[Adapted from Dorland and Standard Dictionaries]

Ab-nor´mal. Not normal; contrary to the usual structure or condition.

A-bor´tion. 1. The expulsion of the foetus before it is viable. 2. Premature stoppage of a morbid or a natural process.

Ab-ra´sion. 1. A rubbing or scraping off. 2. A spot rubbed bare of skin or mucous membrane.

Ab´scess. A localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by the disintegration of tissues.

Ac-couch´e-ment. Delivery in childbed; confinement.

Ac´e-tone. 1. A colorless liquid found in pyro-acetic acid and in naphtha. 2. Any member of the series to which the normal or typical acetone belongs.

A´ci-do´´sis. Acid intoxication of the system from the elaboration or too much acid by faulty metabolism or the imperfect disposition of normal amounts of acid.

A-ci´nus, pl. acini. One (acini, more than one) of the smallest lobules of a compound gland.

Al´bo-lene. An oily white substance derived from petroleum.

Al´bu-mi-nu´´ri-a. The presence of albumin in the urine.

Al´ka-line. Having the reaction of an alkali.

A´men-or-rhoe´´a. Absence or abnormal stoppage of the menses.

Am-mo´ni-a. A colorless alkaline gas, NH₃, of penetrating odor, and soluble in water, forming ammonia-water. Ammoniacal urine contains ammonia, which is one form of nitrogen excretion.

An-Æ´mi-a. A condition in which the blood is deficient in quantity or in quality.

An´Æs-the´´si-a. Loss of feeling or sensation, especially loss of tactile sensibility, though the term is used for loss of any of the other senses.

An´Æs-thet´´ic. 1. Without the sense of touch or of pain. 2. A drug that produces anÆsthesia.

An´al-ge´´si-a. Absence of sensibility to pain.

An-aph´ro-dis´´i-ac. A drug that allays sexual desire.

An´a-sar´´ca. An accumulation of serum in the cellular tissues of the body.

An´en-ceph´´al-ous. Having no brain.

An´ky-lo´´sis. Abnormal rigidity or stiffness of a joint.

An´o-dyne. A medicine that relieves pain.

An´te par´tum. Latin for “before delivery.”

An-te´ri-or. Situated in front of, or in the forward part of.

An´ti-pe´ri-od´´ic. A drug that tends to prevent recurrent attacks of disease.

An´ti-sep´´tic. 1. Preventing decay or putrefaction. 2. A substance destructive to poisonous germs.

A-pe´ri-ent. Mildly cathartic.

Ap-noe´a. The absence of respiration—especially that form which occurs in a child delivered by the CÆsarean operation.

A-re´o-la. The darkish ring around the nipple.

As-ci´tes. Dropsy (an accumulation of fluid) in the abdomen.

A-sep´sis. Absence of septic matter, or freedom from infection.

As-phyx´i-a. Suffocation.

As-trin´gent. 1. Causing contraction and arresting discharges. 2. An agent that arrests discharges.

At´e-lec-ta´´sis. Imperfect expansion of the lungs at birth; partial collapse of the lung.

At´on-y. Lack of normal tone or strength.

A´tri-um. (L., a hall.) The point of entrance of a bacterial disease.

At´ti-tude. A posture or position of the body. The relation which the various parts of the child’s body bears to its own long axis. The attitude of the foetus normally is complete flexion.

Aus´cul-ta´´tion. The act of listening for sounds within the body.

Bac-te´ri-a. The vegetable microorganisms (Schizomycetes) especially the short-rod forms.

Bal´an-i´´tis. Inflammation of the glans penis. It is usually associated with phimosis.

Bal-lotte´ment. The diagnosis of pregnancy by pushing up the uterus by a finger inserted into the vagina so as to cause the embryo to rise and fall again like a heavy body in water.

Bar´tho-lin glands. The vulvo-vaginal glands.

Bleb. A skin vesicle filled with fluid. A blister.

Breg´ma. The point on the surface of the skull at the junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures.

CÆ-sa´re-an sec´tion. (Named from Julius CÆsar, who is said to have been thus born). Delivery of the foetus by an incision through the abdominal and uterine walls.

Ca´put. Any head, or head-like structure.

Ca´put suc´ce-da´´ne-um. A swelling formed on the presenting part of the foetus during labor. It is due to the effusion of fluid into the subcutaneous tissues of the scalp and its retention there.

Car-min´a-tive. Drugs that stimulate the circulation, the mental faculties, and intestinal peristalsis. Asafoetida, camphor, capsicum, cardamon, chloroform, ether, ginger, horseradish, mustard, and the oils of anise, cloves, spearmint, nutmeg and valerian are carminatives.

