burgh, and Dublin,† pharmacopoeias are now printed in the vernacular language. There is an obvious advantage to the natives of a country in having a pharmacopoeia in their mother tongue; but, for the use of foreigners, the Latin language would be more convenient. Hence in some countries, as Greece, the Pharmacopoeia is published in both Latin and the vernacular language. In the Pharmacopoeia of the United States of America for 1831, this plan was adopted; but in the last edition of this work, published in 1842, the English language was exclusively employed. CHAP. V.-TERMS AND PHRASES EMPLOYED IN PRE SCRIPTIONS. SECT. I. De sanguinis missi- Of General Blood Letone generali.2 ting. *The Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, 1841. 12mo. The Pharmacopoeia of the King and Queen's College of Physicians in Ireland, M.D.CCC.L. On the Chronology and Literature of Blood-letting, consult Versuch einer Chronologie und Literatur nebst einem System der Blutentziehungen. Aus den vorzüglichsten Werken geschopft von Dr. Carl Fried. Nopitsch. Nurnberg, 1833. The propriety of this and all similar words as applied to blood-letting, notwithstanding the opinion of Dr. Gregory, that "Sanguinis missio non inepte vocatur generalis," when it is intended that its effects should be general, I must consider to be very questionable. They seem to signify that a man is to be pricked all over. for the purpose of drawing blood from him, rather than any thing relative to the effects of bleeding.-Hora Subseciva. CELS. 2 Cruor* 1 Blood (in the vessels.) 1 Sanguis, 2 Gore (blood from a wound or ulcer.)— 3 Grume (a clot, as of blood.) Sanguinis missio, detractio, Blood-letting. CELS.† Sanguinem mittere, 2 detra- To let blood (1 to let or 1 Phlebotomia, phlebotomice, 1 Phlebotomy. AUREL.-2Venæsectio; venæ nesection. 2 Ve incisio. Occasionally the word cruor is met with in prescriptions instead of sanguis. These two terms agree in denoting blood, but differ in respect to the state in which that fluid is. The first refers to it as circulating through the veins, and ministering to the existence of animal life. It is applied also to that which is allowed to flow by a surgical operation. Cruor differs from sanguis in never denoting blood confined and circulating in the veins, but such as is shed, and no longer subservient to the support of animal life;-in other words, gore. The same fluid which, in coming from the vein, is called sanguis (blood,) is afterwards denominated cruor (gore.) Thus Celsus applies the word cruor to the blood discharged from the bowels in dysentery, from the kidneys in injuries of these glands, from ulcers in the ears, &c. + De re medica, lib. ii. cap. 10. Η Φλεβοτομία from Φλεβός, the genitive case of Φλέψ, a vein, and réμvw, I cut. The student will observe that Celsus never employs the term phlebotomia, nor any of its derivatives. Cicero 1 Phlebotomiam adhibere; 1To use phlebotomy, 2 Phlebotomare, AUREL. 1Venam incidere, CELS.; 2 pertundere, Juv. ;-3 ferire, VIRG.;-Secare. 4 Venam cultello solvere, Cic.-5 Venas sanguine exonerare. 1 Sanguinem incisa arteria, mittere, CELS.-2 Arteriotomia.*3 Fiat sectio arteriæ temporalis. 2 to phlebotomize. To cut into a vein;— 2 to perforate a vein; -3 to wound or cut a vein, to open a vein by a knife. To unload the veins of blood. 1To let blood by an incised artery.-2 Arteriotomy. Let the section of the temporal artery be made. 1 Sanguinem mittere ex bra- 1To take blood from the chia, juxta talum, ex utroque crure, CELS.† arm 2 from both legs near the ankle. has "incidere venam, quod medici phlebotomare dicunt."Phlebotomy was first practised by Podalirius, B. C. 1184. (Le Clerc, Hist de la Méd. liv. i. ch. 18.) The operation is said to have been learned from the Hippopotamus. "For he finding himself overgrosse and fat, by reason of his high feeding so continually, getteth forth of the water to the shore, having espied afore where the reeds and rushes have been newly cut: and where he seeth the sharpest cane and best pointed, hee setteth his body hard to it, for to prick a certaine veine in one of his legges, and thus by letting himselfe bloud, maketh evacuation, whereby his bodie, otherwise enclining to diseases and maladies, is well eased of the superfluous humour: and when he hath this done, he stoppeth