These entries are absent or brief in the original dictionary on page 893.
A short cooking dictionary is on page 831. Check there for items not found
here.
acetanilide (also acetanilid)
White crystalline compound, C6H5NH(COCH3), formerly used to relieve pain
and reduce fever. It has been replaced because of toxicity.
Aconite
Various, usually poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum, having
tuberous roots, palmately lobed leaves, blue or white flowers with large
hoodlike upper sepals, and an aggregate of follicles. The dried leaves
and roots of these plants yield a poisonous alkaloid that was formerly
used medicinally. Also called monkshood, wolfsbane.
actinomycosis (lumpy jaw)
Inflammatory disease of cattle, hogs, and sometimes humans, caused by
actinomyces; causes lumpy tumors of the mouth, neck, chest, and abdomen.
Addison's disease
Caused by partial or total failure of adrenocortical function;
characterized by a bronze-like skin color and mucous membranes, anemia,
weakness, and low blood pressure.
ad libitum
At the discretion of the performer. Giving license to alter or omit a
part.
affusion
Pouring on of liquid, as in baptism.
ague
Alternating periods of chills, fever, and sweating. Used in reference to
the fevers associated with malaria.
aletris farinosa (Colicroot, star grass, blackroot,
blazing star, and unicorn root )
Bitter American herb of the Bloodwort family, with small yellow or white
flowers in a long spike (Aletris farinosa and A. aurea).
algid
Cold; chilly.
alkanet
European perennial herb (Alkanna tinctoria) having cymes of blue flowers
and red roots. The red dye extracted from the root. Plants of the
Eurasian genus Anchusa, having blue or violet flowers grouped on
elongated cymes.
allyl
Univalent, unsaturated organic radical C3H5.
aloin
Bitter, yellow crystalline compound from aloe, used as a laxative.
alum
Double sulfates of a trivalent metal such as aluminum, chromium, or iron
and a univalent metal such as potassium or sodium, especially aluminum
potassium sulfate, AlK(SO4)2 12H2O, widely used in industry as
clarifiers, hardeners, and purifiers and medicinally as topical
astringents and styptics.
anemonin
Acrid poisonous compound containing two lactone groups; obtained from
plants of the genus Anemone and genus Ranunculus, containing the
buttercups.
aneurysm (aneurism)
Localized, blood-filled dilatation of a blood vessel caused by disease
or weakening of the vessel wall.
animadversion
Strong criticism. Critical or censorious remark:
anise
Aromatic Mediterranean herb (Pimpinella anisum) in the parsley family,
cultivated for its seed-like fruits and the oil; used to flavor foods,
liqueurs, and candies.
anodyne
Relieves pain.
antipyrine (antipyrin, phenazone)
Analgesic and antipyretic (reduces fever) C11H12N2O formerly used, but
now largely replaced by less toxic drugs such as aspirin.
antrum
Cavity or chamber, especially in a bone. Sinus in the bones of the upper
jaw, opening into the nasal cavity.
apomorphine
Poisonous white crystalline alkaloid, C17H17NO2, derived from morphine
and used to induce vomiting.
arnica
Perennial herbs of the genus Arnica. Tincture of the dried flower heads
of the European species A. montana, applied externally to relieve the
pain and inflammation of bruises and sprains.
articular
Relating to joints: the articular surfaces of bones.
asafetida (asafoetida)
Fetid (offensive odor) gum resin of Asian plants of the genus Ferula
(especially F. assafoetida, F. foetida, or F. narthex). It has a strong
odor and taste, and was formerly used as an antispasmodic and a general
prophylactic against disease.
atresia
Absence or closure of a normal body orifice or tubular passage such as
the anus, intestine, or external ear canal. Degeneration and resorption
of one or more ovarian follicles before a state of maturity has been
reached.
atropine
Poisonous, bitter, crystalline alkaloid, C17H23NO3, obtained from
belladonna and related plants. Used to dilate the pupils of the eyes and
as an antispasmodic.
bainmarie
Large pan of hot water in which smaller pans may be placed to cook food
slowly or to keep food warm.
barberry
Shrubs of the genus Berberis having small yellow flowers, and red,
orange, or blackish berries.
baryta
A barium compounds, such as barium sulfate.
baste
Sew loosely with large running stitches to hold together temporarily.
batiste
Fine, plain-woven fabric made from various fibers and used especially
for clothing.
bedizen
Ornament or dress in a showy or gaudy manner.
belladonna (deadly nightshade)
Poisonous Eurasian perennial herb (Atropa belladonna) with solitary,
nodding, purplish-brown, bell-shaped flowers and glossy black berries.
An alkaloidal extract of this plant used in medicine.
benne (sesame)
Tropical Asian plant (Sesamum indicum) bearing small flat seeds used as
food and as a source of oil.
benzoin
Balsamic resin obtained from certain tropical Asian trees of the genus
Styrax and used in perfumery and medicine. Also called benjamin, gum
benjamin, gum benzoin. A white or yellowish crystalline compound, C14
H12 O2, derived from benzaldehyde.
berberine
Bitter-tasting yellow alkaloid, C20H19NO5, from several plants such as
goldenseal. Used medically as an antipyretic and antibacterial agent.
bergamot
Small tree (Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia) grown in southern Italy
for its sour citrus fruits. The rinds yield an aromatic oil (bergamot
oil) used in perfume.
beri-beri
Deficiency of thiamine, endemic in eastern and southern Asia and
characterized by neurological symptoms, cardiovascular abnormalities,
and edema.
Berserker
Ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy
before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury.
bijouterie
Collection of trinkets or jewelry; decorations.
bilious
Relating to bile. Excess secretion of bile. Gastric distress caused by a
disorder of the liver or gallbladder. Resembling bile, especially in
color: a bilious green. Peevish disposition; ill-humored.
bistort
Eurasian perennial herb (Polygonum bistorta) with cylindrical spikes of
pink flowers and a rhizome used as an astringent in folk medicine.
blue flag
Several irises with blue or blue-violet flowers, especially Iris
versicolor of eastern North America.
blue stone (blue vitriol, blue copperas, chalcanthite)
Hydrated blue crystalline form of copper sulfate.
bobbinet
Machine-woven net fabric with hexagonal meshes.
boil
Painful, circumscribed pus-filled inflammation of the skin and
subcutaneous tissue usually caused by a local staphylococcal infection.
