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.
Symptoms A-Z
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Name: Description: Aesophagismus Difficulty swallowing; inability to swallow. See also entries for aglutition and dysphagia. Aglutition Inability to swallow; difficulty swallowing. See also entries for aesophagismus and deglutition. Alvi flexus See entry for diarrhoea. Amblyopia The complete or relative debilitation of sight. The principal symptom of this condition is the loss of sight without any apparent opacity of the cornea or the interior of the eye. Amenorrhea Absence or suppression of menstruation. Anasarca Diffuse dropsy or water retention in the cellular tissue in a large surface of the body such as a limb. Anastomosis To relax or open the mouths of the vessels to discharge their contained fluids. Anxietas febrilis Latin for feverish anxiety. Anxiety arising from the uneasiness or pressure felt in the stomach or upper abdominal area. Aperture An open cancer or cases where tumours have become ulcerated. Aphonia Loss of speech and paralysis of the tongue caused by damage or disease in larynx or mouth. See also entry for paraphonia. Apoplexy Afflux of blood to the head. Apyrexia An intermission in or absence of a fever. Ardor Urinae An intense acute heat sensation during urination. Arthralgia Pain or stiffness in a joint or joints. Arthropuosis A term variously used to describe inflammation of a joint or abscess in a joint. Ascites A collection of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity; dropsy of the abdomen, water accumulates in the cavity of the belly. Asphyxia Stoppage of the pulse or where the pulse is no longer perceptible to the touch. Atony Loss of strength, want of tone, relaxed condition, languor. Bile Also known as Bilis, Fel, Chole and Gall. The fluid secreted from the blood in the liver and collected in the gall bladder. It is bitter and of a brownish yellow colour sometimes appearing into green. Borborygmi Intestinal rumblings due to movement of fluid and gas in the guts. Calcination The use of heat to produce a change in a body; or the separation of the more volatile part of any compound with heat. Caligo Problems with vision, including total or partial loss of sight. See also entry for amaurosis. Cardiac Of or relating to the heart, also known as cordis. Cardialgia Experience of heartburn, pain and a sensation of heat around the heart or stomach, often accompanied by indigestion. Cardiogmus To have a gnawing pain at the mouth of the stomach. It is seen as synonymous with cardialgia. Carus A term applied to different forms of heavy sleep or insensibility. Catamenia Menstrual discharge; monthly period. Cataphora Meaning to render sleepy. It is the unusual propensity for sleep. Chyle The white milky fluid formed by the action of the pancreatic juice and the bile on the chyme, and contained in the lymphatics of the intestines. The term was applied to the fluid in the intestine just before absorption. Clavus Hystericus Severe head pain. A shooting pain in the forehead that is sharply defined, and typically described as feeling like a nail being driven into the head often associated with hysteria. Coagulum A mass of coagulated matter, a clot of blood. Colliquative Having the effect of dissolving or wasting. Can be applied to profuse discharges which cause the body to waste away, or to diseases characterised by such discharges; as colliquative diarrhoea, colliquative sweat, colliquative fever. Concussion The sudden and violent motion to the brain which causes a sudden swelling of blood-vessels in the brain. Constipation See entry for costiveness. Convulsions Condition characterised by involuntary contraction of the muscles, convulsive fits, motions, affections, spasms. Corona Veneris Term used for syphilitic blotches on the forehead which often extend around it like a crown. Coryza The running at the nose which constitutes or accompanies a cold in the head. Costiveness A person is said to be costive when the excretion from the intestines does not happen daily. Also known as constipation, constipatio, constipatus and obstipatio. Cramp A sudden painful rigidity of a muscle which causes excruciating pain. Cystorrhoea A discharge of mucus from the bladder. Also known as vesical catarrh. Deglutition Swallowing. From 'deglutitio' meaning 'to swallow'. For example 'difficult deglutition' equates to difficulty swallowing. Deliquium Fainting, swooning, deliquium animi. See also entry for