Car´ne-ous. Fleshy.

Cath´e-ter, tra´che-al. A long slender tube designed for introduction into the babe’s trachea as a means of sucking out mucus.

Cath´´e-ter-ize´. To introduce a tube and draw off fluid, as urine or mucus.

Caul. 1. The great omentum. 2. A piece of amnion which sometimes envelopes a child’s head at birth.

Cell. 1. Any one of the minute protoplasmic masses which make up organized tissue.

Ceph-al´ic. 1. Pertaining to the head. 2. A medicine for the head.

Ceph´al-hÆ-ma-to´´ma. 1. A tumor or swelling filled with blood beneath the pericranium.

Cer´vix. The neck or any neck-like part.

Chlo-as´ma. The yellowish brown spots or patches that appear on the skin of pregnant women.

Cic´a-tri´´cial. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a cicatrix.

Ci-ca´trix. A scar; the mark left by a sore or wound.

Cil´i-a. 1. The eyelashes. 2. Minute lash-like processes that characterize certain cells.

Cli´mac-ter´´ic. A particular epoch of the ordinary term of life at which the body is believed to undergo a radical change—especially applied to the menopause.

Cli-ni´cians. Men who teach and explain diseases by showing actual cases.

Clit´o-ris. The sensitive organ of the female, homologous with the penis in the male.

Coc´cyx. The small bone situated at the end of the sacrum. The very last portion of the spine.

Col-lapse´. A state of extreme prostration and depression with failure of circulation.

Col´les’ mem´brane. A layer of tough sensitive fascia back of the perineum and on either side of the vagina.

Co-los´trum. The first fluid secreted by the mammary glands after functional activity begins. It contains casein and more albumen than milk, as well as numerous fatty globules.

Col´peu-ryn´´ter. A dilatable bag, used to distend the vagina.

Co´ma. Profound stupor occurring in the course of a disease or after severe injury.

Co´ma-tose. Pertaining to, or affected with, coma.

Com´pli-ca´´tion. A disease or diseases concurrent with another disease.

Con-cep´tion. The fecundation of the ovum.

Con´dyl-o´´ma. A wart-like excrescence near the anus or vulva. It may be as large as a cauliflower.

Con-gen´i-tal. Born with a person; existing at or before, birth.

Con´ju-gate. The anteroposterior diameter of the pelvic inlet.

Cor´o-nal. Pertaining to the crown of the head, as the coronal suture.

Cra´dle cap. The dirty looking patch of epithelial scales and sebaceous material that develops over the anterior fontanelle of babies who have the exudative diathesis.

Cra´ni-ot´´o-my. The cutting in pieces of the foetal head to facilitate delivery.

Cre-dÉ Expression. The maneuver in which the uterus is grasped in the hollow of the hand and squeezed and pressed down upon to aid in the expulsion of the placenta.

Cre-dÉ Treatment. The instillation of a 1% solution of nitrate of silver into the eyes of the newborn to prevent ophthalmia.

Curd. The coagulum of milk, consisting mainly of casein.

Cy´an-o´´sis. Blueness of the skin, often due to cardiac malformation causing insufficient oxygenation of the blood.

Cys-ti´tis. Inflammation of the bladder.

De-cid´u-a. The membranous structure produced in the uterus during gestation and thrown off after parturition. D. reflexa, the part of decidua which is reflected upon and surrounds the ovum. D. serotina, the late decidua; the part of the decidua vera which becomes the maternal portion of the placenta. D. Vera, the true decidua; the portion of the decidua which lines the uterus.

De-cu´bi-tus. 1. An act of lying down. 2. A bed-sore.

De-hy´drate. To remove the water.

Di´a-be´´tes. A disease marked by an habitual discharge of an excessive quantity of urine and the presence of sugar therein.

Di´´aph-o-re´sis. Perspiration, and especially profuse perspiration.

Di´´aph-o-ret´ic. 1. Stimulating the secretion of sweat. 2. A medicine that increases the perspiration.

Di-ath´e-sis. Natural or congenital predisposition to a special disease.

Dif´fer-en´´tial. Pertaining to a difference, or differences.

Dis-crete´. Separate lesions which do not blend or coalesce.

Di´u-re´´sis. Increased secretion of urine.

Dor´sum. The back or any part corresponding to the back as the dorsum of the penis or foot.

Duc´tus ve-no´sus. A foetal blood vessel connecting the umbilical vein with the post-cava.

Dys-cra´si-a. A depraved state of the system, and especially of the blood, due to constitutional disease.

Dysp-noe´a. Difficult or labored breathing.