Also called furuncle.
bolster
Long narrow pillow or cushion.
bombazine
Fine twilled fabric of silk and worsted or cotton, often dyed black for
mourning clothes.
boracic acid (boric acid)
Water-soluble white or colorless crystalline compound, H3BO3, used as an
antiseptic and preservative.
boutonniere
Flower or small bunch of flowers worn in a buttonhole.
bryonia
Small genus of perennial old world tendril-bearing vines (family
Cucurbitaceae) having large leaves, small flowers, and red or black
fruit; Dried root of a bryony (Bryonia alba or B. dioica) used as a
cathartic.
bubo (buboes)
An inflamed, tender swelling of a lymph node, especially in the area of
the armpit or groin, that is characteristic of bubonic plague and
syphilis.
bubonic plague (black death)
Contagious, often fatal epidemic disease caused by the bacterium
Yersinia (syn. Pasteurella) pestis, transmitted from person to person or
by the bite of fleas from an infected rodent, especially a rat; produces
chills, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and the formation of buboes.
buchu
South African shrubs of the genus Agathosma, especially A. betulina and
A. crenulata; the leaves are used as a mild diuretic and provide an
aromatic oil used for flavoring.
burdock
Weedy, chiefly biennial plants of the genus Arctium.
cachexia
Weight loss, wasting of muscle, loss of appetite, and general debility
during a chronic disease.
cajeput (paperbark)
Australian and southeast Asian tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia, M.
leucadendron) of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae); yields a pungent
medicinal oil; grown in Florida.
calamine
White or colorless mineral, essentially Zn4Si2O7(OH)2.H2O
(hemimorphite). Pink, odorless, tasteless powder of zinc oxide with a
small amount of ferric oxide, dissolved in mineral oils and used in skin
lotions.
calcareous
Composed of calcium carbonate, calcium, or limestone; chalky.
cale
Variety of cabbage in which the leaves do not form a head, being nearly
the wild form of the species; also called kail.
calomel
Colorless, white or brown tasteless compound, Hg2Cl2, used as a
purgative and insecticide. Mercurous chloride.
cambric
Finely woven white linen or cotton fabric.
cantharis (pl. cantharides) (also called Spanish fly)
Brilliant green blister beetle (Lytta vesicatoria or Cantharis
vesicatoria) of central and southern Europe. Toxic preparation of the
crushed, dried bodies of this beetle, formerly used as a
counter-irritant for skin blisters and as an aphrodisiac.
capsicum
Topical American pepper plants, genus Capsicum, especially C. annuum and
C. frutescens.
capsid (mirid bug, mirid)
Variety of leaf bug.
carbolic acid (phenol)
Caustic, poisonous, white crystalline compound, C6H5OH, derived from
benzene and used in resins, plastics, and pharmaceuticals and in dilute
form as a disinfectant and antiseptic.
carbuncle
A painful localized bacterial infection of the skin that usually has
several openings discharging pus.
cardamom
Rhizomatous (horizontal, usually underground stem) Indian herb
(Elettaria cardamomum) having capsular fruits with aromatic seeds used
as a spice or condiment. Plants of the related genus Amomum, used as a
substitute for cardamom.
carminative
Inducing the expulsion of gas from the stomach and intestines.
cascara (See Rhamnus purshiana)
A buckthorn native to northwest North America; the bark yields cascara
sagrada.
cassia
Tropical or subtropical trees, shrubs, or herbs of the genus Cassia in
the pea family, having yellow flowers, and long, flat or cylindrical
pods. Tropical Asian evergreen tree (Cinnamomum cassia) having aromatic
bark used as a substitute for cinnamon.
Castile soap
Fine, hard, white, odorless soap made of olive oil and sodium hydroxide.
castor oil
Colorless or pale yellowish oil extracted from the seeds of the
castor-oil plant, used as a laxative and skin softener.
catarrh
Inflammation of mucous membranes, especially in the nose and throat.
catechu (cutch, Acacia catechu, betel palm)
Spiny Asian tree with yellow flowers, and dark heartwood. A raw material
obtained from the heartwood of this plant, used in the preparation of
tannins and brown dyes.
caudal
Near the tail or hind parts; posterior. Similar to a tail in form or
function.
caustic potash (potassium hydroxide)
Caustic white solid, KOH, used as a bleach and in the manufacture of
soaps, dyes, alkaline batteries.
cerate
Hard, unctuous, fat or wax-based solid, sometimes medicated, formerly
applied to the skin directly or on dressings.
chambray
Fine lightweight fabric woven with white threads across a colored warp.
chancel
Space around the altar of a church for the clergy and sometimes the
choir, often enclosed by a lattice or railing.
chary
Cautious; wary; not giving or expending freely; sparing.
chelidnium
Herbs of the poppy family (Papaveraceae) with brittle stems, yellowish
acrid juice, pinnately divided leaves, and small yellow flowers that
includes the celandine. Preparation of celandine (Chelidonium majus)
used formerly as a diuretic.
Cheviot
Breed of sheep with short thick wool, originally raised in the Cheviot
Hills. Fabric of coarse twill weave, used for suits and overcoats,
originally made of Cheviot wool.
chicken pox
Caused by the varicella-zoster virus; indicated by skin eruptions,
slight fever, and malaise. Also called varicella.
chilblain
Inflammation and itchy irritation of the hands, feet, or ears, caused by
moist cold.
chloral hydrate
Colorless crystalline compound, CCl3CH(OH)2, used as a sedative and
hypnotic.
chlorosis
Iron-deficiency anemia, primarily of young women, indicated by
greenish-yellow skin color.
cholera infantum
Acute non-contagious intestinal disturbance of infants formerly common
in congested areas with high humidity and temperature.
cholera morbus
Acute gastroenteritis occurring in summer and autumn exhibiting severe
cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. No longer in scientific use.
chorea
Nervous disorders marked by involuntary, jerky movements, especially of
the arms, legs, and face.
Chrysarobin
Bitter, yellow substance in Goa powder (from the wood of a Brazilian
tree Vataireopsis araroba), and yielding chrysophanic acid; formerly
called chrysphanic acid.
cinchona (Jesuit's bark, Peruvian bark)
Trees and shrubs of the genus Cinchona, native chiefly to the Andes and
cultivated for bark that yields the medicinal alkaloids quinine and
quinidine, which are used to treat malaria. Dried bark of these plants.
Cinnamyl
Hypothetical radical, (C6H5.C2H2)2C, of cinnamic compounds. Formerly,
cinnamule.
clonic
The nature of clonus--contraction and relaxation of muscle.
cocculus
Poisonous bean-shaped berry of a woody vine (Anamirta cocculus) of the
East Indies that yields picrotoxin.
cochineal
Red dye made of the dried and pulverized bodies of female cochineal
insects.
coddle
Cook in water below the boiling point: coddle eggs. Treat indulgently;
baby; pamper.
codling (codlin)
Greenish elongated English apple used for cooking. Small unripe apple.
