GERMAN 



515 



GIANTISM 



of De Vries, physiologic units of Herbert Spencer, 

 plastidules of Elsberg, and plasomes of Wiesner.) 

 These biophores unite into groups called determinants 

 (q. v.), each of which is a primary constituent of a 

 cell. Groups of determinants in turn combine to form 

 ids (Cf. ancestral germ-plasms), which correspond to 

 the small granules hitherto called micro-somata {q.v.). 

 The ids again form groups called idants (q. v.), which 

 correspond with the chromatosomes (q.v.) or rod-like 

 granular masses of chromatin in the nucleus. G.- 

 plasma, the protoplasm of the ovum or germ, sup- 

 posed to determine the character of the resultant off- 

 spring; the physical basis of heredity and of the 

 conservation of the species. Its alleged unchange- 

 ableness is called ' ' the immortality of the germ- 

 plasma." See Protoplasm. G. -plasms, Ancestral, 

 Weismann's term for bodies of a highly complex con- 

 stitution, each containing all the primary constituents 

 that are necessary to the formation of an organism 

 Ahnenplasmen " ), afterward supplanted by the 

 ord id, q. v.). G.-pore, in cryptogamic botany, 

 simple pit in the coat of a spore or an opening 

 t serves as a place of exit for the tubular out- 

 wths from the spore at the time of germination 

 ; Bary). G.-sac, the vesicle constituting the 

 ilastoderm of mammals. G., Specific, same as 

 'erm. G. -theory, the doctrine of the origin of every 

 ;anism from a germ or germ-plasm; b'astogenesis, 

 distinguished from neogenesis, or spontaneous gen- 

 tion. Also the doctrine that certain diseases are de- 

 ndent upon the presence of certain microorganisms, 

 .-tube, in cryptogamic botany the filamentous growth 

 a spore upon germination. G. -vesicle. See 

 Germinal Vesicle. 

 German (jer'-man) [Germanus, German]. Pertaining 

 or belonging to Germany. G. Breast-tea, a decoc- 

 tion of althea, q. v. G. Black. Same as Frankfort 

 Black. G. Chamomile. See Matricaria. G. 

 Disease. Synonym of Influenza. G. Ichtbyol. 

 See Thiol. G. Measles. See Rubeola. G. 

 Method, the oral method of instruction for deaf- 

 mutes. G. Tinder. See Amadou. 

 Germander (Jer-man' -der , or jer f -man-der) [ME., 

 germaamder, germander]. A popular name for plants 



If the labiate genus Teucrium. T. chanuedrys, of 

 iurope, is a popular polychrest remedy. T. narum 

 diaphoretic, tonic, and emmenagogue. Unof. 



Germarium (jer-ma'-re-um) [germen, germ]. In 

 biology, applied to the ovary of certain invertebrates. 



Germicidal \ jer / -mis-i-dal) [germen, a germ ; azdere, 

 to kill]. Destructive of germs. 



Germicide {jer* -mis-id) [germen, germ ; ccedere, to 

 kill]. A microbicide ; an agent that destroys germs. 



Germiculture (Jer'-me-kul-chur) [germen, germ; cul- 

 tura, culture]. The artificial culture of bacteria. 



Germifuge (jer'-mif-uj) \germen, a germ ; fugare, to 

 banish]. I. Having the power of expelling germs. 

 2. An agent that expels germs. 



Germinal {jer'-min-al) [germen, a germ]. Pertain- 

 ing to a germ or the genesis of a tissue or organ. G. 

 Area, the Area germinativa , or embryonal shield, a 

 white round spot upon one side of the vitelline mem- 

 brane in which the blastoderm becomes double. G. 

 Disc. See Disc. G. Matter. See Protoplasm. G. 

 Membrane, the blastoderm. G. Spot, the nucleolus 

 of the ovule. G. Vesicle ; (a) the blastosphere or 

 blastodermic vesicle ; (b) a lacuna in the substance of 

 e germ ; (c) the imperfectly formed germ-cell in the 

 bryo-sac previous to fertilization. Cf. Gastrocystis. 

 ermination {jer-min-a' -shun) [germinatio, sprouting, 

 budding]. In biology, the development of an embryo 

 from the ovum. Sprouting of a seed or spore. 