syncope. Delirium Talking or speaking irrationally. Desmalgia Desmalgia, or often referred to as Desmodynia, refers to ligament pain. Desquamation Process where the cuticle or epidermis of the skin falls or flakes off in the form of scales. Diarrhoea urinosa Latin for 'disease of the urine' and is the name used by the 2nd century Roman physician Claudius Gallenus for what is now called diabetes. Also referred to as Profuse urinosa. Diarrhoea Looseness or laxity of bowels. Too frequent evacuation of fluid faeces, often accompanied with stomach pains. Distension Swollen or bloated or stretched stomach caused by some kind of internal pressure. Dolores Derived from the Latin word 'dolor' meaning pain and used in medicine to refer to pain and inflammation caused by a disease. Dropsy Accumulation of fluid in the cavities or connective tissues. See also oedema. Drowsiness Languid or listlessness. Dysmenorrhea Menstruation accompanied by lower back pain and cramps in the abdominal area. Dyspepsia Indigestion. See also entries cardialgia and water brash. Dysphagia Difficulty swallowing due to pain or obstruction. See also entries for aesophagismus and aglutition. Dyspnoea Refers to difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Dysuria Burning or stinging sensation upon urination. Eccymosis Bruise caused by blood leaking from the vessels due to injury. Eclampsia Convulsions associated with rapid motions of parts of the body especially the mouth, eyes and hands. Ectasia The expansion or dilation of a hollow area such as a tube or duct or organ in the body. Elminosos Dr Andrew Duncan refers to elminosis as a Greek word which relates to a condition caused by worms. Emaciation Describes wasting of the body due to malnourishment and diseases or conditions such as tuberculosis. Emetartroph Abbreviated term used by Dr Andrew Duncan to refer to a serious vomiting condition. Empyema Pus within the body, usually in the pleural cavity. Ephidrosis Chronic or profuse sweating or perspiration. Epistaxis Bleeding or haemorrhaging specifically from the nose. Eructations Expelling wind from the stomach through the mouth. Also known as belching or burping. Exanthem A term used to refer to rashes or eruptions on the body for example due to measles or rubella. Excoriate Damage or destruction of skin tissue. Excrement Waste material excreted through the bowels. See also entry for faeces. Excrescense An unusual external growth on the body such as a wart or a tumour. Exostosis A bony tumour found upon a bone or cartilage. Expodice Term used by Dr Francois Boissier de Sauvages according to Dr Andrew Duncan referring to conditions or types of haemorrhage. Extravasation From 'extra' and 'vasa', meaning out of the vessels. This is applied to any of the fluids in the body which are out of their proper vessels. Exudation Derived from the Latin word 'exsudare' referring to sweating out but also used to refer to other types of discharge from the body. Facies Turgidula Facies turgidula is a phrase derived from the Latin word 'Facies' meaning face and turgidula is derived from the Latin word 'turgides' meaning swollen. The phrase 'Facies turgidula' therefore refers to a swollen, distended or congested face. Faeces Material consisting of waste matter and liquid that is expelled by the body through the anus. Fainting Fainting refers to loss of consciousness resulting from a drop in blood pressure in the body. See also entry for syncope. Fatigue Tiredness resulting from mental or physical causes. Fatuity Weakness or imbecility of mind; stupidity. Febrile Feverish; suffering from or affected by fever. Fetororosis Bad or smelly breath also called halitosis. Fever A body temperature higher than normally expected sometimes associated with headaches, shivering, stomach upset and possibly delirium. See also entry for pyrexia. Flatus Wind or gas in the bowels or stomach. Flooding See entry for menorrhagia. Fluor Albus Also known as 'the whites'. A form of vaginal discharge. Fluxus Cruentus Fluxus', a Latin word, means to flow and 'Cruentus', also a Latin word, means bloody or blood stained. Can be used to refer to haemorrhage. Flying pain Often associated with gout and rheumatism - a pain which tended to move around the body as if in flight. Foaming Ptyalism, drooling, slavering, foaming at the mouth, excessive salivation. Formication The feeling of having insects crawling on or under the skin. Formido mortis Formido' is the Latin word for fear and 'mortis' is a derivative