Dys-to´ci-a. Painful or slow delivery or birth.

Ec-bol´ic. An agent that accelerates labor.

E-clamp´si-a. A sudden attack of convulsions, especially one of a peripheral origin.

Ec-top´ic. Out of the normal place.

E-de´ma. Swelling due to effusion of watery liquid into the connective tissue.

Em´bo-lism. The plugging of an artery or vein by a clot or obstruction which has been brought to its place by the blood-current.

Em´bry-o. The foetus in its earlier stages of development, especially before the end of the third month.

Em-men´a-gogue. A drug that aids or stimulates menstruation.

E-mul´sion. An oily or resinous substance divided and held in suspension through the agency of an adhesive, mucilaginous, or other substance.

En´do-me´´tri-um. The mucous membrane that lines the cavity of the uterus.

En-gage´ment. The head is said to be engaged when the largest diameters have passed the inlet.

En´si-form. Shaped like a sword.

Ep´i-si-ot´´o-my. Surgical incision of the vulvar orifice laterally for obstetric purposes.

E-ro´sion. An eating or gnawing away.

Er´y-the´´ma. A morbid redness of the skin due to congestion of the capillaries, of many varieties.

E´ti-ol´´o-gy. The study or theory of the causation of any disease.

Ex-co´´ri-a´tion. Any superficial loss of substance such as that produced on the skin by scratching.

Ex´os-mo´´sis (Ex-os-mose). Diffusion or osmosis from within outward.

Ex-san´guin-a´´tion. An exhaustion of the blood from a part or the whole of the body.

Ex-trac´tion. The process or act of pulling or drawing out, particularly the removal of a child by pulling either with hands or forceps.

Ex´tra-u´´ter-ine. Situated or occurring outside of the uterus.

Ex´´u-da´tive di-ath´e-sis. A congenital predisposition to eczema in various parts of the body, as well as to infections of the respiratory tract.

FÆ´ces (or fe´ces). The excrement or undigested residue of the food discharged from the bowels.

Fen´es-tra-ted. (L., fenestrum, a window.) Pierced with one or more openings, like windows.

Fer´ment. Any substance that causes fermentation in other substances with which it comes in contact.

Fi´brin. A substance which, becoming solid in shed blood, plasma and lymph, causes the coagulation of these fluids.

Fil´let. 1. A loop-shaped structure. 2. A loop, as of cord or tape, for making traction.

Fis´sure. A cleft or groove, normal or other.

Fis´tu-la. A deep, sinuous ulcer, often leading to an internal hollow organ.

Flu´id ex´tract. A concentrated solution of the active principle of a drug in such strength that 1 c.c. of the product equals 1 gr. of the crude drug. The fluid is a mixture of alcohol, water and glycerine in varying proportions. One may be omitted.

Foe´tus (or fe´tus). The unborn offspring of any animal that brings forth living progeny; the child in the womb after the third month.

Fon´ta-nelle´´. Any one of the unossified spots on the cranium of a young infant. It is so named because it rises and falls like a fountain.

Fo-ra´men. A hole or perforation, especially a hole in a bone.

Four-chette´. The fold of mucous membrane at the posterior junction of the labia majora.

FrÆ´num (or fre´num). A fold of the integument or of the mucous membrane that checks, curbs, or limits the movements of an organ in part—as the frÆnum of the tongue.

Func´tion. The normal or proper action of an organ or set of organs.

Func´tion-al. Of or pertaining to a function.

Fun´dus. The base or part of a hollow organ remotest from its mouth.

Ga-lac´tor-rhoe´´a. Excessive secretion of milk.

Ga-vage´. Feeding by the stomach tube; also the therapeutic use of a very full diet.

Gen´it-als. The reproductive organs.

Ger´´mi-cide´. An agent that destroys germs.

Ges-ta´tion. Pregnancy.

Glans cli-tor´i-dis. The distal or outside end of the clitoris.

Glans pe´nis. The head, or terminal end, of the penis.

Gon-or-rhoe´a. A contagious catarrhal inflammation of the genital mucous membrane.

Graaf´i-an fol´li-cle. Any one of the small spherical ovarian bodies, each of which contains an ovum.

HÆm´o-phil´´i-a. A condition of the system wherein bleeding occurs readily, and the blood clots slowly or not at all.

HÆm´or-rhage. A copious escape of blood from the vessels; bleeding. Accidental h., hÆmorrhage during pregnancy, due to premature detachment of the placenta. Post partum h., that which occurs soon after labor, or childbirth. Unavoidable h., that which results from the detachment of a placenta prÆvia.

