A dictionary of terms used in medicine and the collateral sciences / by Richard D. Hoblyn.

  • Richard Hoblyn
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of terms used in medicine and the collateral sciences / by Richard D. Hoblyn. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    658/692 (page 630)
    VA'NADTC ACID. An acid obtained from vanadiate of lead. It is distinguislied from chromic acid by yielding a blue solution, when deo.xidized, instead of a green one. VANA'DIUM {Vanadis, a Scandinavian deity). A newly-dis- covered metal, found combined with lead and iron ores. It occurs in the state of va?iadic acid. VANI'LLA. The dried fruit of the Vanilla aromaiica, and pro- bably of other species, used in the manufacture of chocolate, of li- queurs, &c. It contains much essential oil, and benzoic acid. VAPORA'RIUM (vapnr, vapour). A vapour-bath. See Bath. VAPORl'ZATION. The conversion of a liquid or solid body into vapour. This may be considered under two heads, viz.— 1. Eiuliitiun, or the production of vapour so rapidly, that its escape causes a visible commotion in the liquid; the temperature at wliich this takes place, is called the boiling point. 2. Evaporation, or the production of vapour in a quiet and insensible manner at common temperatures. VAPOUR (vapor). Any liquid expanded into an elastic or gaseous fluid, by means of heat. It differs from </as in its want of permanency, for it returns into the liquid state, when exposed to a diminished tem- perature. Bodies which are so convertible by heat, are termed volatile ; those which resist the heat of the furnace without vaporizing, are said to he fired in the fire. VAPOUR DOUCHE. A topical vapour bath, consisting in the direction of a jet of aqueous vapour on some part of the body. VAPOURS. Hypochondriacal maladies ; melancholy; spleen. VAREl'. The French name for kelp, or incinerated sea-weed. VAlilCE'LLA. VariolcB pusillee. Modified small-pox; water- pox; a term a])plied to several fonns of variolous eruption, in which the local and the constitutional characters are much milder, and their course limited to a shorter period. It presents the pustular, the vesi- cular, and the papular varieties. See Chicken-Pox. Varicella sine varicellis. A variety of varicella, in which the con- stitutional affection is present, without the eruption. VA'RICOCELE {varix, a distended vein, k)')\ii, a tumor). An en- largement and distension of the blood vessels of the scrotum. A va- ricose enlargement of the spermatic veins, is called cirsocele. VA RI'OLA (quasi parvi vari, small spots or pimples). Small-pox; an acute inflammation of the cutaneous and mucous investments of the entire body, characterized by an eruption of red points, and accom- panied by fever of an infectious and contagious kind. As it occurs sporadically, it is called ?;aferaZ small-pox ; when introduced artificially into the system, it is called inocidated small-pox. It is also termed primary or secondary, with reference to its occurrence for the first time, or as a second attack. j- • i i 1. The eruption is termed discrete, when the pustules are distmct and scattered over the surface of the body; coherent, when the pustules are very numerous and clustered, yet distinct; confluent, when the pustules are so closely developed as to run into one another; moilifi/;d, when the pustules are altered in their number, their size, and their course, either by previous attack of sm.all-pox, or by vaccination. , . , , , 2. Variola sine variolis. A variety of small-pox, m which the fever occurs, without the eruption.