ASTHMA, in Medicine, a Disease of the Lungs, accompanied with a Shortness, and Difficulty of Respiration. See RESPIRATION and LUNGS.
Or, Asthma is a Difficulty of Breathing, arising from a Disorder of the Lungs; and usually attended with violent Motions of the Diaphragm, Abdominal and Intercostal Muscles, as also a rattling in the Throat.
The Word is Greek, ἄσθμα; formed of the Verb ἀέω, Spiro; I breathe.
If Respiration be only thick and quick, without the other Symptoms, it is called a Dyspnoea—If it be so intense as to occasion a violent Motion of the Muscles of the Thorax; so that the Patient cannot be tolerably easy, except in an erect Posture, it is called an Orthopnæa. See DYSPNOEA and ORTHOPNOEA.
Asthma is usually divided into Moist and Dry, or Manifest and Occult, or Pneumonic and Convulsive: The first attended with an Expectoration of purulent Matter; the latter without. The true Asthma is occasioned by an abundance of Serosities, or of gross viscous or purulent Humours, collected in the Cavities of the Lungs, which stop up or straighten the Passages of the Air, and compress the Bronchia. See BRONCHIA.
Or, Asthma is a Difficulty of Breathing, arising from a Disorder of the Lungs; and usually attended with violent Motions of the Diaphragm, Abdominal and Intercostal Muscles, as also a rattling in the Throat.
The Word is Greek, ἄσθμα; formed of the Verb ἀέω, Spiro; I breathe.
If Respiration be only thick and quick, without the other Symptoms, it is called a Dyspnoea—If it be so intense as to occasion a violent Motion of the Muscles of the Thorax; so that the Patient cannot be tolerably easy, except in an erect Posture, it is called an Orthopnæa. See DYSPNOEA and ORTHOPNOEA.
Asthma is usually divided into Moist and Dry, or Manifest and Occult, or Pneumonic and Convulsive: The first attended with an Expectoration of purulent Matter; the latter without. The true Asthma is occasioned by an abundance of Serosities, or of gross viscous or purulent Humours, collected in the Cavities of the Lungs, which stop up or straighten the Passages of the Air, and compress the Bronchia. See BRONCHIA.
ASTRINGENTS, ASTRINGENTIA, in Medicine, binding Remedies; or such as have the Power of contracting the Parts, and diminishing the Pores thereof. See MEDICINE.
Astringents act either by the Asperity of their Particles, whereby they corrugate the Membranes, and make them draw up closer; or by thickening the Fluids, whereby they cannot run off so fast as before. Astringents therefore stand opposed to Laxatives. See PURGATIVE, etc.
Astringents act either by the Asperity of their Particles, whereby they corrugate the Membranes, and make them draw up closer; or by thickening the Fluids, whereby they cannot run off so fast as before. Astringents therefore stand opposed to Laxatives. See PURGATIVE, etc.
ATONY, ἀτονία, in medicine, etc. a want of tone or tension; or a relaxation of the solids of a human body; occasioning a loss of strength, faintings, etc. See TONE, SOLID, FIBRE, RELAXATION, etc.
The word is compounded of the privative α, and τόνος, I stretch.
The word is compounded of the privative α, and τόνος, I stretch.