Cohosh (baneberry, herb Christopher)
Plant of the genus Actaea having acrid poisonous berries; especially
blue cohosh, black cohosh.
colchicum
Various bulbous plants of the genus Colchicum, such as the autumn
crocus. The dried ripe seeds or corms (short thick solid food-storing
underground stem) of the autumn crocus which yield colchicine.
collodion
Highly flammable, colorless or yellowish syrupy solution of pyroxylin,
ether, and alcohol, used as an adhesive to close small wounds and hold
surgical dressings, in topical medications, and for making photographic
plates.
colocynth (bitter apple)
Old World vine (Citrullus colocynthis) bearing yellowish, green-mottled
fruits the size of small lemons. The pulp of the fruit is a strong
laxative.
colombo (calumba)
Root of an African plant (Jatrorrhiza palmata, family Menispermaceae)
containing columbin; it is used as a tonic called calumba root or
colombo root.
colostrum (foremilk)
Thin yellowish fluid secreted by the mammary glands at birth, rich in
antibodies and minerals. It precedes the production of true milk.
coltsfoot (galax)
Eurasian herb (Tussilago farfara), naturalized in parts of North America
with dandelion-like flower heads. Dried leaves or flower heads of this
plant have been long used in herbal medicine to treat coughs.
consomme
Clear soup or bouillion boiled down so as to be very rich.
contretemps
Unforeseen disruption of the normal course of things; inopportune
occurrence.
copaiba
Transparent, often yellowish, viscous oleoresin from South American
trees of the genus Copaifera in the pea family, used in varnishes and as
a fixative in perfume.
copperas (ferrous sulfate)
Greenish crystalline compound, FeSO4.7H2O, used as a pigment,
fertilizer, and feed additive, in sewage and water treatment, and in the
treatment of iron deficiency.
corrosive sublimate
Mercuric chloride.
costal
Relating to or near a rib.
costive
Constipated
cranesbill (geranium, storksbill)
Plants of the genus Geranium, with pink or purplish flowers. Various
plants of the genus Pelargonium, native chiefly to southern Africa and
widely cultivated for their rounded and showy clusters of red, pink, or
white flowers.
cream of tartar
Potassium bitartrate. White, acid, crystalline solid or powder,
KHC4H4O6, used in baking powder, in the tinning of metals, and as a
laxative.
Creasote (creosote)
Colorless to yellowish oily liquid containing phenols and creosols,
obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, especially from
beech, and formerly used as an expectorant in treating chronic
bronchitis. Also used as a wood preservative and disinfectant. May cause
severe neurological disturbances if inhaled.
crepe de Chine
Silk crepe used for dresses and blouses.
cretonne
Heavy unglazed cotton, linen, or rayon fabric, colorfully printed and
used for draperies and slipcovers.
croton oil
Brownish-yellow, foul-smelling oil from the seeds of a tropical Asian
shrub or small tree (Croton tiglium); formerly used as a drastic
purgative and counterirritant. Its use was discontinued because of its
toxicity.
croup
Condition of the larynx, especially in infants and children, causing
respiratory difficulty and a hoarse, brassy cough.
Culver's root
Perennial herb (Veronicastrum virginicum) native to eastern North
America; the root was formerly used as a cathartic and an emetic.
cupping
Therapeutic procedure, no longer in use; an evacuated glass cup is
applied to the skin to draw blood to the surface.
Cuprum
Copper.
Curacao
Flavored with sour orange peel. Popular island resort in the Netherlands
Antilles.
cystitis
Inflammation of the urinary bladder.
damask
Rich patterned fabric of cotton, linen, silk, or wool. Fine, twilled
table linen.
deadly night-shade (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, climbing
nightshade, poisonous nightshade, woody nightshade, Solanum dulcamara)
Perennial Eurasian herb with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining
black berries; extensively grown in United States; roots and leaves
yield atropine (belladonna, Atropa belladonna).
decollete
Cut low at the neckline. Wearing a garment that is low-cut or strapless.
demi-monde
Class of women kept by wealthy lovers or protectors; prostitutes; group
whose respectability is dubious or whose success is marginal.
demulcent
Soothing, usually mucilaginous or oily substance, such as glycerin or
lanolin, used to relieve pain of irritated mucous membranes.
diathesis
Hereditary predisposition to disease, allergy, or other disorder.
digitalis
Plant of the genus Digitalis, including foxgloves. Drug prepared from
the seeds and dried leaves used as a cardiac stimulant.
dilatory
Delay or postpone.
discomfit
Make uneasy or perplexed; disconcert; embarrass; thwart the plans of;
frustrate.
dry cupping
See cupping.
dysmenorrhea
Painful menstruation.
effusion
Seeping of serous, purulent, or bloody fluid into a body cavity or
tissue. The effused fluid.
eiderdown (eider down)
Down of the eider duck, used to stuff quilts and pillows. Quilt stuffed
with the down of the eider duck.
empyema
Pus in a body cavity, especially the pleural cavity.
ennui
Listlessness, dissatisfaction, lack of interest; boredom:
Epsom salts
Hydrated magnesium sulfate, MgSO4.7H2O, used as a cathartic and to
reduce inflammation.
ergot
Fungus (Claviceps purpurea) infecting cereal plants; forms compact black
masses of branching filaments that replace many of the grains of the
host plant. Disease caused by such a fungus. The dried sclerotia of
ergot obtained from rye is a source of several medicinal alkaloids and
lysergic acid.
erigeron
Genus of composite herbs having flower heads resembling asters. Formerly
used as a diuretic and as a hemostatic in uterine hemorrhage
erysipelas
Acute skin disease caused by hemolytic streptococcus; marked by
localized inflammation and fever. Also called Saint Anthony's fire.
eschar
Dry scab or slough formed on the skin caused by a burn or by the action
of a corrosive or caustic substance.
eucaine
A crystalline substance, C15H21NO2, used as a local anesthetic,
substituting for cocaine, in veterinary medicine.
eucalyptol (cineole)
Colorless oily liquid, C10H18O, from eucalyptus; used in
pharmaceuticals, flavoring, and perfumery.
eucalyptus
Trees of the genus Eucalyptus, native to Australia; they have aromatic
leaves that yield an oil used medicinally.
farcy (see glanders)
Chronic form of glanders that affects the skin and superficial lymph
vessels.
febrile
ferverish
felon
Painful purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the area
surrounding the nail. Also called whitlow.
ferrocyanate
Salt of ferrocyanic acid; a ferrocyanide.
fistula
An abnormal duct or passage resulting from injury, disease, or other
disorder that connects an abscess, cavity, or hollow organ to the body
surface or to another hollow organ.
flounce
Strip of decorative, gathered or pleated material attached by one edge,
as on a garment or curtain.
fondant
Sweet creamy sugar paste used in candies and icings. Candy containing
this paste.
fontanelles
The soft membranous gaps between the incompletely formed cranial bones
of a fetus or an infant. Also called soft spot.
formaldehyde
Colorless gaseous compound, HCHO, used to manufacture resins,
fertilizers, dyes, and embalming fluids and in aqueous solution as a
preservative and disinfectant.
formalin
Aqueous solution of formaldehyde that is 37 percent by weight.
fossa
A small depression, as in a bone.
foulard
Lightweight twill or plain-woven fabric of silk or silk and cotton,
often having a small printed design. Necktie or scarf, made of this
fabric.
