Browse the list of body parts, conditions, symptoms and treatments, click on a letter or category to narrow your search, and click on a name to see the related case notes.
Tap a letter or category to narrow your search, browse the list of body parts, conditions, symptoms and treatments, and tap on a name to see the related case notes.
All Categories P
-
Name: Category: Description: Palpebrae Body Part Eyelids. Palpitatio cordis Symptom Palpitation of the heart. Palpitations Symptom Tachycardia, quick heartbeat, fluttering heartbeat. Palsy Condition See entry for paralysis. Pancreas Body Part An organ of the digestive system, located in the abdomen behind the stomach. Paracusis Condition A condition causing difficulty in hearing. Paralysis Condition This includes palsy, hemiplegia and immobility, as well as states of partial paralysis with specific body-part mentioned. Paraphonia rauca Symptom A weak or damaged voice. The Edinburgh physician William Cullen divided the category into six sub-categories based on their cause. Paraphonia rauca was defined as cases where from dryness or tumour the fauces or the voice became hoarse and rough. Paraphonia Symptom Change in the voice or difficulty speaking due to disease or damage to the mouth or larynx. Had various suggested causes, including catarrh, a fright or lues venerea. See also entry for aphonia. Paraplegia Condition The inability to voluntarily move the lower parts of the body. Paraplexia Condition Alternative term for paraplegia. See entry for paraplegia. Paregoric elixir Treatment Medicine composed of camphorated tincture of opium (tincture of opium containing camphor, benzoic acid, anise oil). Used as an analgesic and antispasmodic. Parotid Body Part The parotid gland (salivary gland). Paroxysm Symptom A sudden attack, outburst or accession. Includes exacerbation (usually of a fever). Pectoral Symptom Complaints of the chest, including coughing and difficulty breathing. Pectoralgia Symptom Pain in the chest. Pencil Treatment A form of applying electrical current, see entry for electricity. Penny Royal Treatment Derived from the flowering plant Mentha pulegium. It was used for a range of medicinal purposes, but particularly to produce vaginal bleeding and to bring about abortion. Pentandra Treatment A term used by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his classification of plants. It is used for a wide range of species, and denotes that the plant has five stamens, or five parts. Peppermint Treatment Had a range of medicinal uses, including as a remedy for nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, respiratory infections and menstrual disorders. Periosteum Body Part Membrane covering bones. Peripneumonia Symptom Historical term for inflammation of the lung. See entry for pneumonia. Pertussis Condition Also known as whooping cough, hooping cough or chin cough. Peruvian bark Treatment See entry for cinchona. Petechiae sine febre Symptom Consists of minute effusions of dark blood under the skin. Petechiae Symptom Small red or purple spots on the skin caused by broken capillaries, a symptom of typhus. Phagedaena Symptom An equivocal term: sometimes it is taken in a latitudinous sense for every ulcer which eats away the sound parts which are contiguous, and is called depascens ulcus or sometimes more limitedly; for a deep tumid ulcer which destroys flesh underneath as well as the neighbouring parts. Sometimes it is described as only destroying the skin and at others it signifies a particular species of ulcer called herpes phagedaena. Pharynx Body Part A section of the throat; the space lined with muscles between the oesophagus and the mouth. Phlegmon Symptom An inflammation of soft tissue that spreads under the skin or inside the body. Phlogistic Condition Term applied to mean both diseases which induce inflammation and fever and a medicinal treatment which acts as an anti-inflammatory. Phrenitis Condition Inflammation of the brain, attended with acute fever and delirium. Phthisis Condition A consumption caused by an absorption of pus from the lungs. A condition both chronic and inflammatory. Physconia Symptom Distention of the abdomen, usually caused by a scirrhous tumour or enlargement of an organ. Picea Treatment Medicine derived from a type of spruce tree. Various types of spruce trees were used for medicinal purposes, including Norway spruce (picea abies) and White spruce (picea glauca). Piles Condition See entry for haemorrhoids. Pilulae Treatment A small ball, globule; pellet. A pill. Pitch plaster Treatment Dressing containing pitch, a dark, sticky residue from tar or turpentine. Pix Treatment Alternative term for pitch, a substance made from tar or turpentine residue. Placebo Treatment A medicine prescribed that is expected to have little or no therapeutic effect, often to encourage the patient to continue visiting the dispensary in order that their condition can be regularly observed. As the term is used in the case notes there appears to be no implication that there will be a psychological effect on the patient. Placenta Body Part An organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. This structure provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby. Plague Condition An infectious disease. In the case notes appears to specifically relate to bubonic plague. Platenus Condition An alternative name for Taenia Solium. See entry for Taenia. Plethora Symptom Connected to humoural theory. A plethoric habit, or plethoric disposition, indicated that an individual was excessively full of blood and therefore prone to haemorrhaging. This state was believed to most commonly occur during the Spring. Pleurisy Condition A condition marked by pain in the chest or the side, especially when stabbing in nature and exacerbated by inspiration or coughing. Pleuritic Symptom A pain which is sharp and stabbing, commonly in a part of the chest. Pleuritis Condition Alternative term for pleurisy. See entry for pleurisy. Plexus Body Part A bundle of intersecting nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatic vessels in the human body. Plicae Body Part Circular folds of mucous membrane within the intestines. Plumbi acetas Treatment Acetate of lead or sugar of lead. Taken as a sedative and an astringent, often used to treat haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea and in cases of phthisis to reduce expectoration. Also used externally on skin complaints. Plumbi Treatment Sugar of lead. An alternative name for Saccharum Saturn. See entry for Saccharum Saturn. Pneumonia Condition An inflammation in the lungs, specifically in the thorax and of the membrane that lines it. Polydipsia Symptom The feeling of extreme thirstiness, often linked to urinary complaints. Polyp Symptom Abnormal tissue growth. Polypodium Fillix Mas Treatment A term used by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his classification of plants. Also known as Dryopteris filix-mas or the male fern. A common fern of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, native to much of Europe, Asia, and North America. Used as an anthelmintic, i.e. treatment for parasitic worms. Polypous Symptom A growth resembling or in the form of a polyp. Potassa Arsenicata Treatment Acid of arsenic combined with vegetable alkaline. Used as a treatment for epilepsy. Potio Cretacea Treatment A preparation of carbonate of lime, bound in a gum. Pottage Treatment In the case notes is described as a medicinal item applied to the skin. Poultice Treatment A damp paste, usually heated, applied to irritation with bandage or cloth in order to reduce swelling, soothe pain and promote healing. Pox Condition A term used in the case notes to refer to cases of lues venerea. See entry for lues venerea. Praecordia Body Part Part of the body in front of the heart; sometimes used to describe the diaphragm. Precipitate of zinc Treatment A method of precipitating a zinc containing solid from an acidic solution containing dissolved zinc and magnesium. Pregnancy Condition The time during which one or more offspring develops (gestates) inside a woman's womb. Primæ Viæ Body Part See entry for alimentary canal. Profluvia Symptom A copious discharge of fluid, especially a bodily fluid. Prunes Treatment A dried plum, most commonly from the European plum (Prunus domestica). In this context is referred to as an ingredient of the medicine Lenitive electuary. See entry for Lenitive electuary. Prunus Padus Treatment Known as bird cherry, hackberry, hagberry, or Mayday tree, this is a flowering plant in the rose family. Used as a substitute for Peruvian bark. Psellismus Symptom Indistinct pronunciation; stammering; a speech disorder. Psoas Body Part Muscle positioned between the loin and upper leg, connecting the lumbar vertebrae to the femur; a hip flexor. Psora Condition See entries for scabies and itch. Pubis Body Part One of the three main bones that make up the pelvis. Pudenda Body Part Vulva; external female genitals. Pulmonary Symptom An affection of the lungs, including catarrh and phthisis. Pulveris Treatment Pulverised medicine, i.e. medicine formed into a powder. Puncture Treatment In the case notes used in the context of bloodletting. See entry for bloodletting. Purgative Treatment Internal medication aimed at cleansing the body of impurities, usually the bowels. Purpura Symptom Discoloured spots on the skin that appear in rash-like clusters, similar to petechiae. Both result from blood vessels breaking and leaking. Purpura are larger than petechiae. They can develop when numerous petechiae join together. Purulent Symptom Relating to pus for example consisting of or containing pus; suppurating. Pus Symptom A thick, yellow in colour matter which can appear on healing wounds or inside abscesses. Putrid fever Condition Any fever deemed to be caused by putrefaction or accompanied by a putrid odour. Pylorus Body Part The opening between the distal end of the stomach and the intestine (duodenum), surrounded by a sphincter muscle. The posterior region or opening of the stomach. Pyrexia Symptom An intermission in or absence of a fever. Pyrosis Symptom See entry for dyspepsia.
-
- Palpebrae
Body Part
Eyelids.
- Palpitatio cordis
Symptom
Palpitation of the heart.
- Palpitations
Symptom
Tachycardia, quick heartbeat, fluttering heartbeat.
- Palsy
Condition
See entry for paralysis.