of 'mors' the Latin word for death so the phrase 'Formido mortis' refers to a fear of death. Fungous Refers to a morbid growth or granulations on an ulcer or tumour. These growths are often referred to as 'proud flesh'. Fungous is sometimes used to refer to the growths when they are large, flabby and unhealthy. Furfuraceous A derivation of the Latin word 'furfur' meaning bran and refers to a skin condition where the skin is branny or scaly. Galactorrhea A milky discharge from the nipple unrelated to the normal milk production of breastfeeding. Gastrodynia Stomach pain similar to heartburn; frequent complaint of dyspeptics. Globus Hystericus Air rising in the oesophagus that is prevented from reaching the mouth by spasm. It most commonly attends hysteria and gives the sensation of a lump in the throat. Gripes Spasmodic constricting pains in the bowels and stomach. Grume Thick, congealed blood. Haematemesis Vomiting or throwing up blood. Haematoma Abnormal collection of blood outside the blood vessels. Haematuria Presence of blood in the urine. Haemoptysis Expectoration, discharge or spitting up of blood or bloody mucus, usually from the lungs. Haemorrhage Blood loss, both internally and from the outside of the body. Headache A continuous pain in the head. Hearing See entry for deafness. Heartburn A burning feeling in the chest. See entry for cardialgia. Hemicrania Headache on one side of the head. Hiccup An involuntary spasm of the respiratory organs, consisting in a quick inspiratory movement of the diaphragm checked suddenly by closure of the glottis, and accompanied by a characteristic sound. Hieranosos A convulsion or involuntary contraction of the muscles. Hippocratic facies The change produced in the face recognisable as a medical sign known as facies and prognostic of death. Hydatides Cysts formed by clear watery fluid. Hydropic Containing excessive water or fluid. See entry for dropsy. Hydrops pericardii Increased fluid within the pericardial sac. Hydrothorax Water on or in the thorax; water in the chest. The condition of having fluid in the pleural cavity. Hypercatharsis Excessive and frequent defecation. Hæmorrhoids Dilated blood vessels similar to varicose veins located around the rectum or anal canal. Ichor A thin, acrid fluid which distils from wounds. Ileus Painful intestinal obstruction, usually in the ileum, often fatal. Incrustation The forming of a scab over a part of the body as a result of a cutaneous disease. Indigestion Discomfort caused by difficulty in digesting food. Intumescentia An enlargement in the vertebral column. Ischuria Difficulty passing urine, inability to pass urine. Kink Fit of coughing. Lassitude Fatigue, lethargy, sleeps/sleeping much, tired (if unusually so), weariness, heaviness. Leucoma Whitening of the cornea, caused by an inflammation of the eye, an abscess in the cornea, small pox, measles, wounds or burns. Leucophlegmatic A dropsical habit of body, with a white bloated skin. Leucorrhoea A mucous or mucopurulent discharge from the lining membrane of the female genital organs. Lienteria A form of diarrhoea, in which the food passes through the bowels partially or wholly undigested. Lochial Vaginal discharge after giving birth. Looseness Looseness of bodily fluids, especially connected with the bowels, for example, caused by worms in the alimentary canal. Macula A spot or blemish. A cutaneous efflorescence that changes the colour of a cuticle. Mastodynia Pain in the nipple caused by inflammation. Muscae volitanes Moving black specks or threads seen before the eyes caused by opaque fragments floating in the vitreous humour or a defect in the lens. Mutitas Muteness or the inability to articulate words. Nephritis Inflammation or swelling of the kidney. Obstipatio No ejection of faeces or less frequent than usual. See also entry for costiveness. Oedemata A fluid-filled tumour or swelling; excessive fluid in tissues. Ophthalmia cancrosa Cancerous inflammation of the eye. Ophthalmia membranarum Inflammation of the membranes of the eye. Ophthalmia palpebrarum Blisters and ulceration in the corners of the eyes and the Meibomian follicles. Ophthalmia scrofulosa Inflammation and infection of the eyes caused by scrofula. Ophthalmia tarsi Inflammation of the edges of the eyelids. Ophthalmia Inflammation in the eye, e.g. conjunctivitis. Otalgia Ear pain. Palpitatio cordis Palpitation of the heart. Palpitations Tachycardia, quick heartbeat, fluttering heartbeat. Paraphonia rauca 