Fowler's solution
Solution of arsenite of potassium in water; named for Fowler, an English
physician who brought it into use.
frock coat
Man's dress coat or suit coat with knee-length skirts.
fuller's earth
Highly adsorbent (attaches to other substances without any chemical
action) clay-like substance consisting of hydrated aluminum silicates;
used in talcum powders.
fly blister
Blister caused by the vesicating (blistering) body fluid of certain
beetles.
fusiform
Tapered at each end; spindle-shaped.
galatea
Durable, often striped cotton fabric used in making clothing.
galax (beetleweed, coltsfoot, wandflower)
Stemless evergreen perennial plant (Galax urceolata) of the eastern US,
with a rosette of glossy, heart-shaped leaves and small white flowers in
spike-like clusters.
gallic acid
Colorless crystalline compound, C7H6O5, derived from tannin used as a
tanning agent, ink dye, in photography, and paper manufacturing.
gamboge
Brownish or orange resin from trees of the genus Garcinia of
south-central Asia and yielding a golden-yellow pigment.
gaucherie
Awkward or tactless act, manner, or expression.
gelsemium
Genus of climbing plants. The yellow (false) jasmine (Gelsemium
sempervirens) is a native of the Southern United States; the root is
used for malarial fevers.
gentian
Plants of the genus Gentiana, having showy, variously colored flowers.
The dried rhizome and roots of a yellow-flowered European gentian, G.
lutea, used as a tonic.
germander
Aromatic plants of the genus Teucrium, with purplish or reddish flowers.
gingham
Yarn-dyed cotton fabric woven in stripes, checks, plaids, or solid
colors.
glace
Smooth, glazed or glossy surface, such as certain silks or leathers.
Coated with a sugar glaze; candied.
glairy
Slimy consistency, like egg white; cough producing glairy sputum.
glanders
Contagious, usually fatal disease of horses, caused by the bacterium
Pseudomonas mallei; causes swollen lymph nodes, nasal discharge, and
ulcers of the respiratory tract and skin. Communicable to other mammals,
including humans.
glaubers salts
(Na2SO4.10H2O); colorless salt used as a cathartic.
gleet
Inflammation of the urethra caused by chronic gonorrhea with a discharge
of mucus and pus; the discharge that is characteristic of this
inflammation.
Glonoin
Dilute solution of nitroglycerin used as a neurotic.
glycerite
Preparation made by mixing or dissolving a substance in glycerin.
glycyrrhiza
Widely distributed perennial herbs of the family Leguminosae that
include licorice. Dried root of a licorice of the genus Glycyrrhiza (G.
glabra); used to mask unpleasant flavors in drugs or to give a pleasant
taste to confections called licorice.
goiter (goitre)
Enlargement of the thyroid gland; often results from insufficient intake
of iodine.
golden seal
See hydrastis.
groats
Hulled, usually crushed grain, especially oats.
grosgrain
Closely woven silk or rayon fabric with narrow horizontal ribs. Ribbon
made of this fabric.
gruel
Thin porridge (usually oatmeal or cornmeal). See page 574.
guaiacum (guaiac )
Tree of the genus Guaiacum; a lignum vitae. Greenish-brown resin from
this tree, used medicinally and in varnishes.
gustatory
Concerning the sense of taste.
haematuria
Blood in the urine.
hamamelis
Genus of shrubs or small trees (family Hamamelidaceae), including the
witch hazels. Dried leaves of a witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) of
the eastern U.S. used formerly as a tonic and sedative.
hartshorn
Antler of a hart, formerly used as a source of ammonia and in smelling
salts. Ammonium carbonate.
hellebore
Plants of the genus Helleborus, native to Eurasia, most of which are
poisonous. Plants of the genus Veratrum, especially V. viride of North
America, yielding a toxic alkaloid used medicinally.
henbane (black henbane, insane root)
Poisonous Eurasian plant (Hyoscyamus niger) having an unpleasant odor,
sticky leaves, and funnel-shaped greenish-yellow flowers. It is a source
hyoscyamus, hyoscamine and scopolamine.
henna
Tree or shrub (Lawsonia inermis) of the Middle East, having fragrant
white or reddish flowers. Reddish-orange dyestuff prepared from the
dried and ground leaves of this plant, used as a cosmetic dye and for
coloring leather and fabrics. To dye (hair, for example) with henna.
Hepar
Liver of sulphur; a substance of a liver-brown color, sometimes used in
medicine. Fformed by fusing sulphur with carbonates of the alkalies
(esp. potassium), and consists essentially of alkaline sulphides. Called
also hepar sulphuris. A substance resembling hepar; in homeopathy,
calcium sulphide, called also hepar sulphuris calcareum.
hepatica (liverleaf)
Woodland plants of the genus Hepatica, especially H. americana of
eastern North America, having three-lobed leaves and white or lavender
flowers.
Herpes Zoster
Varicella-zoster virus: A herpesvirus that causes chickenpox and
shingles. Causes an acute viral infection--inflammation of the sensory
ganglia of spinal or cranial nerves and the eruption of vesicles along
the affected nerve path. It usually strikes only one side of the body
and is often accompanied by severe neuralgia.
Honduras Bark
Dried bark of a tropical American tree (Picramnia antidesma) formerly
used in the treatment of syphilis and skin diseases.
Hunyadi (Hunyady )
Hungarian noble family, partly of Romanian origin. The first recorded
member of the family was Serbe, who settled in Hunyad county in
Transylvania from Wallachia.
hydrastis
Genus of herbs (family Ranunculaceae) with palmately lobed leaves and
small greenish flowers and including the goldenseal (H. canadensis). The
dried rhizome and roots of the goldenseal formerly used in pharmacy as a
bitter tonic and antiseptic called also goldenseal.
hydragogue
Cathartics that aid in the removal of edematous fluids and promote the
discharge of fluid from the bowels.
hydrophobia (rabies)
Viral disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals. Transmitted
by a rhabdovirus (genus Lyssavirus) in infected saliva of a rabid
animal. Causes increased salivation, abnormal behavior, and paralysis
and death when untreated
hypophosphite
Salt of hypophosphorous acid.
hyoscine (scopolamine)
An alkaloid, C17H21NO4, from plants such as henbane; used as a mydriatic
(dilatate the pupils) and sedative, and to treat nausea and motion
sickness.
hyoscyamus
Poisonous Eurasian herbs of the family Solanaceae that have simple
leaves, irregular flowers, and include the henbane (H. niger). Dried
leaves of the henbane containing the alkaloids hyoscyamine and
scopolamine, used as an antispasmodic and sedative.
ichthyol
Oily substance prepared by the dry distillation of a bituminous mineral
containing fossil fishes. Used as a remedy for some skin diseases.
ignatia
Dried ripe seeds of the Saint-Ignatius's-bean used like nux vomica.
impetigo
Contagious bacterial skin infection, usually of children, indicated by
the eruption of superficial pustules with thick yellow crusts, commonly
on the face.
incommode
Cause inconvenience; disturb.
inspissate
Undergo thickening or cause to thicken, as by boiling or evaporation;
condense.
intercostal
Relating to or near a rib.
iodoform
Yellowish crystalline compound, CHI3, used as an antiseptic.
ipecac
Tropical American shrub (Cephaelis ipecacuanha) that yields emetine.