the orifice again with mud, and so stancheth the blood, and healeth up the wound." (Pliny, The Historie of the World. Translated by P. Holland, M. D. Book viii. ch. 26.) *From dornpía, an artery, and repvw, I cut. The ancients did not understand the use of the arteries and veins. Cicero says,"Sanguis per venas in omne corpus diffunditur, et spiritus per arterias." Aretæus, who lived in the first century after Christ, is the earliest surgeon known to have practised this operation. Celsus (lib. ii. cap. 10) speaks of "arteria incisa" as an accident which may attend the operation of phlebotomy. Phlebotomy is practised in various parts of the body; as,ist. In the arm: this is the part usually selected for the opera the patient's strength allows it; 2 if the strength suffers it.-3 The permitting. strength Defectio animi, CELS.; Lei- A fainting fit or swoon. Usque ad animi defectum, Until fainting. tion of phlebotomy. At the bend of the arm there are four veins; the Vena basilica, V. cephalica, V. basilica mediana, and V. cepha lica mediana, any one of which may be opened; one of the two latter, however, is commonly selected. In the fore-arm, where the operation is occasionally performed, there are three veins; the V. mediana major, the V. cubitalis interna, and the V. radialis externa, any one of which may be opened. 2dly. In the hand: occasionally, in fat subjects, this part is chosen. The operation may be performed in the V. salvatella (salvatella quasi salvator being opened as a sovereign remedy in Melancholia,) running from the little finger, or in the V. cephalica pollicis. 3rdly. In the foot: in France, the operation is very frequently performed in this part; it may be done in the V. saphena or (sæphena) externa (or s. minor,) or in the V. saphena interna (or s. major.) 4thly. In the neck: it may be done in the V. jugularis externa. 5thly. In the penis: it may be done in the V. dorsalis penis. And 6thly. In the tongue: in the V. ranina. This locality is now rarely selected. * Leipothymia (▲ɛɩπo@vμía, from λɛírw, deficio, I leave; and Ovuós, animus, the mind) is considered by Cælius Aurelianus (Acut. Morb. lib. i. cap. 10) to be synonymous with defectio animi. Syncope is a more violent and dangerous form of this affection (vide Castelli. Lexicon Medicum.) "The leipothymia of Sauvages," says Dr. M. Good, "is only syncope in its first attack or mildest degree." f Syncope (συγκοπή; from συγκόπτω, concido, to fell or cut down) is of the feminine gender, and is thus declined: N. Syncope, G. Syncopes, D. Syncope, Acc. Syncopen, V. Syncope, Abl. Syncope. Semperque ante finis faciendus An end is always est, quam anima deficit, CELS. 1Collocare in lecto,-2ut dormiat,-3 supinus,* CELS. ;-erectus.t Bene largo canali, CELS. nere. put to it before t ing occurs. 1To put to bed,the patient may sleep,-supine laid on the bac! 4 erect. 'In a full stres 2 From a large w [i. e. incision or fice] Scalpellus, CELS. Phleboto- A scalpel or lance mum vel phlebotomon,¶ AuREL.-Lanceola; lancetta. instrument to blood with. 1 Fascia;-2 fascia lintea, CELS. 1A fillet, roller or *Patients are bled, while in the recumbent posture, to syncope. The practice of bleeding them to fainting in th ture, as recommended by Mr. Wardrop, is highly dangerou † Dr. Marshall Hall (Introd. Lect. to a Course of Lectures Practice of Physic, p. 36) employs blood-letting as a 801 diagnosis. He places the patient upright and looking up and bleeds to incipient syncope: "in inflammation, much flows; in irritation, very little." This phrase is applied by Celsus (lib. i. cap. 4) to a str water. Rivus is usually translated "a river;" but it means li "a stream,"-e. g. "sanguinis rivus," "a stream of blood." (Hist. Nat. lib. xi. cap. 88, ed. Valp.) calls the veins "san rivi." Virgil (En. lib. ix. v. 455) has "plenos spumanti sa rivos." Celsus (lib. ii. cap. 10) employs the word scalpellus to nate the instrument used in phlebotomizing: "At si timia pellus demittitur, summam cutem lacerat, neque venam in -Scultetus (Armamentarium Chirurgicum, p. 49, Lug 1693) describes the lancet thus: "Scalpellus rectus est et e que incidens lanceola dictus." Η Phlebotomum (φλεβοτόμον, the neuter singular of φλεβο adj. venam incidens, that opens a vein) includes both the used in veterinary surgery, and the lancet. |