An expository lexicon of the terms, ancient and modern, in medical and general science : including a complete medico-legal vocabulary and presenting the correct pronunciation ... / by R.G. Mayne.

Mayne, R. G. (Robert Gray), 1808-1868.

Date:: 1860

Credit: An expository lexicon of the terms, ancient and modern, in medical and general science : including a complete medico-legal vocabulary and presenting the correct pronunciation ... / by R.G. Mayne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

26/1538 page 8

$Section IV,—0/ the Patholoijical Terms Em.'prosthotonos, Opisthotonos, Pleurotlwtonos. These three terms have been hitherto presented as nouns masculine, the names of par- ticular forms of spasmodic affection of the muscles. Emprosthntonos is the analogue of the adjective inirpoaeSrofos, from enirpoaOev, before, relvo), to bend, bent or stretched forwards. Opisthotonos is similar, from oiriaQtv, behind, and Te'ivu, bent backwards. Fleurothotonos is of modern construction in imitation of the other two, from irXQvpdOev, from tlie side, and re/i/ft). All three fall under the same general character. With respect to the first two, their ransouline is sometimes used substantively {(jTa(Tij.bs being understood), and synonymously with efxTpofrOorovia. and oniaQorovla, or a convulsion of parts forwards and baclswards. In Pathology they are the^names of diseases, that form of tetanus in which the body is bent forwards or backwards.'' In themselves, however, the words bear no allusion to tetanus or any other disease, but have a general signification of bending forwards or backwards. And although in medical parlance they are each made to characterise by an adjective quality', one form oi' tetanus as distinguished from others, still the meaning and application are general, and by no means limited to a form of this or any other affection. ■ In Nosological-descriptions, these three tei-ms characterise certain varieties of tetanus or spasmodic disease of the muscles; and it is worthy of i-emark that another variety, which it has been thought unnecessary to specify, is termed Gompletus, or complete tetanus. This trivial circumstance goes far to establish the true status of the others under consideration, and throws light upon what, with the same necessity for distinctive appellation, was origin' ally intended by the adoption of terms similar to completus in quality and purpose. While it is admitted that the originals of the first two being stated to be used sabstantively, gives authority for their like use in Latin and English (a use, indeed, which, by the idiom of both, would have been made of them all without such authority), it presents no ground whatever for converting them into nouns substantive. As in the Greek, the first two are indubitably adjectives; and the third, formed in imitation of those, is the same, and each, like Com- ■^jiletus, is employed to distinguish a variety of Tetanus, agreeing with it as adjective and ■Substantive. ■ H 'li-i! I 'is >a: .1 i/ jI ,v Section!,v.—Of the Anatomical Term Platysma myoides. I .-I' ll« .V (J. ' t, 11 , . . ' I ; This term, applied to the broad muscle of the neck, occupies a false position with reference to its orthography, derivation, and, consequently, the precise meaning attached to it. It is given thus, ''Platysma-mtjoides (from TrXarvs, broad, nvs, a muscle, and €i5os, re- semblance), a thin muscle oii the side of the neck and immediately under the skin, etc.* No definition of the term itself is attempted, nor any further explanation of its etymology offered, nothing but this abrupt notice of its application; the signification left to be inferred being,—resembling a broad muscle, or, it might be, broad like a muscle. These do not convey the real meaning. The object tn which it is applied is not only like, but actually constitutes a broad muscle, which for this very reason is otherwise called by Albinus and Douglas, Latissimus {miisculus) colli. By more closely examining the constituents of this compound epithet, its true signification wi]l be best ascertained. PZa«2/swa may be easily disposed of. It does not come directly from irXariis, broad, although that is the root of the etymon from which it is immediately derived, viz., TrAarwo) to render full and spacious, or to dilate. It is the analogue of irKdrvafia, which signifies, a' broad sheet of linen, or of anything similar, on which a plaster is spread; also, generallv that which is extended breadthwise; a dilatation or expansion. Thus, a lamitia, or jjlate of iron, has been called irKaTva/Ma <nSripov.-\- The words irAarvs fivs, which form two of the items of its assigned derivation, are not its etijma, but a d,t!fiiiitioi)|^ o;f the epithet itself, simply signifying the broad muscle. ' ' ' ' ■'' <^' -Myoidcs is to be ranked with terms in -Ides (see Div. i. s. i). It forms in itself a useful epithet, resembling muscle or flesh, but it is incorrectly employed in Platysma-ini/oides. It is there confounded'A^itli another term much like it, but different in its nature. The proper word is Myodes (see Div. i. s. iv.), the analogue of ixvdSvs, signifying, pertaining to, having or full of muscle or flesh, fleshy. It is simply a derivative of nvs itself. It is submitted, therefore, that in Platysma-myoidcs, its assigned etymology and the explanation implied are mistaken, contused, and defective; in that proposed to be restored (for it is the true and origjnfll term according to several anthorities§), viz., PZafi/sjna-JKz/odcs, all is clear, and give.'^,a Just idea of the object,—the thin, broad, subcutarteous muscle,—or, by Ikeral translatioUf^pjify musc^lous or Jleshy ex Section YL:—Of''tke^ ferm'^i'. Mi'dklnft,' C'dusticum, Mib) 2.' Ephemera. 3. Narcotics, Antispasmodics, Tonics, etc. 4. Fibrine, SteaWne, Salicine, etc. 5. Of the Latin Diphthongs 02 and as, and their English Translation. 6. Of the Terminal -Jcus. 7. Of the Terminal -ismtiiy S'. 'Of the Tenniriht''40^ 'D^'O/X/te 2^m Lambdoidalis, etc. 10. Zygoma. . i ' 1 . 1. The words Aoidum, Causticum, and others like them, have been presented as nouns neuter, an acid, a caustic, etc. No such nouns existed previously to such notification, * Hooper. + Aiitiug, ]. ix. o. 48, in Greek MS., as quoted by Gorrmiis. t Gorrrens. ? Sciipula, GorriouB, Cftstellus, Hederioiis, etc. II Hooper.$