Syn-o'vi-a (Gr. aiiv, with, and u6v, an egg). The fluid secreted by the 



synovial membranes, which lubricates the joints ; joint oil. It resembles 



the white of a raw egg. 

 Sys'to-le (Gr. o-uo-rAXeiv, to contract). The contraction of the heart, by 



which the blood is expelled from that organ. 



Tem'po-ral (Lat. tempus, time, and tempora, the temples). Pertaining to 

 the temples ; so called because the hair begins to turn white with age 

 in that portion of the scalp. 



Tet'a-nus (Gr. relveiv, to stretch). A disease marked by persistent contrac- 

 tions of all or some of the voluntary muscles ; those of the jaw are 

 sometimes solely affected ; it is then termed lockjaw. 