- Pancreas
Body Part
An organ of the digestive system, located in the abdomen behind the stomach.
- Paracusis
Condition
A condition causing difficulty in hearing.
- Paralysis
Condition
This includes palsy, hemiplegia and immobility, as well as states of partial paralysis with specific body-part mentioned.
- Paraphonia rauca
Symptom
A weak or damaged voice. The Edinburgh physician William Cullen divided the category into six sub-categories based on their cause. Paraphonia rauca was defined as cases where from dryness or tumour the fauces or the voice became hoarse and rough.
- Paraphonia
Symptom
Change in the voice or difficulty speaking due to disease or damage to the mouth or larynx. Had various suggested causes, including catarrh, a fright or lues venerea. See also entry for aphonia.
- Paraplegia
Condition
The inability to voluntarily move the lower parts of the body.
- Paraplexia
Condition
Alternative term for paraplegia. See entry for paraplegia.
- Paregoric elixir
Treatment
Medicine composed of camphorated tincture of opium (tincture of opium containing camphor, benzoic acid, anise oil). Used as an analgesic and antispasmodic.
- Parotid
Body Part
The parotid gland (salivary gland).
- Paroxysm
Symptom
A sudden attack, outburst or accession. Includes exacerbation (usually of a fever).
- Pectoral
Symptom
Complaints of the chest, including coughing and difficulty breathing.
- Pectoralgia
Symptom
Pain in the chest.
- Pencil
Treatment
A form of applying electrical current, see entry for electricity.
- Penny Royal
Treatment
Derived from the flowering plant Mentha pulegium. It was used for a range of medicinal purposes, but particularly to produce vaginal bleeding and to bring about abortion.
- Pentandra
Treatment
A term used by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his classification of plants. It is used for a wide range of species, and denotes that the plant has five stamens, or five parts.
- Peppermint
Treatment
Had a range of medicinal uses, including as a remedy for nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, respiratory infections and menstrual disorders.
- Periosteum
Body Part
Membrane covering bones.
- Peripneumonia
Symptom
Historical term for inflammation of the lung. See entry for pneumonia.
- Pertussis
Condition
Also known as whooping cough, hooping cough or chin cough.
- Peruvian bark
Treatment
See entry for cinchona.
- Petechiae sine febre
Symptom
Consists of minute effusions of dark blood under the skin.
- Petechiae
Symptom
Small red or purple spots on the skin caused by broken capillaries, a symptom of typhus.
- Phagedaena
Symptom
An equivocal term: sometimes it is taken in a latitudinous sense for every ulcer which eats away the sound parts which are contiguous, and is called depascens ulcus or sometimes more limitedly; for a deep tumid ulcer which destroys flesh underneath as well as the neighbouring parts. Sometimes it is described as only destroying the skin and at others it signifies a particular species of ulcer called herpes phagedaena.
- Pharynx
Body Part
A section of the throat; the space lined with muscles between the oesophagus and the mouth.
- Phlegmon
Symptom
An inflammation of soft tissue that spreads under the skin or inside the body.
- Phlogistic
Condition
Term applied to mean both diseases which induce inflammation and fever and a medicinal treatment which acts as an anti-inflammatory.
- Phrenitis
Condition
Inflammation of the brain, attended with acute fever and delirium.
- Phthisis
Condition
A consumption caused by an absorption of pus from the lungs. A condition both chronic and inflammatory.
- Physconia
Symptom
Distention of the abdomen, usually caused by a scirrhous tumour or enlargement of an organ.
- Picea
Treatment
Medicine derived from a type of spruce tree. Various types of spruce trees were used for medicinal purposes, including Norway spruce (picea abies) and White spruce (picea glauca).
- Piles
Condition
See entry for haemorrhoids.
- Pilulae
Treatment
A small ball, globule; pellet. A pill.
- Pitch plaster
Treatment
Dressing containing pitch, a dark, sticky residue from tar or turpentine.
- Pix
Treatment
Alternative term for pitch, a substance made from tar or turpentine residue.
- Placebo
Treatment
A medicine prescribed that is expected to have little or no therapeutic effect, often to encourage the patient to continue visiting the dispensary in order that their condition can be regularly observed. As the term is used in the case notes there appears to be no implication that there will be a psychological effect on the patient.
- Placenta
Body Part
An organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. This structure provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby.
- Plague
Condition
An infectious disease. In the case notes appears to specifically relate to bubonic plague.
- Platenus
Condition
An alternative name for Taenia Solium. See entry for Taenia.
