Lexicon medicum, or, Medical dictionary : containing an explanation of the terms in anatomy, botany, chemistry, materia medica, midwifery, mineralogy, pharmacy, physiology, practice of physic, surgery, and the various branches of natural philosophy connected with medicine : selected, arranged, and compiled from the best authors / by Robert Hooper.

Robert Hooper

Date:: 1832

Credit: Lexicon medicum, or, Medical dictionary : containing an explanation of the terms in anatomy, botany, chemistry, materia medica, midwifery, mineralogy, pharmacy, physiology, practice of physic, surgery, and the various branches of natural philosophy connected with medicine : selected, arranged, and compiled from the best authors / by Robert Hooper. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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$AMY Amygdala mjLcis. The sweet almond. See Amyg- aalus communis. b a\iw?.Lw L,EUM- See Amygdalus communis. AMYGDALOID. (jlnygdJoiAs; (torn amygda- lus an almond, and eiSoc, resemblance.) Almond' Tike. ™, . #-name lv''11 to sle I';irts °f tllR k'dv and 10 pans oi vegetables and minerals, which resemble. almonds. 2. A compound mineral consisting of spheroidal par- ticles or vesicles of lithomarge, green can I,, calc Bpar, steatite imbedded in a basis of tine-grained green- stone or wacke, containing sometimes, also, crystals of hornblende. [Amygdaloid is a compound rock, composed of a basis, m which are imbedded various simple minerals. But these imbedded minerals are not crystals and grains, apparently of cotemporaneous origin with Hie basis itself, as in the case of ■ porphyry. On the con- trary, their form, though sometimes irregular, is usually spheroidal or* oval, like that of an almond; and hence the name of this rock, (from Amygdala, an almond.) —Cleav. Min. A.] AMY'GDALUS. (Amygdalus, i. m.; from amyg- dala, the derivation of which look to.) The name of a genus of plants in the Linnaean system. Class ho- sundria; Order, Monbgynia. The almond-tree. Amygdalus communis. The systematic name of the plant which affords the common almond. Amyg- dalus—foliis serratis infimis glandulosis, Jloribus scs- silibus geminis of Linneus. The almond is a native of Barbary. The same tree produces either bitter or sweet. Sweet almonds are more in use as food than medicine; but they are said to be difficult of digestion, unless extremely well com- minuted. Their medicinal qualities depend upon the oil which they contain in the farinaceous matter, and which they afford on expression, nearly in the propor- tion of half their weight. It is very similar to olive oil; perhaps rather purer, and is used for the same purposes. The oil thus obtained is more agreeable to the palate than most of the other expressed oils, and is therefore preferred for internal use, bein? generally employed with a view to obtund acrid juices, and to soften and relax the solids, in tickling coughs, hoarse- ness, costiveness, nephritic pains, &c. Externally, it is applied against tension and rigidity of particular parts. The milky solutions of almonds in waft ry liquors, usually called emulsions, possess, in a certain degree, the emollient qualities of the oil, and have this advantage over pure oil, that they may he given in acute or inflammatory disorders, without danger of the '11 effects which the oil might sometimes produce by turning rancid. The officinal preparations of almonds are the expressed oil, the. confection, and the emulsion ; to the latter, the additien of gum-arabic is sometimes directed, which renders it a still more useful demul- cent in catarrhal affections, stranguries, &c. Bitter almonds yield a large quantity of oil, per- fectly similar to that obtained from sweet almonds, but the matter remaining alter the expression of the oil, is more powerfully bitter than the almond in its entire state. Great part of the bitter matter dissolves by the assistance of heat, both in water and rectified spirit ; and a part arises also with both menstrua in distilla- tion. Flitter almonds have been long known to be poisonous to various brute animals ; and some authors have alleged that they are also deleterious to the human es; but the facts recorded upon this point appear to want further proof. However, as the noxious quality seems to reside in that matter which gives il the bitterness and flavour, it is very probable, that when this is separated by distillation, and taker, in n sufficiently concentrated state, it may prove a to man, as is the case with the common laurel, to which it appears extremely analogous. Bergius till us. that bitter almonds, in the form of emulsion, cured obstinate intermittents, after the bark had tailed. A simple water is