Medicinal preparation made from this shrub used to induce vomiting.
Iris Florentina (Florentine iris, orris, Iris germanica
florentina, Iris florentina)
German iris having large white flowers and a fragrant rhizome.
Irish moss (carrageen)
Edible North Atlantic seaweed (Chondrus crispus) that yields a
mucilaginous substance used medicinally and in preparing jellies.
iritis
Inflammation of the iris of the eye.
jalap
Eastern Mexican vine (Ipomoea purga) with tuberous roots that are dried,
powdered, and used as a cathartic.
jocose
Given to joking; merry; humorous.
kamala
Asian tree (Mallotus philippinensis) that bears a hairy capsular fruit;
vermifugal powder is obtained from the capsules of this tree.
kino
Reddish resin from several Old World trees of the genera Eucalyptus,
Pterocarpus, and Butea and from tropical American trees of the genera
Coccoloba and Dipteryx.
kumiss (koumiss)
Fermented milk of a mare or camel, used as a beverage in western and
central Asia.
La Grippe
Influenza.
lancinating
Sensation of cutting, piercing, or stabbing.
lard
White solid or semisolid rendered fat of a hog.
laudanum
Tincture of opium, formerly used as a drug.
leukemia (leucemia, leukaemia, leucaemia)
Disease in humans and other warm-blooded animals involving the
blood-forming organs; causes an abnormal increase in the number of white
blood cells in the tissues with or without a corresponding increase in
the circulating blood.
lime (calcium oxide)
White, caustic, lumpy powder, CaO, used as a refractory, as a flux, in
manufacturing steel and paper, in glassmaking, in waste treatment, in
insecticides, and as an industrial alkali.
Slaked lime is calcium hydroxide, a soft white powder, Ca(OH)2, used in
making mortar, cements, calcium salts, paints, hard rubber products, and
petrochemicals.
litmus
Coloring material from lichens that turns red in acid solutions and blue
in alkaline solutions.
Liveforever (orpine, orpin, livelong, Sedum telephium)
Perennial northern temperate plant with toothed leaves and heads of
small purplish-white flowers.
lobelia
See Herb Department, page 428.
lochia
Normal uterine discharge of blood, tissue, and mucus from the vagina
after childbirth.
lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus. Chronic skin conditions characterized by
ulcerative lesions that spread over the body. No longer in scientific
use.
lupulin
Minute yellowish-brown hairs in the strobili of the hop plant, formerly
used in medicine as a sedative.
lycopodium
Plant of the genus Lycopodium, including club mosses. The yellowish
powdery spores of certain club mosses, especially Lycopodium clavatum,
are used in fireworks and as a coating for pills.
madras
Cotton or silk cloth of fine texture, usually with a plaid, striped, or
checked pattern. Large handkerchief of madras cloth.
malines
Thin, stiff net woven in a hexagonal pattern, used in dressmaking.
mandrake (may-apple)
Southern European plant (Mandragora officinarum) having greenish-yellow
flowers and a branched root. This plant was once believed to have
magical powers because its root resembles the human body. The root
contains the poisonous alkaloid hyoscyamine. Also called mandragora. See
podophyllin.
marseille
Heavy cotton fabric with a raised pattern of stripes or figures.
meatus
Body opening or passage, such as the opening of the ear or the urethra.
menorrhagia
Unusually heavy or extended menstrual flow.
menstruum
Solvent used to extract compounds from plant and animal tissues and
preparing drugs.
messaline
Lightweight, soft, shiny silk cloth with a twilled or satin weave.
mezereon
Poisonous Eurasian ornamental shrub (Daphne mezereum) with fragrant
lilac-purple flowers and small scarlet fruit. The dried bark of this
plant was used externally as a vesicant (blistering agent) and
internally for arthritis.
miliary
Appearance of millet seeds. Small skin lesions with the appearance of
millet seeds.
mullein
Eurasian plants of the genus Verbascum, especially V. thapsus. Also
called flannel leaf, velvet plant.
muriate
Chloride; compound of chlorine with another element or radical;
especially, a salt or ester of hydrochloric acid called.
myrrh
Aromatic gum resin from trees and shrubs of the genus Commiphora of
India, Arabia, and eastern Africa, used in perfume and incense.
methyl salicylate
Liquid ester C8H8O3 obtained from the leaves of wintergreen (Gaultheria
procumbens) or the bark of a birch (Betula lenta); now made
synthetically, and used as a flavoring and a counterirritant.
motherwort
Eurasian plants of the genus Leonurus, especially L. cardiaca, a weed
having clusters of small purple or pink flowers.
mugwort
Aromatic plants of the genus Artemisia, especially A. vulgaris, native
to Eurasia; used as a condiment.
mustard plaster (sinapism)
Medicinal plaster made with a paste-like mixture of powdered black
mustard, flour, and water, used as a counterirritant.
nephritis
Various acute or chronic inflammations of the kidneys, such as Bright's
disease.
naphthalene (naphthaline, tar camphor)
White crystalline compound, C10H8, derived from coal tar or petroleum
and used in manufacturing dyes, moth repellents, and explosives and as a
solvent.
nebulize
To convert a liquid to a fine spray; atomize.
To treat with a medicated spray.
nainsook
Soft lightweight muslin used for babies.
Neroli
An essential oil made by distilling the flowers of the orange; it is
used in perfume.
nitre (niter, saltpeter)
Potassium nitrate, KNO3, used in making gunpowder.
nux vomica
Tree (Strychnos nux-vomica) native to southeast Asia, having poisonous
seeds that are the source of the medicinal alkaloids strychnine and
brucine.
ocher (ochre)
Yellow, brown, or red mineral oxides of iron used as pigments.
oil of vitriol
Sulfuric acid; highly corrosive, dense, oily liquid, H2SO4, colorless to
dark brown depending on its purity and used to manufacture a wide
variety of chemicals and materials including fertilizers, paints,
detergents, and explosives.
omentum
Folds of the peritoneum (membrane lining the abdominal cavity) that
connect the stomach with other abdominal organs.
ophthalmia neonatorum (infantile purulent conjunctivitis)
Various forms of conjunctivitis in newborns, usually contracted during
birth from passage through the infected birth canal of the mother.
orchitis
Inflammation of the testes, often the result of mumps or other
infection, trauma, or metastasis.
organdy (organdie)
Stiff transparent fabric of cotton or silk, used for trim, curtains, and
light apparel.
Origanum
Marjoram. Genus of mint-like plants (Origanum). The sweet marjoram (O.