HÆm´or-rhoid. A pile, or vascular tumor of the rectal mucous membrane.

Hy-dat´id. An encysted vesicle containing an encysted fluid. From the Greek “Hydatis,” meaning a drop of water.

Hy-dat´i-form. Resembling a hydatid in form.

Hy-dram´ni-os. Dropsy of the amnion.

Hy´dro-ceph´´a-lous. A fluid effusion within the cranium. This disease is marked by enlargement of the head, with prominence of the forehead, atrophy of the brain, mental weakness, and convulsions.

Hy´giene. The science of health and of its preservation.

Hy´men. The membranous fold which partially or wholly occludes the external orifice of the vagina, at least during virginity.

Hy´per-em´´e-sis. Excessive vomiting. H. gra-vi-da´rum, excessive vomiting of pregnancy.

Hy´per-Æ´´mi-a. Excess of blood in any part of the body.

Hy-per´tro-phy. The morbid enlargement or overgrowth of a part.

Hyp-not´ic. A drug that induces sleep.

Hy´po-der-moc´´ly-sis. The introduction, into the subcutaneous tissues, of fluid in large quantity.

Hy´po-gas´´tric. Of or pertaining to the lower anterior region of the abdomen in the middle line of the body. The hypogastric arteries arise from the internal iliac in addition to the branches given off from those vessels in the adult.

Hy´po-phos´´phite. Any salt of hypophosphorous acid.

Ic´ter-us. Jaundice.

Id´i-o-syn´´cra-sy. An effect abnormal to the one usually produced. An effect peculiar to the individual.

Im-mu´ni-ty. The condition of being immune or exempt from disease, especially the condition arising from inoculation, or from a peculiar resistance of the organism.

Im´preg-na´´tion. 1. The act of fecundation or of rendering pregnant. 2. The process or act of saturation, a saturated condition.

In´farct. A mass of substance extravasated either into the substance of an organ or into a vessel due to the obstruction to the circulation.

In´´fan-tile´ pel´vis. A pelvis which has not responded to the developmental stimulation of the sexual glands at puberty, and therefore remains in its infantile shape. A masculine pelvis.

In´´fan-tile´ u´ter-us. An undeveloped uterus.

In-fec´tion. The communication of disease from one person to another, whether by effluvia or by contact, mediate or immediate; also the implantation of disease from without.

In´fil-tra´´tion. To cause a liquid or gas to penetrate or enter by pores or interstices.

In´flam-ma´´tion. A morbid condition characterized by pain, heat, redness and swelling.

In-nom´in-ate. Not having a name, as the innominate bone.

In-som´ni-a. Inability to sleep; abnormal wakefulness.

In´ter-sti´tial. Pertaining to, or situated in, the interstices or interspaces of a tissue.

In´ter-tri´´go. A chafe, or chafed patch of the skin; also the erythema or eczema that may result from a chafe of the skin.

In-tro´i-tus. The entrance to any cavity or space.

In-ver´sion. A turning inward, inside out, upside down, or other reversal of the normal relation of a part.

In´vo-lu´´tion. 1. A rolling or turning inward. 2. The return of the uterus to its normal size after parturition. 3. A retrograde change, the reverse of evolution.

Is-chu´ri-a par-a-dox´a. A condition in which the bladder is over-distended with urine, although the patient continues to urinate, generally in dribbles.

Jaun´dice. Yellowness of the skin, eyes, and secretions, due to the presence of bile pigments in the blood.

La´bi-a. Lip-shaped organs. The external folds of the vulva, labia majora, and the internal folds of the vulva, labia minora.

Lac´e-ra´´tion. 1. The act of tearing. 2. A wound made by tearing.

Lac-ta´tion. 1. The secretion of milk. 2. The period of the secretion of milk. 3. Suckling.

Lan-u´go. The fine hair on the body of the fetus.

Lav-age´. The irrigation or washing out of an organ, such as the stomach or bowel.

Le´sion. Any hurt, wound or local degeneration.

Leu´cor-rhoe´´a. A whitish, viscid discharge from the vagina and uterine cavity.

Light´en-ing. The sense of lightness and easier breathing that follows the descent of the head into the pelvis during the last three weeks of pregnancy. It is most likely to occur in primiparas.

Lo´chi-a. The vaginal discharge that takes place during the first week or two after childbirth.

Lymph. A transparent slightly yellow liquid of alkaline reaction which fills the lymphatic vessels.

Mal-aise´. An uneasiness or indisposition, discomfort or distress.

Mal´po-si´´tion. Abnormal or anomalous position.

Mam´ma. The mammary gland; the breast.

Mam´ma-ry. Pertaining to the Mamma.