- Plethora
Symptom
Connected to humoural theory. A plethoric habit, or plethoric disposition, indicated that an individual was excessively full of blood and therefore prone to haemorrhaging. This state was believed to most commonly occur during the Spring.
- Pleurisy
Condition
A condition marked by pain in the chest or the side, especially when stabbing in nature and exacerbated by inspiration or coughing.
- Pleuritic
Symptom
A pain which is sharp and stabbing, commonly in a part of the chest.
- Pleuritis
Condition
Alternative term for pleurisy. See entry for pleurisy.
- Plexus
Body Part
A bundle of intersecting nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatic vessels in the human body.
- Plicae
Body Part
Circular folds of mucous membrane within the intestines.
- Plumbi acetas
Treatment
Acetate of lead or sugar of lead. Taken as a sedative and an astringent, often used to treat haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea and in cases of phthisis to reduce expectoration. Also used externally on skin complaints.
- Plumbi
Treatment
Sugar of lead. An alternative name for Saccharum Saturn. See entry for Saccharum Saturn.
- Pneumonia
Condition
An inflammation in the lungs, specifically in the thorax and of the membrane that lines it.
- Polydipsia
Symptom
The feeling of extreme thirstiness, often linked to urinary complaints.
- Polyp
Symptom
Abnormal tissue growth.
- Polypodium Fillix Mas
Treatment
A term used by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his classification of plants. Also known as Dryopteris filix-mas or the male fern. A common fern of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, native to much of Europe, Asia, and North America. Used as an anthelmintic, i.e. treatment for parasitic worms.
- Polypous
Symptom
A growth resembling or in the form of a polyp.
- Potassa Arsenicata
Treatment
Acid of arsenic combined with vegetable alkaline. Used as a treatment for epilepsy.
- Potio Cretacea
Treatment
A preparation of carbonate of lime, bound in a gum.
- Pottage
Treatment
In the case notes is described as a medicinal item applied to the skin.
- Poultice
Treatment
A damp paste, usually heated, applied to irritation with bandage or cloth in order to reduce swelling, soothe pain and promote healing.
- Pox
Condition
A term used in the case notes to refer to cases of lues venerea. See entry for lues venerea.
- Praecordia
Body Part
Part of the body in front of the heart; sometimes used to describe the diaphragm.
- Precipitate of zinc
Treatment
A method of precipitating a zinc containing solid from an acidic solution containing dissolved zinc and magnesium.
- Pregnancy
Condition
The time during which one or more offspring develops (gestates) inside a woman's womb.
- Primæ Viæ
Body Part
See entry for alimentary canal.
- Profluvia
Symptom
A copious discharge of fluid, especially a bodily fluid.
- Prunes
Treatment
A dried plum, most commonly from the European plum (Prunus domestica). In this context is referred to as an ingredient of the medicine Lenitive electuary. See entry for Lenitive electuary.
- Prunus Padus
Treatment
Known as bird cherry, hackberry, hagberry, or Mayday tree, this is a flowering plant in the rose family. Used as a substitute for Peruvian bark.
- Psellismus
Symptom
Indistinct pronunciation; stammering; a speech disorder.
- Psoas
Body Part
Muscle positioned between the loin and upper leg, connecting the lumbar vertebrae to the femur; a hip flexor.
- Psora
Condition
See entries for scabies and itch.
- Pubis
Body Part
One of the three main bones that make up the pelvis.
- Pudenda
Body Part
Vulva; external female genitals.
- Pulmonary
Symptom
An affection of the lungs, including catarrh and phthisis.
- Pulveris
Treatment
Pulverised medicine, i.e. medicine formed into a powder.
- Puncture
Treatment
In the case notes used in the context of bloodletting. See entry for bloodletting.
- Purgative
Treatment
Internal medication aimed at cleansing the body of impurities, usually the bowels.
- Purpura
Symptom
Discoloured spots on the skin that appear in rash-like clusters, similar to petechiae. Both result from blood vessels breaking and leaking. Purpura are larger than petechiae. They can develop when numerous petechiae join together.
- Purulent
Symptom
Relating to pus for example consisting of or containing pus; suppurating.
- Pus
Symptom
A thick, yellow in colour matter which can appear on healing wounds or inside abscesses.
- Putrid fever
Condition
Any fever deemed to be caused by putrefaction or accompanied by a putrid odour.
- Pylorus
Body Part
The opening between the distal end of the stomach and the intestine (duodenum), surrounded by a sphincter muscle. The posterior region or opening of the stomach.
- Pyrexia
Symptom
An intermission in or absence of a fever.
- Pyrosis
Symptom
See entry for dyspepsia.
- Palpebrae