Majorana) is aromatic and fragrant, and used in cooking. The wild
marjoram of Europe and America (O. vulgare) is less fragrant.
orris
Several species of iris with a fragrant rootstock, especially Iris
germanica, used in perfumes and cosmetics.
panada
Paste or gruel of bread crumbs, toast, or flour combined with milk,
stock, or water; used for soups or thickening sauces.
Paralysis Agitans (Parkinson's disease, shaking palsy)
Progressive nervous disease causing destruction of brain cells that
produce dopamine, muscular tremor, slowing of movement, partial facial
paralysis, peculiarity of gait and posture, and weakness.
paregoric
A camphorated tincture of opium, taken internally for the relief of
diarrhea and intestinal pain
Paris green
Poisonous emerald-green powder, C4H6As6Cu4O16, used as a pigment,
insecticide, and wood preservative.
pedicle (pedicel)
Small stalk or stalk-like structure, especially one supporting or
connecting an organ or other body part. Slender foot-like part, as at
the base of a tumor.
pell mell
Jumbled, confused manner; helter-skelter; frantic disorderly haste;
headlong:
pemphigus
Several acute or chronic skin diseases characterized by groups of
itching blisters.
pennyroyal
Eurasian mint (Mentha pulegium) with small lilac-blue flowers that yield
an aromatic oil. Aromatic plant (Hedeoma pulegioides) of eastern North
America, having purple-blue flowers that yields an oil used as an insect
repellent
peptonize
Convert protein into a peptone (water-soluble protein derivative
produced by partial hydrolysis of a protein by an acid or enzyme ).
Dissolve (food) by means of a proteolytic enzyme.
pernicious anemia (Addison's anemia, malignant anemia.)
Severe anemia in older adults, caused by failure absorb vitamin B12;
causes abnormally large red blood cells, gastrointestinal disturbances,
and lesions of the spinal cord.
pharyngitis
Inflammation of the pharynx.
phenacetine (phenacetin)
White, crystalline compound, C10H13O2N, used as an antipyretic.
phlox
North American plants of the genus Phlox, having opposite leaves and
flowers.
phytolacca decandra (Scoke, Poke, Pokeweed)
Tall coarse perennial American herb with small white flowers followed by
blackish-red berries on long drooping racemes; young fleshy stems are
edible; berries and root are poisonous.
picric acid
Poisonous, yellow crystalline solid, C6H2(NO2)3OH, used in explosives,
dyes, and antiseptics.
piece de resistance
Outstanding accomplishment. Principal dish of a meal.
pilocarpus
Small tropical American shrubs (family Rutaceae) with small greenish
flowers.
pilocarpine muriate
3-ethyl-4-[(3-methylimidazol-4-yl)methyl]oxolan-2-one hydrochloride
C11H17ClN2O2
pique
Vexation caused by a perceived slight or indignity; feeling of wounded
pride.
pleurodynia
Paroxysmal pain and soreness of the muscles between the ribs. Epidemic
disease caused by a coxsackievirus, causing pain in the lower chest and
fever, headache, and malaise.
podophyllin
Bitter-tasting resin from the dried root of the may apple; used as a
cathartic.
pokeweed (pokeberry, pokeroot.)
Tall North American plant (Phytolacca americana) with small white
flowers, blackish-red berries, and a poisonous root.
prickly ash
Deciduous or evergreen shrubs or trees of the genus Zanthoxylum.
probang
Long, slender, flexible rod with a tuft or sponge at the end; used to
remove objects from or apply medication to the larynx or esophagus.
proteid (obsolete term)
Protein.
proud flesh
Swollen flesh that surrounds a healing wound, caused by excessive
granulation (Small, fleshy, bead-like protuberances--new capillaries--on
the surface of a wound that is healing).
pruritus
Severe itching, often of undamaged skin.
Prunus Virginiana (Chokecherry)
Astringent fruit of a species of wild cherry; the bush or tree which
bears such fruit.
pterygium
Abnormal mass of tissue on the conjunctiva of the inner corner of the
eye that obstructs vision by covering the cornea.
pulsatilla
Dried medicinal herb from a pasqueflower (especially Anemone pulsatilla)
formerly used to treat amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.
punctilio
Fine point of etiquette. Precise observance of formalities.
purpura
Hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes having the appearance of
purplish spots or patches.
pyemia
Septicemia (blood poisoning) caused by pyogenic (producing pus)
microorganisms in the blood, often resulting in the formation of
multiple abscesses.
pyrogallic Acid
White, toxic crystalline phenol, C6H3(OH)3, used as a photographic
developer and to treat certain skin diseases.
quassia
Tropical American shrub (Quassia amara) with bright scarlet flowers. A
bitter substance from its wood is used in medicine and as an
insecticide.
Queen of the meadow (Meadowsweet)
European herbaceous plant (Spiraea Ulmaria). North American shrubs
(Spiraea alba or S. latifolia) having umbel-shaped clusters of white
flowers. Perennial herbs of the genus Filipendula in the rose family.
quinine
Bitter, colorless, powder or crystalline alkaloid, C20H24N2O2-3H2O,
derived from cinchona barks and used to treat malaria.
quince
Western Asian shrub or tree (Cydonia oblonga) with white flowers and
hard apple-like fruit.
quinsy
Acute inflammation of the tonsils and surrounding tissue, often leading
to an abscess.
rabies
see hydrophobia
ranunculus bulbosus
Perennial Old World buttercup with yellow flowers in late spring to
early summer.
red precipitate
Mercuric oxide (HgO) a heavy red crystalline powder formed by heating
mercuric nitrate, or by heating mercury in the air.
repousse
Ornamented with patterns in relief made by pressing or hammering on the
reverse side;
resorcinol (resorcin)
White crystalline compound, C6H4(OH)2, used to treat certain skin
diseases and in dyes, resin adhesives, and pharmaceuticals.
Rhamnus Purshiana (Cascara buckthorn )
Buckthorn of the Pacific coast of the United States, which yields
cascara sagrada.
rhatany
Dried root of South American shrubs (Krameria lappacea or K. argentea)
used as an astringent and in toothpaste and mouthwash.
rheumatic fever
Acute inflammatory disease occurring after an infection from group A
streptococci, marked by fever and joint pain. Associated with
polyarthritis, Sydenham's chorea, and endocarditis; frequently causes
scarring of the heart valves.
rheumatism
Painful disorder of the joints or muscles or connective tissues. Chronic
auto-immune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked
deformities.
rhus
Genus of vines and shrubs including poison ivy, poison oak, and poison
sumac.
rickets (rachitis)
Childhood disease caused by a lack of vitamin D or calcium and from
insufficient exposure to sunlight, characterized by defective bone
growth.