Dia 



Wen, 

 ern 



I 



Germule (Jer^-mut) [germen, a germ]. An incipient 

 germ. 



Gerocomia, or Gerocomy (jer-o-kcZ-me-ah, or jer-ok*- 

 o-tne) [yipuv, old man ; iooueiv,X.o care for]. The hy- 

 gienic and medical care of old people. 



Gerocomium (jer-o-ko / -me-um) [yepuv, old man; 

 Kouetv, to care for]. A home or institution for aged 

 people. 



Geromarasmus (jer-o-mar-az'-mus) [yipav, old man ; 

 fiapaouoc, a wasting]. Emaciation and weakness 

 characteristic of extreme old age. 



Gefomeninguria (jer-o-men-in-gu' -re-ah) [ytpav, old 

 man ; fif/viy^, membrane; ovpov, urine]. That senile 

 condition in which the urine contains membranous 

 shreds. 



Geromorphism (Jer-o-mor / -/izm) [yijpac, old age ; 

 [toporj, form] . Decrepitude of the cutaneous system ; 

 appearance of age in a young person. 



Geroni speciosa (jer-o'-ne spe-she-o* sah) [L.]. An 

 Andean plant, having a local reputation as a remedy 

 for syphilis and rheumatism. Unof. 



Gerontoxon (jer-on-toks* '-on). See A reus senilis. 



Geropigia (jer-o-pif-e-ah) [Port.']. A strongly sweet- 

 ened and colored mixture of brandy and grape-juice, 

 used in adulterating and fortifying wines. 



Gerst's Method. See Treatment, Methods of. 



Gestation (jes-la'-shun) [gestatio; gestare, to bear]. 

 Same as Pregnancy. G., Abdominal, the form of 

 extra-uterine gestation in which the product of con- 

 ception is developed in the abdominal cavity. G., 

 Double. I. Twin pregnancy. 2. The coexistence of 

 uterine and extra-uterine pregnancy. G., Ectopic. 

 Same as G., Extrauterine. G., Extra-uterine, 

 pregnancy in which the product of conception is not 

 contained in the uterine cavity. G.. Dorsal, the 

 hatching of eggs on the back, as occurs in certain 

 batrachians, e. g. , the Surinam toad. G., Mammary 

 or Pouch, the completion of growth in a pouch, as in 

 marsupials. G., Oral, applied to the hatching of eggs 

 in the mouth, as occurs in some fishes. 



Geum {je / -um). See Avens. 



Gheel System ( gil sis' -tern) [from Gheel, a town in 

 Belgium]. The colony-plan of housing, boarding, 

 and treating the insane, which prevails at Gheel, in 

 Belgium. 



Giacomi's Method. A method of staining the bacil- 

 lus of syphilis. See Stains, Table of. 



Giacomini's Method of Preserving the Brain. Im- 

 merse the brain in a saturated solution of chlorid of 

 zinc ; turn several times daily and inject 600 grms. of 

 the liquid through the carotids. Remove the mem- 

 branes in 48 hours. Allow the brain to remain in the 

 solution until it begins to sink, then immerse in alcohol 

 for 10 days. Immerse in glycerin until it sinks ; 

 remove, allow to dry, and varnish. 



Giampetro-Lowenberg Method. A method of intro- 

 ducing the Eustachian catheter. The catheter is 

 passed into the pharynx, and the beak is then turned 

 toward the opposite tube and the catheter withdrawn 

 until it catches on the posterior edge of the septum 

 narium, when it is rotated in the opposite direction 

 through an arc of at least 180 into the tube which it 

 is desired to catheterize. 



Giant (ji'-ant\ [yr/ac. large or ponderous]. An adult 

 of a species excessively developed in stature and pro- 

 portions. G.-cell. See Cell. G. Pelvis. See Pelvis, 

 Female, Deformities of. G. -powder. See Dualin. 

 G. -swelling. See Angioneurotic Edema and Urtica- 

 ria tuberosa. G. Urticaria. See Urticaria cedema- 

 tosa. 



Giantism {ji'-an-thm) [yiyag, large]. Excessive over- 

 growth ; the quality of being gigantic. Gigantism. 