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 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. Paroxysm A sudden attack, outburst or accession. Includes exacerbation (usually of a fever). Pectoral Complaints of the chest, including coughing and difficulty breathing. Pectoralgia Pain in the chest. Peripneumonia Historical term for inflammation of the lung. See entry for pneumonia. Petechiae sine febre Consists of minute effusions of dark blood under the skin. Petechiae Small red or purple spots on the skin caused by broken capillaries, a symptom of typhus. Phagedaena 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. Phlegmon An inflammation of soft tissue that spreads under the skin or inside the body. Physconia Distention of the abdomen, usually caused by a scirrhous tumour or enlargement of an organ. Plethora 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. Pleuritic A pain which is sharp and stabbing, commonly in a part of the chest. Polydipsia The feeling of extreme thirstiness, often linked to urinary complaints. Polyp Abnormal tissue growth. Polypous A growth resembling or in the form of a polyp. Profluvia A copious discharge of fluid, especially a bodily fluid. Psellismus Indistinct pronunciation; stammering; a speech disorder. Pulmonary An affection of the lungs, including catarrh and phthisis. Purpura 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 Relating to pus for example consisting of or containing pus; suppurating. Pus A thick, yellow in colour matter which can appear on healing wounds or inside abscesses. Pyrexia An intermission in or absence of a fever. Pyrosis See entry for dyspepsia. Raucedo Hoarseness; weakness or roughness of the voice. Restringent Halts or prevents the flow of bodily fluids, especially blood and urine. Rugous Wrinkled, corrugated, rough or ridged skin. Salivation Secretion of saliva (as symptom of mercury treatment). Sand Usually as sediment found in urine. Also known as gravel, sand, concretions. Sanies A thin discharge from a wound or ulcer, containing serum, pus, and blood. Scabies A skin disease with scabby or scaly eruptions. Also known as psora or the itch. Scales See entry for cutaneous. Sciatic nerve Nerve in the sciatica area that runs from the lower back to the feet. Scirrhous Hard tumour or growth. Scorbutus See entry for scurvy. Scrobiculus cordis Anatomical term for pit of the stomach; heart-pit. Scurf Flakes on the surface of the skin that form as fresh skin develops below, occurring especially as dandruff. Scybala Hard faecal matter discharged in round lumps. Singultus The hiccup. Relating to or affected with hiccough. A spasmodic affection of the diaphragm, generally arising from irritation produced by acidity in the stomach, error of diet, etc. Sordes The crusts that collect on the teeth and lips in debilitating diseases with protracted low fever. Spasmi Spasmodic contractions, twitching, involuntary movement. Spasmodic Can indicate both a symptom and a type of disease (a 'spasmodic affection' such as epilepsy or hysteria). Spasmodica Classified in 1768 by Boissier de Sauvages as a partial tonic spasms, together with strabismus, tics, contractures, ankylosis, cramps and priapism caused by an organic factor. Sputum Spit; the action of spitting or the fluid that leaves the mouth when coughing. Squamulae Scales on the skin. Stomaccace Foul, or unpleasant smell, of the mouth with a bloody discharge from the gums. Stone Most common use is in reference to 'calculus' (renal calculi). A renal concretion of material accumulated in the renal system. Stool See entry for faeces. Strangury Also known as vesical tenesmus. Slow, painful discharge of small volumes of urine expelled only by straining despite a feeling of urgency. Stricture Abnormal narrowing of a canal or duct in the body. Succus gastricus Gastric acid as digestive fluid within the stomach lining. Suggillation A bruise or inflammation of a part of the body caused by suction. It is also associated with ecchymosis where blood collects under the skin when an object hits the body. Suppuration Creation or discharge of pus - internal suppuration could cause intense pains and fever. Syncope Temporary loss of consciousness caused by low blood pressure. Another term for fainting. Syrigmus Perception of sound usually associated with disease in the middle ear, the inner ear, or the central auditory pathways. Tabes Mesenterica Wasting condition of the mesenteric lymph nodes in the abdomen. See also phthisis. Tabes A wasting