Rochelle salts
Potassium sodium tartrate; colorless efflorescent crystalline compound,
KNaC4H4O6.4H2O, used in making mirrors, in electronics, and as a
laxative
ruche
Ruffle or pleat of lace, muslin, or other fine fabric used to trim
women's garments.
rumex Crispus (chrysophanic acid)
Yellow crystalline substance found in the root of yellow dock (Rumex
crispus).
rush
Stiff marsh plants of the genus Juncus, having pliant hollow or pithy
stems and small flowers with scale-like perianths (outer envelope of a
flower,).
sago
Powdery starch from the trunks of sago palms; used in Asia as a food
thickener and textile stiffener.
sal-ammoniac
ammonium chloride; white crystalline volatile salt NH4Cl, used in dry
cells and as an expectorant called.
saleratus
Sodium or potassium bicarbonate used as a leavening agent; baking soda.
salicylate
Salt or ester of salicylic acid.
salicylic acid
White crystalline acid, C6H4(OH)(COOH), used to make aspirin and to
treat skin conditions such as eczema.
salol
White crystalline powder, C13H10O3, derived from salicylic acid and used
in plastics, suntan oils, analgesics and antipyretics. Was a trademark.
saltpetre (potassium nitrate, saltpeter, niter, nitre)
(KNO3) used especially as a fertilizer, explosive and a diuretic.
salt rheum
Popular name in the United States, for skin eruptions, such as eczema.
Eczema; inflammatory skin disease, indicated by redness and itching,
eruption of small vesicles, and discharge of a watery exudation, which
often dries up, leaving the skin covered with crusts;--called also
tetter, and milk crust.
sanguinaria
Rhizome (horizontal, underground stem) and roots of the bloodroot
(Sanguinaria canadensis) used formerly as an expectorant and emetic.
sedulous
Persevering and constant in effort or application; assiduous.
senna
Plants of the genus Cassia, having showy, nearly regular, usually yellow
flowers. Dried leaves of Cassia angustifolia or C. acutifolia, used as a
cathartic.
santonin
Colorless crystalline compound, C15H18O3, wormwood, especially
santonica; used to expel or destroy parasitic intestinal worms.
sarsaparilla
Tropical American plants, genus Smilax, with fragrant roots used as a
flavoring. Dried roots of any of these plants. Sweet soft drink flavored
with these roots.
savin
Evergreen Eurasian shrub (Juniperus sabina) with brownish-blue
seed-bearing cones and young shoots that yield an oil formerly used
medicinally.
scrofula (struma)
A form of tuberculosis affecting the lymph nodes, especially of the
neck. Common in children. Spread by unpasteurized milk from infected
cows.
scurf
Scaly or shredded dry skin, such as dandruff.
scurvy
Disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C (citrus fruit; oranges,
limes,..); causes spongy and bleeding gums, bleeding under the skin, and
extreme weakness.
Seidlitz
A village in Bohemia (also Sedlitz). Seidlitz powders, effervescing
salts, consisting of forty grains of sodium bicarbonate, two drachms of
Rochell salt (tartrate of potassium and sodium) and thirty-five grains
of tartaric acid. The powders are mixed in water, and drunk while
effervescing, as a mild cathartic; the result resembles the natural
water of Seidlitz. Also Rochelle powders.
senega
Dried root of seneca snakeroot containing an irritating saponin and was
formerly used as an expectorant
sesquioxide
Oxide containing three atoms of oxygen with two atoms (or radicals) of
some other substance; thus, alumina, Al2O3 is a sesquioxide.
shirr
Cook (unshelled eggs) by baking until set.
sinapism.
See mustard plaster.
sitz bath
Bathtub shaped like a chair, used to bathe only the hips and buttocks.
slaked lime
See lime
sling
Drink consisting of brandy, whiskey, or gin, sweetened and usually
lemon-flavored.
smallpox
Contagious febrile (feverish) disease characterized by skin eruption
with pustules, sloughing, and scar formation. It is caused by a poxvirus
(genus Orthopoxvirus) that is believed to exist now only in lab
cultures.
smilax (catbrier, greenbrier)
Slender vine (Asparagus asparagoides) with glossy foliage, greenish
flowers, heart-shaped leaves, and bluish to black berries; popular as a
floral decoration.
Socotrine
Pertaining to Socotra, an island in the Indian Ocean, on the east coast
of Africa.
sordes
Dark brown or blackish crust-like deposits on the lips, teeth, and gums
of a person with dehydration resulting from a chronic debilitating
disease.
spermaceti
White, waxy substance from the head of the sperm whale used for making
candles, ointments, and cosmetics.
spematorrhea (spermatorrhoea)
Involuntary discharge of semen without orgasm
spigelia (pinkroot )
Genus of American herbs (family Loganiaceae) related to the nux vomica
and used as anthelmintics (expel or destroy parasitic intestinal worms).
sprue
Chronic, chiefly tropical disease characterized by diarrhea, emaciation,
and anemia, caused by defective absorption of nutrients from the
intestinal tract.
squill (sea onion)
Bulbous Eurasian and African plants of the genus Scilla, having narrow
leaves and bell-shaped blue, white, or pink flowers. The dried inner
scales of the bulbs used as rat poison and formerly as a cardiac
stimulant, expectorant, and diuretic.
stephanotis
Woody climbing plants of the genus Stephanotis, especially S. floribunda
of Madagascar, cultivated for its showy fragrant white flowers.
staphisagria (stavesacre)
Eurasian plant of the genus Delphinium (D. staphisagria). Ripe seeds of
the stavesacre contain delphinine, are violently emetic and carthartic,
and have been used to kill head lice called also staphisagria
steppage
Peculiar gait seen in neuritis of the peroneal nerve and in tabes
dorsalis; high stepping to allow the drooping foot and toes to clear the
ground.
stertorous
Harsh snoring or gasping sound.
stevia
Plant of the genus Stevia or Piqueria, having white or purplish
flowers.
stiletto
Small dagger with a slender, tapering blade. Small, sharp-pointed
instrument used for making eyelet holes in needlework.
stillingia
Genus of widely distributed herbs and shrubs (family Euphorbiaceae). The
dried root of a plant of the genus Stillingia (S. sylvatica) was
formerly used as a diuretic, and laxative.
stomachic
Relating to the stomach; gastric. Beneficial to digestion. An agent that
strengthens the stomach.
strychnine
Extremely poisonous white crystalline alkaloid, C21H22O2N2, derived from
nux vomica and related plants, used to poison rodents and topically in
medicine as a stimulant for the central nervous system.
stupe
Hot, wet, medicated cloth used as a compress.
St. Vitus' Dance
See chorea
stye (hordeolum)
Inflamed swelling of a sebaceous gland at the margin of an eyelid.
suety
Consisting of, or resembling, suet (hard fatty tissues around the
kidneys of cattle and sheep, used in cooking and for making tallow.)
sugar of lead
lead acetate, a poisonous white crystalline compound, Pb(C2H3O2)2.3H2O,
used in hair dyes, waterproofing compounds, and varnishes.
sumbul
Root of a plant of the genus Ferula (F. sumbul); formerly a tonic and
antispasmodic.
Summer complaint (summer diarrhea)
Diarrhea of children that in hot weather; often caused by ingestion of
food contaminated by microorganisms.
