Eczema : A disease due to the inflammation of the
skin. It is of two types, dry or wet. In the second type,
water oozes out of the skin.
E.E.G. : Electroencephalogram (Electrical writings of
the brain). It helps in the diagnosis of major upsets of
brain functions. It also helps to locate tumours of the
brain.
Endemic : A disease which prevails in a particular
area on account of the surrounding conditions, such as
Malaria and Leprosy.
Enteric : Typhoid fever.
Enzymes : Organic catalysts which accelerate chemical
processes occurring in living organisms. For example,
fermentation of sugars into alcohol requires the presence
of enzymes. Ptyalin in saliva is another example.
Epidemic : A disease which often attacks the people
of a locality, and spreads quickly to other parts also.
Epilepsy : A disease in which the patient falls down
unconscious with spasm and froth in the mouth.
Filaric : A disease transmitted by a male mosquito (culex);
it is accompanied by high fever, it occurs particularly in Assam and
West Bengal.
Flu (Influenza) : A highly contagious disease which is
preceded by
headache, body pain, throat, cough, and a general feeling of
fatigue; it
results in watery nose, bad throat and hoarse voice. One
should avoid
crowds. It is a disease caused by viruses, and a remedy for
it ,has not been developed so far.
Genes : The ultimate biological units of, heredity, the
part
of or place
(locus) on the chromosome that datelines physical
inheritance and constitution.
Gonorrhea : A venereal. disease.
Gout : A metabolic disease marked by painful inflammation of the joints,
deposits of urate of sodium in and around the joints, and an
excess of uric
acid in the blood.
Gynaecology : The study of the diseases of women.
Haemorrhage : Bleeding due to injury. But it may be due to an
internal ulcer or by bursting of any vein due to high blood
pressure.
Hay Fever : It is one of the allergic diseases and is caused
by abnormal
sensitivity to certain grass pollens found in early summer.
Heliotherapy : The treatment of disease by the sun's rays.
Hemiplegia : Paralysis of one side of the body.
Homeopathy : A system of medicine discovered by Hahnemann,
a German physician.
Hormone : This is a chemical substance produced by an
endocrine or
ductless gland. The substance causes a physical reaction in
another organ
to which it is carried by the bloodstream. Insulin secreted
by the pancreas
is a good example. Other examples are thyroxin, adrenaline
(adrenal glands)
and pituitary secretions.
Hydrophobia : A disease caused by the bite of a mad dog or
mad jackal.
The symptoms sometimes do not appear for six months after
the bite; but
generally the incubation period is 20-60 days. It is
normally fatal once the
symptoms appear unless a course of treatment discovered by
Pasteur has been administered.
Hypermetropia : (Long sightedness). One can seethe object at
greater distances but not nearer ones; it can be remedied by
convex lenses.
Immunity : Power of the living organism to resist and
overcome diseases.
Insomnia : A disease of sleeplessness, due to (i) physical,
or (ii) mental
exertion.
Insulin : The internal secretion of the pancreas which converts
blood into
energy. Lack of it causes diabetes.
Jaundice : Yellow coloration of the skin and other tissues
of, the body by
excess of the bile pigment present in the blood and the lymph.
Kala-azar : Also known as Mediterranean fever. It mostly
occurs in
tropical countries and its symptoms are the growth and
swelling of spleen
and liver, etc. Its cure was found by U.N. Brahmachari.
Leprosy : Endemic disease caused by germ similar to that of
tuberculosis; it affects the skin and the nerves; deformities
arise in the body.
Leukaemia : There is a great increase in the number of white
cells in the
system, red blood corpuscles break down causing anaemia,
there is swelling
of the spleen also. Death occurs within a few days.
L.S.D. : Lysergic acid diethylamide; a drug which produces
many
symptoms of schizophrenia; it causes strange sensation :
first discovered
accidentally by Albert Hoffman, a Swiss chemist. The Hippies
are addicted
to the drug.
Malaria : It is caused by the bite of a female mosquito,
i.e., Anopheles.
Use Quinine, Paludrine or Ate brine frequently during the season
is advised.
Measles : An acute infectious human disease with red rash.
Meningitis : An infection of the membranes of the brain.
Metabolism : This is a term applied to the breaking up and
building of
the cells in the human body. The former is called catabolism
and the latter
anabolism. Its rate depends upon the activity of thyroid
gland.
Migraine : An allergic disease, which is accompanied by
periodic attacks
of headache, etc. It is an incurable disease.
Parasite : Animal or plant living in or on another.
Pathology : The study of diseases for their own sake, rather
than from
any intention of curing it.
Penicillin : A new antibiotic drug obtained from moulds which
has
revolutionised the whole medical treatment. It kills pus
germs, and is a
specific cure for pneumonia and venereal diseases.
Photosynthesis : The phenomenon by which the plants
assimilate their
food from the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight. It is
also called carbon
assimilation.
Piles : There are various veins in the rectum or around the
anus. The
immediate cause of the disease is pressure on the veins,
which prevents the
free flow of blood. It is mainly due to constipation and
pregnancy. if it grows
patient suffers from pain after the bowels have been
emptied.
Plasma : The colourless fluid part of blood; it has now
become possible
to store it, to be used in cases of emergency.
Plastic Surgery : Science of restoring or altering tissues
by grafting.
Pneumonia : An inflammatory condition of the lung tissue
accompanied
by pain in the chest.
Rickets : A disease caused due to the deficiency of vitamin
D, common
in children. The bones get softened, bent and become
deformed.
Ringworm : It is an infectious disease and is caused by a
fungus. Hair
whiter and bluish patches are formed and it is accompanied
by severe
itching.
Serum : It is a fluid, which is separated when blood clots.
Scurvy : A bleeding disorder caused by the lack of vitamin C
and can be
best cured by lime juice which is rich in vitamin C.
Smallpox : An acute infectious disease characterised by
fever, severe headache, pain in the joints and rash. Best
safeguard is vaccination invented by Edward Jenner. The disease has been completely
eliminated.
Tetanus : It is a disease caused by Tetanus bacillus found in
rich soil or
the dung of a horse. The disease affects the nervous system
and it can prove
fatal. However, now it is possible to get immunity by
anti-tetanus injection.