condition with extreme debility and hectic fever. Taenia Worm Also known as Taeniasis. A parasitic infection caused by the tapeworm species in the Taenia genus. Teething The process of growing or cutting milk teeth. Tinnitus Aurium Ringing in the ears. Torpor A numbness or deficient sensation. Tubercle Abnormal lesions and nodules on the body or in an organ. Tumour Various types of abnormal growth. Tunica adnata The enclosing membrane or layer of tissue of the eyeball. Tunica Albuginea Fibrous connective tissue, but may variously refer to those in the testicles, penis, ovaries etc. Tunica Conjunctiva Membrane of pale pink colour that lines the back of the eyelids, connecting them to the eyeball. Turgescence The act of swelling, or the state of being swollen. Tussicula A slight cough, less powerful than a tussis. Tussis Hysterica A persistent cough that serves as a symptom of hysteria. Psychosomatic. Tussis The technical name for a cough. Can be a symptom of a variety of ailments. Tympanites Distention of the abdomen by gas or air in the intestine, peritoneal cavity or uterus. Ulcer An open sore on an external or internal surface of the body. Ulceration The action, process or state of forming ulcers or of becoming ulcerated. Ulcus mali moris A malignant ulcer. Varicose Unnaturally swollen or dilated. Ventris Murmura Abdominal murmuring; term for when stomach is making noise. Vermiculation Sensation as if worms or small animals are moving under the surface of the skin. Vertigo Condition in which patient loses equilibrium and consciousness; dizziness; giddiness. Vesania Loss of reason, insanity, insane, loss of senses. Vesicalis Inflammation of the bladder that causes pain and frequent need to urinate. Vibices Lines that appear on skin that denote subcutaneous bleeding. Vision See entry for blindness. Vomica An ulcerous cavity or abscess, usually in the lungs. Also known as purulent; ulcerous. Vomiting Sickness, retching, throwing up.
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- Aesophagismus
Difficulty swallowing; inability to swallow. See also entries for aglutition and dysphagia.
- Aglutition
Inability to swallow; difficulty swallowing. See also entries for aesophagismus and deglutition.
- Alvi flexus
See entry for diarrhoea.
- Amblyopia
The complete or relative debilitation of sight. The principal symptom of this condition is the loss of sight without any apparent opacity of the cornea or the interior of the eye.
- Amenorrhea
Absence or suppression of menstruation.
- Anasarca
Diffuse dropsy or water retention in the cellular tissue in a large surface of the body such as a limb.
- Anastomosis
To relax or open the mouths of the vessels to discharge their contained fluids.
- Anxietas febrilis
Latin for feverish anxiety. Anxiety arising from the uneasiness or pressure felt in the stomach or upper abdominal area.
- Aperture
An open cancer or cases where tumours have become ulcerated.
- Aphonia
Loss of speech and paralysis of the tongue caused by damage or disease in larynx or mouth. See also entry for paraphonia.
- Apoplexy
Afflux of blood to the head.
- Apyrexia
An intermission in or absence of a fever.
- Ardor Urinae
An intense acute heat sensation during urination.
- Arthralgia
Pain or stiffness in a joint or joints.
- Arthropuosis
A term variously used to describe inflammation of a joint or abscess in a joint.
- Ascites
A collection of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity; dropsy of the abdomen, water accumulates in the cavity of the belly.
- Asphyxia
Stoppage of the pulse or where the pulse is no longer perceptible to the touch.
- Atony
Loss of strength, want of tone, relaxed condition, languor.
- Bile
Also known as Bilis, Fel, Chole and Gall. The fluid secreted from the blood in the liver and collected in the gall bladder. It is bitter and of a brownish yellow colour sometimes appearing into green.
- Borborygmi
Intestinal rumblings due to movement of fluid and gas in the guts.
- Calcination
The use of heat to produce a change in a body; or the separation of the more volatile part of any compound with heat.
- Caligo
Problems with vision, including total or partial loss of sight. See also entry for amaurosis.
- Cardiac
Of or relating to the heart, also known as cordis.
- Cardialgia
Experience of heartburn, pain and a sensation of heat around the heart or stomach, often accompanied by indigestion.
- Cardiogmus
To have a gnawing pain at the mouth of the stomach. It is seen as synonymous with cardialgia.