Sulphonal
Produced by combining mercaptan and acetone; employed as a hypnotic.
sulphuric ether
Ethyl ether; formerly called Naphtha vitrioli (naphtha of vitriol).
sumac (sumach)
Shrubs or small trees of the genus Rhus, having compound leaves,
clusters of small greenish flowers, and usually red, hairy fruit. Some
species, such as the poison ivy and poison oak, cause an acute itching
rash on contact.
suppuration
Formation or discharge of pus. Also called pyesis, pyopoiesis, pyosis.
suprarenal
Located above the kidney; a suprarenal part, especially an adrenal
gland.
sweet william
Annual, biennial, or perennial herb (Dianthus barbatus), native to
Eurasia, widely cultivated as an ornamental for its flat-topped dense
clusters of varicolored flowers.
synechia
Adhesions between the iris and the lens or cornea caused by trauma or
eye surgery or as a complication of glaucoma or cataracts; may cause
blindness
terebenthene
Oil of turpentine.
terebinth
Mediterranean tree (Pistacia terebinthus), a source of tanning material
and turpentine.
tetter
Skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis, herpes) that cause eruptions and
itching.
thrall
Slave or serf, who is held in bondage. One intellectually or morally
enslaved.
thrush
A contagious childhood disease caused by a fungus, Candida albicans.
Causes small whitish eruptions on the mouth, throat, and tongue, and
usually accompanied by fever, colic, and diarrhea.
thuja (arborvitae)
A North American or east Asian evergreen tree or shrub of the genus
Thuja, having flattened branchlets with opposite, scale-like leaves and
small cones; used as ornamentals and timber. A similar plant of the
genus Platycladus or Thujopsis.
thymol
White, crystalline, aromatic compound, C10H14O, derived from thyme oil
and other oils or made synthetically and used as an antiseptic, a
fungicide, and a preservative.
tolu (balsam of tolu, tolu balsam)
Aromatic yellowish brown balsam from the tolu balsam tree used in cough
syrups.
tormentil (Potentilla erecta)
Plant of northern Europe found in clearings and meadows. The root has
been used to stop bleeding, for food in times of need and to dye leather
red.
torpid
Lacking the power of motion or feeling.
tragacanth
Thorny shrubs of the genus Astragalus, especially A. gummifer, of the
Middle East, yielding a gum used in pharmacy, adhesives, and textile
printing.
trephine
Surgical instrument with circular edges, used to cut out disks of bone
from the skull.
trillium (birthroot, wake-robin)
Plants of genus Trillium, of North America, the Himalaya Mountains, and
eastern Asia, having a cluster of three leaves and a variously colored,
three-petaled flower.
trional
Contains three ethyls. Similar to sulphonal, used as a hypnotic.
turbinated
Shaped like a top. A small curved bone in the lateral wall of the nasal
passage.
tulle
Fine, starched net of silk, rayon, or nylon, used for veils, tutus, or
gowns.
turmeric (tumeric)
East Indian perennial herb (Curcuma longa) of the ginger family
(Zingiberaceae) used as a coloring agent, a condiment, or a stimulant.
Yellow to reddish brown dyestuff obtained from turmeric.
typhus (prison fever, ship fever, typhus fever.)
Infectious diseases caused by rickettsia bacteria, especially those
transmitted by fleas, lice, or mites. Symptoms are severe headache,
sustained high fever, depression, delirium, and the eruption of red
rashes on the skin.
ulster
Loose, long overcoat made of rugged fabric.
umbrage
Offense; resentment. Affording shade. Vague or indistinct indication; a
hint.
Uva Ursi
Common bearberry; a procumbent (trailing along the ground but not
rooting) evergreen shrub 10-30 cm high with red berries.
Valerianate (Valerianic)
One of three metameric acids; the typical one (called also inactive
valeric acid), C4H9CO2H, is from valerian root and other sources; it is
a corrosive, oily liquid, with a strong acid taste, and the odor of old
cheese.
valvular
Resembling or functioning as a valve. Relating to a valve, especially of
the heart.
varioloid
Mild form of smallpox occurring in people previously vaccinated or who
previously had the disease.
vegetable marrow
Squash plants with elongated fruit and smooth dark green skin and
whitish flesh.
veratrum
Poisonous alkaloid from the root hellebore (Veratrum) and from sabadilla
seeds. Used externally to treat neuralgia and rheumatism.
verdigris
Blue or green powder, basic cupric acetate used as a paint pigment and
fungicide. A green patina of copper sulfate or copper chloride on
copper, brass, and bronze exposed to air or seawater.
vermifuge
Medicine that expels intestinal worms.
vervain (verbena)
New World plants of the genus Verbena, especially those with showy
spikes of variously colored flowers.
Vichy water
Sparkling mineral water from springs at Vichy, France or water similar
to it.
vis-a-vis
One that is face to face with or opposite to another.
vitiate
Reduce the value; impair the quality; corrupt morally; debase; make
ineffective; invalidate.
voile
Light, plain-weave, sheer fabric of cotton, rayon, silk, or wool used
for dresses and curtains.
wahoo
Shrubby North American tree of the genus Euonymus (E. atropurpureus)
having a root bark with cathartic properties.
Waldorf salad
Diced raw apples, celery, and walnuts mixed with mayonnaise.
wen
Harmless cyst, usually on the scalp or face, containing the fatty
secretion of a sebaceous gland.
whortleberry
Two deciduous shrubs, Vaccinium myrtillus, of Eurasia, or V. corymbosum,
of eastern North America, having edible blackish berries.
wontedness
Being accustomed.
yarrow
Plants of the genus Achillea, especially A. millefolium, native to
Eurasia. Also called achillea, milfoil.
yellow fever (yellow jack)
Infectious tropical disease caused by an arbovirus transmitted by
mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, especially A. aegypti, and Haemagogus;
it causes high fever, jaundice, and gastrointestinal hemorrhaging.
yerba reuma
A low California undershrub (Frankenia grandifolia).
Zingiber
Tropical Asiatic and Polynesian perennial plants: ginger.
zwieback
Sweetened bread baked as a loaf and then sliced and toasted.
The following table is copied from page 636.
20 grains equal 1 scruple
3 scruples " 1 dram
8 drams " 1 ounce
12 ounces " 1 pound
The pound is the same as the pound Troy. Medicines are bought and sold in
quantities by Avoirdupois Weight.
1 grain equals 1 drop or 1 minim
60 grains or drops " 1 teaspoonful
1 teaspoonful " 1 fluid dram
8 drams (or 8 teaspoonfuls) make " 1 fluid ounce
2 tablespoonfuls make " 1 fluid ounce
1/2 fluid ounce is a " tablespoonful
2 fluid ounces is a " wineglassful
4 fluid ounces is a " teacupful
6 fluid ounces is a " coffee cup
16 ounces (dry or solid) is a " pound
20 fluid ounces is a " pint