Ma-ras´mus. Progressive wasting and emaciation, especially such a wasting in young children when there is no obvious or ascertainable cause.

Mas-sage´. The systematic, therapeutic friction, stroking and kneading of the body.

Mas-ti´tis. Inflammation of the breast.

Me-a´tus. A passage or opening, as the meatus urinarius.

Me-lÆ´na ne-o-na-to´rum. The passage of dark pitchy stools containing blood pigments and blood that has been extravasated into the alimentary canal of the newborn babe.

Mem´brane. A thin layer of tissue which covers a surface or divides a space or organ.

Men´o-pause. The period when menstruation normally ceases; the change of life.

Mis-car´riage. Abortion; premature expulsion of the foetus; birth of the foetus before the twenty-eighth week.

Milk leg (Phlegmasia Alba Dolens). A condition developing in one, and rarely, in both, legs, after delivery. It is due to occlusion of the veins of the pelvis and leg by thrombosis or to septic inflammation of the pelvic connective tissue.

Mole. 1. A fleshy mass or tumor formed in the uterus by the degeneration or abortive development of an ovum. 2. A nevus; also a brownish spot on the skin.

Mons ven´er-is. A rounded prominence at the symphysis pubis of a woman.

Mor-bid´i-ty. The condition of being diseased or morbid.

Mor´cel-la´´tion. Division and piecemeal removal.

Mu´cus. The viscid watery secretion of the mucous glands.

Mul-tip´ar-a. A woman who has borne more than one child.

Mum´mi-fi-ca´´tion. Dry gangrene; also the drying up and shrivelling of the foetus.

Myd´ri-at´´ic. A drug that dilates the pupil.

Nau´se-a. Tendency to vomit; sickness at the stomach.

Ne-cro´sis. Death of a tissue, especially of a bone.

Ne-phri´tis. Inflammation of the kidney.

Neu-rot´ic. 1. Pertaining to or affected with a neurosis. 2. Pertaining to the nerves.

Neu´tra-lize. To render neutral or ineffective.

Ni´tro-gen. A colorless gaseous element found free in air.

Nod´u-lar. 1. Like a nodule or node. 2. Marked with nodules.

Nu´cle-us. 1. a spheroid body within a cell, forming the essential and vital part. 2. A mass of gray matter in the central nervous system. 3. In chemistry, the central element in the molecule of a compound.

Nu´tri-ent. Nourishing; affording nutriment.

Nym´phÆ. The labia minora.

Ob-stet´rics. The art of managing childbirth cases; that branch of surgery which deals with the management of pregnancy and labor.

Ob-ste-tri´cian. One who practices obstetrics.

Oc´ci-put. The back part of the head.

Ol´i-go-hy-dram´´ni-os. Scantiness of the liquor amnii.

Ol´i-gop-noe´´a. A delay following the birth of a child before the first respiration is established.

Oph-thal´mi-a. Severe inflammation of the eye or of the conjunctiva.

Or´gan. Any part of the body having a special function.

Os. (L., a mouth.) The orifice in the uterus or vagina.

Os-mo´sis. The passage of a fluid through a membrane.

O´va. Latin plural of ovum, egg.

O´vu-la´´tion. The formation and discharge of an unimpregnated ovum from the ovary.

O´vule. 1. The ovum within the Graafian vesicle. 2. Any small egg-like structure.

O´vum. 1. An egg. 2. The female reproductive cell which, after fertilization, develops into a new member of the same species.

Ox´y-di´´zer. Anything that combines with oxygen.

Pal-pa´tion. The act of feeling with the hand; the application of the fingers with light pressure to the surface of the body for the purpose of determining the consistence of the parts beneath in physical diagnosis.

Par-al´y-sis, Erb’s. 1. Same as birth-palsy. 2. Partial paralysis of the brachial plexus affecting various muscles of the arm and chest-walls. It is revealed by an inability to lift the arm toward the head.

Par-al´y-sis facial (Bell’s). Paralysis of the face, due to lesion of the facial nerve or of its nucleus.

Par´a-me-tri´´tis. Inflammation of the parametrium, or cellular tissue about the uterus.

Par´a-phi-mo´´sis. Retraction of a narrow or inflamed foreskin which can not be replaced.

Pa-ren´chy-ma. The essential or functional elements of an organ as distinguished from its stroma or framework.

Pa-ri´e-tal. Of, or pertaining to, the walls of a cavity.

Par´o-nych´´i-a. Infection and suppuration about the junction of nails and skin.

Par´ox-ysm. A sudden recurrence or sudden intensification of symptoms.

Path-o-log´ic. Pertaining to pathology.