- Carus
A term applied to different forms of heavy sleep or insensibility.
- Catamenia
Menstrual discharge; monthly period.
- Cataphora
Meaning to render sleepy. It is the unusual propensity for sleep.
- Chyle
The white milky fluid formed by the action of the pancreatic juice and the bile on the chyme, and contained in the lymphatics of the intestines. The term was applied to the fluid in the intestine just before absorption.
- Clavus Hystericus
Severe head pain. A shooting pain in the forehead that is sharply defined, and typically described as feeling like a nail being driven into the head often associated with hysteria.
- Coagulum
A mass of coagulated matter, a clot of blood.
- Colliquative
Having the effect of dissolving or wasting. Can be applied to profuse discharges which cause the body to waste away, or to diseases characterised by such discharges; as colliquative diarrhoea, colliquative sweat, colliquative fever.
- Concussion
The sudden and violent motion to the brain which causes a sudden swelling of blood-vessels in the brain.
- Constipation
See entry for costiveness.
- Convulsions
Condition characterised by involuntary contraction of the muscles, convulsive fits, motions, affections, spasms.
- Corona Veneris
Term used for syphilitic blotches on the forehead which often extend around it like a crown.
- Coryza
The running at the nose which constitutes or accompanies a cold in the head.
- Costiveness
A person is said to be costive when the excretion from the intestines does not happen daily. Also known as constipation, constipatio, constipatus and obstipatio.
- Cramp
A sudden painful rigidity of a muscle which causes excruciating pain.
- Cystorrhoea
A discharge of mucus from the bladder. Also known as vesical catarrh.
- Deglutition
Swallowing. From 'deglutitio' meaning 'to swallow'. For example 'difficult deglutition' equates to difficulty swallowing.
- Deliquium
Fainting, swooning, deliquium animi. See also entry for syncope.
- Delirium
Talking or speaking irrationally.
- Desmalgia
Desmalgia, or often referred to as Desmodynia, refers to ligament pain.
- Desquamation
Process where the cuticle or epidermis of the skin falls or flakes off in the form of scales.
- Diarrhoea urinosa
Latin for 'disease of the urine' and is the name used by the 2nd century Roman physician Claudius Gallenus for what is now called diabetes. Also referred to as Profuse urinosa.
- Diarrhoea
Looseness or laxity of bowels. Too frequent evacuation of fluid faeces, often accompanied with stomach pains.
- Distension
Swollen or bloated or stretched stomach caused by some kind of internal pressure.
- Dolores
Derived from the Latin word 'dolor' meaning pain and used in medicine to refer to pain and inflammation caused by a disease.
- Dropsy
Accumulation of fluid in the cavities or connective tissues. See also oedema.
- Drowsiness
Languid or listlessness.
- Dysmenorrhea
Menstruation accompanied by lower back pain and cramps in the abdominal area.
- Dyspepsia
Indigestion. See also entries cardialgia and water brash.
- Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing due to pain or obstruction. See also entries for aesophagismus and aglutition.
- Dyspnoea
Refers to difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- Dysuria
Burning or stinging sensation upon urination.
- Eccymosis
Bruise caused by blood leaking from the vessels due to injury.
- Eclampsia
Convulsions associated with rapid motions of parts of the body especially the mouth, eyes and hands.
- Ectasia
The expansion or dilation of a hollow area such as a tube or duct or organ in the body.
- Elminosos
Dr Andrew Duncan refers to elminosis as a Greek word which relates to a condition caused by worms.
- Emaciation
Describes wasting of the body due to malnourishment and diseases or conditions such as tuberculosis.
- Emetartroph
Abbreviated term used by Dr Andrew Duncan to refer to a serious vomiting condition.
- Empyema
Pus within the body, usually in the pleural cavity.
- Ephidrosis
Chronic or profuse sweating or perspiration.
- Epistaxis
Bleeding or haemorrhaging specifically from the nose.
- Eructations
Expelling wind from the stomach through the mouth. Also known as belching or burping.
- Exanthem
A term used to refer to rashes or eruptions on the body for example due to measles or rubella.