distilled from bitter almonds, alter the oil is pressed out, which possesses the same qualities, and In the same degree, as that drawn from cherry- stones. These afforded, formerly, the now-exploded aqua crasoTitm nigrorum, or black cherry-water. Amygdalus persica. The systematic name of the common peach-tree. The fruit is known to be gi ami wholesome, s. Mom disagreeing with the stomach, i unless this organ is not in a healthy state, or the fruit en eaten to cxctse, when effects similar to those 1 ANA of the other dulco-acid summer fruits may be pro- aiiced. Iheficweis, including the calyx a's well as the corolla, are the parts of the persica used for medi- ciua purposes. Thi se have an agreeable but weak smell, and a bitterish taste. Bouldiic observes, that uncn distiller!, without addition, by the heat of a water-bath, they yield one-sixth their weight, or more, > ot a Whitish liquid, which communicates to a consi-' derable quantity of other liquids a flavour like that of the kernels ot fruits. These flowers have a cathartic effect, and especially to children, have been success- fully given in the character of a vermifuge ; for this purpose, an infusion of a drachm of flowers dried or hall an ounce in their recent state, is the requisite dose.- the leaves of the peach are also found to possess an- thelmintic power, and from a great number of experi- ment appear to have been, given with invariable suc- cess both to children and adults. However, as the leaves and flowers ot this plant manifest, in some de- gree, the quality of those of the laurocerasus, they ought to be used with caution.'.' A'myla. (From amylum,.starch.) This term has been applied to some chemical liecula, or highly pul- verized residuum. Obsolete. Amy'lkon. Amylion. Starch. A'MYLUM. (Amylum, i. n. Auv^ov; from a, priv. and fiv'Xrj, a mill; because it was formerly made from wheat, without the assistance of a mill.) Amy- Iron ; Amylion. See Starch. AMY'RIS. (From a, intensive, and pvpov, oint- ment, or balm ; so called from its use, or smell.) The name of a genus Of plants in the Limuean system. ('lass, Octandria'; Order, JMonogynia, of which two species are used in medicine. A.Mvuis FLEMirERA. The systematic name of the plant from which it is supposed we obtain the resin called gum-elemi. The plant is described by Limusua: Amyris:—foliis Irrnis i/uinnto finnatisque subtus to- mentosis. Eleiiii is brought here from the Spanish Wesl Indies: it is most esteemed when sottish, some- w hat transparent, of a pale whitish colour, inclining a little to green, and of a strong, though not unpleasant smell. It is only used in ointments and plasters, and is j a powerful digestive. Amyris gileadensis. The systematic name of the plant from which the opobalsamvm is obtained. It has been called by a variety of names, as Balsamumgenu- inuin antiquorum ; Balsamelaon : Jj-'gyptiaeum balsa- mum; Balsamum Asiatirum : Balsamum Judaicum, Balsamum eMecca; Balsamum Aljiini; (Arum bulsami; Carpobalsamum; Xylubal- samun:. Balsam, or balm of Gilead ; Balsam of Mecca. A resinous juice, obtained by making incisions into the bark of the Amyris :—foliis ternatis inti grrrunis, pedvneulis m>{tlor>s lateraliius of Linnauis. This tree grows spontaneously, particular!)' near to Mecca, on the Asiatic side of the lilcd Sea. The juice of the fruit is termed carpobalsamum in the pharmacopoeias, and that of the wood and branches zylobalsammn. The best sort is a spontaneous exudation from the tree, and is held in so high estimation by the Turks, that it is rarely, if ever, to be met with genuine among us. The medicinal virtues of the genuine balsam of Gilead, have been highly rated, undoubtedly with much exaggera- tion. The common balsam of Mecca is scarcely used ; bul its qualities seem* ro be very similar to those of the balsam of Tolu, with perhaps more acrimony. The from 1) to 50 drops. A'mycm. (From a, priv. and uvs, muscle.) A limb so emaciated that the muscles scarcely appeal; ANA. In medical prescriptions it means of each. See A. A-na'basis. (From avaSatvu), to ascend.) 1. An ascension, augmentation, or increase of a dis- ease, or paroxysm. It is usually meant of fevers.— Galen. 2. A species of the equisstum, or horse-tail plant. Anauatica. (Froin avaSaivio, io ascend.) An epithet formerly applied to a continual fever, when it increases in malignity. ANABE'XIS. (From an6>;r™, to cough up.) An expei (oration of matter by coughing. ANABLE'PSIS. (From ava and (iXmoi, to see again.) The recovery of sight alter it has been lost. Anablysis. (From ova and j3At|w, to gush out again.) Ebullition or erfervescence. an.vbole. (From avaCaXXu, to cast up.) The$

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