Pa-thol´o-gy. That branch of medicine which treats of the essential nature of disease, especially of the structural and functional changes caused by disease.

Pel-vim´e-ter. An instrument for measuring the various diameters of the pelvis.

Pel-vim´e-try. The act of determining the dimensions of the pelvis by means of a pelvimeter.

Per´i-ne-or´´rha-phy. Suturation of the perineum, performed for the repair of a laceration.

Per´i-ne´´um. The space or area between the anus and the genital opening.

Pe-riph´e-ry. The outward part or surface.

Per´i-to-ne´´um. The serous membrane which lines the abdominal walls.

Per´i-to-ni´´tis. Inflammation of the peritoneum.

Per´i-stal´´sis. A worm-like movement by which the alimentary canal propels its contents.

Per-ni´cious. Tending to a fatal issue.

Phe-nom´e-non. Any remarkable appearance; any sign or objective symptom.

Phys´i-o-log´´ic. Pertaining to physiology.

Phys´i-ol´´o-gy. The science which treats of the functions of the living organism and its parts.

Phi-mo´sis. Tightness of the foreskin such that it can not be drawn back over the glans.

Phle-bi´tis. Inflammation of a vein.

Pig´men-ta´´tion. The deposition of coloring matter.

Pla-cen´ta prÆ´vi-a. A placenta which intervenes between the intrauterine cavity and the inner orifice of the cervical canal.

Pla-cen´ta suc´cen-tur´i-a´´ta. An accessory or subsidiary placenta.

Pled´get. A small compress or tuft as of wool or lint.

Pleth´o-ra. A condition marked by vascular turgescence, excess of blood and fullness of pulse.

Po-dal´ic. Pertaining to, or accomplished by means of, the feet.

Pol´y-hy-dram´´ni-os. Excess in the amount of the liquor amnii in pregnancy.

Po-si´tion. 1. The attitude or posture of a patient. 2. The relation of the presenting part of the foetus to the quadrants of the maternal pelvis.

Pos-te´ri-or. Situated behind or toward the rear.

Post par´tum. After delivery.

Pre´ma-ture. 1. Occurring before the proper time. 2. An infant born before its proper term, but viable.

Pre´ma-tu´´ri-ty. The condition of a child that has been delivered before term, and before maturity or ripening has taken place.

Pre-mon´i-tory. Serving as a warning.

Pre´puce. The fold of skin covering the glans penis; the foreskin.

Pres´en-ta´´tion. 1. The appearance in labor of some particular part of the foetal body at the os uteri. 2. That part of the foetal body which first shows itself at the os in labor.

Pri-mip´a-ra. A woman who has given birth, or who is giving birth, to her first child.

Prod´ro-mal. Premonitory. Indicating the approach of an event, phenomenon, or disease.

Prog-no´sis. A forecast as to the probable result of an attack of disease; the prospect as to recovery from a disease afforded by the nature and symptoms of the case.

Pro-jec´tion-al vom´i-ting. Sudden violent emesis.

Pro-lapse´. The falling down, or sinking, of a part or viscus.

Pro-lep´sis. The anticipation and nullification of complications before they arise.

Prom´´on-to´ry. A projecting eminence or process.

Pro´phy-lax´´is. The prevention of disease.

Pro´te-in. Any one of a group of nitrogenized, noncrystallizable compounds similar to each other, widely distributed in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and forming the characteristic constituents of the tissues and fluids of the animal body. They are formed by plants, the animal organism receiving them as food and transforming and assimilating them. They all contain carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur. Some of the most important are albumin, casein, legumin, fibrin, myosin and glutin.

Psy´chic. Pertaining to the mind.

Pu´bes. That part of the lower central hypogastric region which, in the adult, is covered with hair. The pubic region.

Pu´bic. Pertaining to the pubes, or os pubis.

Pu´ber-ty. The age at which the reproductive organs become functionally operative.

Pu´bi-ot´´o-my. (He-bos´te-ot´´omy.) The operation of cutting through the pubic bone, lateral to the median line.

Pu-er´pe-ral. Pertaining to childbirth.

Pu´er-pe´´ri-um. The period or state of confinement. The puerperium is the time succeeding labor which is necessary for the restoration of the genitals to their condition previous to pregnancy, or as near it as possible. It varies from 6 weeks to several months.

Pu´ru-lent. Consisting of or containing pus.

Py-Æ´mia. Blood-poison of microbic origin.

Py´e-li´´tis. Inflammation of the pelvis or the kidney.

Py´or-rhoe´´a. A discharge of pus, especially from infection around the roots of the teeth.

Py-ro´sis. Heartburn. Acidity of the stomach. Eructations of acid.

Re´flex-es. Reflected actions or movements. Impulses received and transmitted by the nervous system without conscious volition. Involuntary responses to irritation. Automatic movements.

Re-frig´e-rant. Relieving fever and thirst. A cooling remedy. Acidulous drinks and evaporating lotions are refrigerant.

Re-gur´gi-ta´´tion. 1. The casting up of undigested food. 2. A backward flowing of the blood through the left auriculo-ventricular opening, on account of imperfect closure of the mitral valve.

Re´lax-a´´tion. 1. A lessening of tension. 2. A mitigation of pain.

Re´nal. Pertaining to the kidney.

Res´ti-tu´´tion. 1. An act or process of restoration. 2. The rotation of the presenting part of the foetus outside of the vagina.

Re´tro-gres´´sive. Going or moving backward. Passing from a better to a worse condition.

Re´tro-ver´´sion. The tipping of an entire organ backward.

Rick´ets. (Ra-chi´tis.) A constitutional disease of childhood in which the bones become soft and flexible from retarded ossification, due to deficiency of the earthy salts.

Ro-ta´tion. The process of turning around an axis.

Rough´en-ing. Any rough, coarse food that gives bulk to the intestinal contents without much nutrition.

Ru´be-fa´´ci-ent. An agent that reddens the skin.

Ru´gÆ. Wrinkles or folds.

Rup´ture. 1. Forcible tearing or breaking of a part. 2. Hernia.

Sa´crum. The triangular bone situated at the end of the spine. It is formed of five vertebrÆ, amalgamated and wedged in between the two innominate bones.

Sag´it-tal. Shaped like, or resembling, an arrow.

Sal´i-va´´tion. An excessive discharge of saliva.

Sal´pin-gi´´tis. Inflammation of an oviduct or of the eustachian tube.

Sal´´var-san´. A compound invented by Ehrlich for the treatment of diseases caused by the SpirillÆ, such as syphilis and recurrent fever. It is popularly called 606.

Sa-prÆ´mi-a. Poisoning of the blood by the absorption of toxins from localized infections as from the uterus.

Scap´u-la. The shoulder blade.

Scro´tum. The pouch which contains the testicles and their accessory organs.

Se-ba´ceous. 1. Pertaining to sebum or suet. 2. Secreting a greasy lubricating substance.

Se-cre´tion. 1. The process or function of separating various substances from the blood. 2. Any secreted substance.

Sec´un-dines. All that remains in the uterus after the birth of the child is called secundines—placenta, membrane and cord.

Se´men. 1. A seed or seed-like fruit. 2. The thick whitish liquid fecundating secretion produced in coition.

Shock. Sudden vital depression, due to an injury or emotion which makes a sinister impression upon the nervous system.

Show. The appearance of blood that foreruns a labor or menstruation.

Sin´a-pism. A plaster or paste of ground mustard-seed; a mustard plaster.

Sin´ci-put. The portion of the head lying in front of the anterior or large fontanelle.

Si´nus. 1. A recess, cavity or hollow space. 2. A dilated channel for venous blood, found chiefly within the cranium and uterus during gestation. 3. An air-cavity, in one of the cranial bones, especially one communicating with the nose, such are the ethmoidal frontal maxillary and sphenoidal sinuses. 4. A suppurating channel or fistula.

Smeg´ma. A thick, cheesy, ill-smelling secretion found under the prepuce and around the labia minora.

So-lu´tion. 1. The process of dissolving. 2. A liquid containing dissolved matter.

Sor´des. The dark brown matter which collects on the lips and teeth in low fevers.

Spas´mo-phil´´ic di-ath´e-sis. Is a condition characterized by an increased elective irritability and a tendency to spasm, like contractions of one or more groups of muscles. (Grulee).

Spe-cif´ic. 1. Pertaining to a species. 2. Produced by a single kind of microorganism. 3. A remedy specially indicated for any particular disease.

Sper´ma-to-zo´´on. The motile generative element of the semen which serves to impregnate the ovum.

Spi´na bif´i-da. Congenital cleft of the vertebral column with meningeal protrusion.

Spi´ro-chÆ´´te. A genus or form of flexile spirobacteria.

Sta´sis. A stoppage of the flow of fluid in any organ or any part of the body.

Ste-no´sis. Narrowing or stricture of a duct or canal.

Ster´ile. Nonfertile.

Ster´il-i-za´´tion. The act or process of rendering sterile.

Still-birth. The birth of a dead foetus.

Stim´u-lant. 1. Producing stimulation. 2. An agent or remedy that produces stimulation.

Strep´to-coc´´cus. A genus or form of bacterial organism, which grows in consecutive links, like a chain.

Stri´a, pl. striÆ. Streaks or lines.

Stro´ma. The tissue which forms the ground substance, framework, or matrix of an organ.

Styp´tic. Astringent, an agent for arresting hÆmorrhage.

Sub´in-vo-lu´´tion. Incomplete involution; failure of a part to return to its normal size and condition after enlargement from functional activity.

Sup-pos´i-to-ry. An easily fusible medicated mass to be introduced into the vagina, rectum, or urethra.

Su´ture. 1. Surgical stitch or seam. 2. The line of junction of adjacent cranial or facial bones.

Sym´phys-e-ot´´o-my. The division of the fibrocartilage of the symphysis pubis in order to facilitate delivery by increasing the anteroposterior diameter of the pelvis.

Sym´phy-sis. The line of junction and fusion between bones originally distinct. The symphysis pubis.

Syn´chro-nous. Occurring at the same time.

Syph´i-lis. A contagious venereal disease leading to many structural and cutaneous lesions, due to a microorganism called the spirochÆta pallida.

Tam´pon. A plug made of cotton, sponge, or oakum.

Te-nac´u-lum. A hook-like instrument for seizing and holding tissues.

Te-nes´mus. Straining, especially ineffectual and painful straining.

Throm´bus. A plug or clot in a vessel remaining at the point of its formation.

Tinc´ture. The solution of medicinal substances in fluids other than water or glycerine. There is usually about one part of the drug to eight of alcohol.

Tis´sue. An aggregation of cells, fibers and various cell-products forming a structural element.

Tox-Æ´mi-a. Blood poisoning.

Tox´in. Any poisonous albumin produced by bacterial action.

Trau´ma. A blow, wound, or other violent injury.

Trau´ma-tism. A condition of the system due to injury.

Tu´mor. 1. Swelling; morbid enlargement. 2. A neoplasm. A mass of new tissue which persists and grows independently of its surrounding structures, and which has no physiologic use.

Tym´pa-ni´´tis. Distention of the abdomen from gas.

Um-bil´i-cal. Pertaining to the umbilicus.

Um-bi-li´cus. The navel.

U´ra-chus. A cord that extends from the apex of the bladder to the navel. It represents the remains of the canal in the foetus which joins the bladder with the allantois.

U-re´a. A white crystallizable substance from the urine, blood and lymph.

U-re´ter. The fibro-muscular tube which conveys the urine from the kidney to the bladder.

U-rÆ´mi-a. The presence of urinary constituents in the blood and the toxic condition produced thereby.

U-re´thra. A membranous canal conveying urine from the bladder to the surface and in the male conveying the seminal ejaculations.

U´rin-al´´y-sis. The chemical analysis of urine.

U´ter-us. The hollow muscular organ which provides lodgement for the foetus from conception to birth. The womb.

U´ter-us bi-cor´nis. A womb wherein the two sides have been incompletely joined during development, and two horns, or protrusions, appear on the fundus.

U´ter-us di-del´phys. A womb in which there has been separate development and incomplete fusion of the two sides.

U´ter-us du´plex. A double uterus.

U´ter-us sep´tate. A uterus that is divided by a partition or septum.

Var´i-cose veins. Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a varix. The permanent dilatation of a vein.

Ven´e-sec´´tion. The opening of a vein for the purpose of letting blood.

Ven´tral stalk. An embryonic process which is the rudimental precursor of the umbilical cord. It is known as the ventral stalk because somewhat later in the course of development it becomes attached to the ventral (abdominal) surface of the embryo.

Ver´nix cas´e-o´´sa. A fatty substance that covers the skin of the foetus.

Ver´sion. The act of turning, especially the manual turning of the foetus in delivery. External v., that which is performed by outside manipulation. Internal v., version performed by the hand introduced into the uterus. Braxton Hicks’ Version, a version done with the whole hand in the vagina and two fingers entering the uterus through the partially dilated os.

Ves´i-cal. Pertaining to the bladder.

Vi´a-bil´´i-ty. Able to live after birth.

Vil´li. 1. The finger-like projections that develop on the outside of the egg and connect it vascularly and otherwise with the uterus; a vascular chorionic tuft. 2. A minute club-shaped projection from the mucous membrane of the intestine.

Vul-sel´lum. A forceps with teeth on the ends of the jaws.

Walch´er’s position. The patient on the back with the hips at the edge of the table and the legs hanging down.

Whar´ton’s jelly. The soft pulpy connective tissue that constitutes the largest part of the umbilical cord.

Womb. Same as uterus.