- Excoriate
Damage or destruction of skin tissue.
- Excrement
Waste material excreted through the bowels. See also entry for faeces.
- Excrescense
An unusual external growth on the body such as a wart or a tumour.
- Exostosis
A bony tumour found upon a bone or cartilage.
- Expodice
Term used by Dr Francois Boissier de Sauvages according to Dr Andrew Duncan referring to conditions or types of haemorrhage.
- Extravasation
From 'extra' and 'vasa', meaning out of the vessels. This is applied to any of the fluids in the body which are out of their proper vessels.
- Exudation
Derived from the Latin word 'exsudare' referring to sweating out but also used to refer to other types of discharge from the body.
- Facies Turgidula
Facies turgidula is a phrase derived from the Latin word 'Facies' meaning face and turgidula is derived from the Latin word 'turgides' meaning swollen. The phrase 'Facies turgidula' therefore refers to a swollen, distended or congested face.
- Faeces
Material consisting of waste matter and liquid that is expelled by the body through the anus.
- Fainting
Fainting refers to loss of consciousness resulting from a drop in blood pressure in the body. See also entry for syncope.
- Fatigue
Tiredness resulting from mental or physical causes.
- Fatuity
Weakness or imbecility of mind; stupidity.
- Febrile
Feverish; suffering from or affected by fever.
- Fetororosis
Bad or smelly breath also called halitosis.
- Fever
A body temperature higher than normally expected sometimes associated with headaches, shivering, stomach upset and possibly delirium. See also entry for pyrexia.
- Flatus
Wind or gas in the bowels or stomach.
- Flooding
See entry for menorrhagia.
- Fluor Albus
Also known as 'the whites'. A form of vaginal discharge.
- Fluxus Cruentus
Fluxus', a Latin word, means to flow and 'Cruentus', also a Latin word, means bloody or blood stained. Can be used to refer to haemorrhage.
- Flying pain
Often associated with gout and rheumatism - a pain which tended to move around the body as if in flight.
- Foaming
Ptyalism, drooling, slavering, foaming at the mouth, excessive salivation.
- Formication
The feeling of having insects crawling on or under the skin.
- Formido mortis
Formido' is the Latin word for fear and 'mortis' is a derivative of 'mors' the Latin word for death so the phrase 'Formido mortis' refers to a fear of death.
- Fungous
Refers to a morbid growth or granulations on an ulcer or tumour. These growths are often referred to as 'proud flesh'. Fungous is sometimes used to refer to the growths when they are large, flabby and unhealthy.
- Furfuraceous
A derivation of the Latin word 'furfur' meaning bran and refers to a skin condition where the skin is branny or scaly.
- Galactorrhea
A milky discharge from the nipple unrelated to the normal milk production of breastfeeding.
- Gastrodynia
Stomach pain similar to heartburn; frequent complaint of dyspeptics.
- Globus Hystericus
Air rising in the oesophagus that is prevented from reaching the mouth by spasm. It most commonly attends hysteria and gives the sensation of a lump in the throat.
- Gripes
Spasmodic constricting pains in the bowels and stomach.
- Grume
Thick, congealed blood.
- Haematemesis
Vomiting or throwing up blood.
- Haematoma
Abnormal collection of blood outside the blood vessels.
- Haematuria
Presence of blood in the urine.
- Haemoptysis
Expectoration, discharge or spitting up of blood or bloody mucus, usually from the lungs.
- Haemorrhage
Blood loss, both internally and from the outside of the body.
- Headache
A continuous pain in the head.
- Hearing
See entry for deafness.
- Heartburn
A burning feeling in the chest. See entry for cardialgia.
- Hemicrania
Headache on one side of the head.
- Hiccup
An involuntary spasm of the respiratory organs, consisting in a quick inspiratory movement of the diaphragm checked suddenly by closure of the glottis, and accompanied by a characteristic sound.
- Hieranosos
A convulsion or involuntary contraction of the muscles.
- Hippocratic facies
The change produced in the face recognisable as a medical sign known as facies and prognostic of death.
- Hydatides
Cysts formed by clear watery fluid.
- Hydropic
Containing excessive water or fluid. See entry for dropsy.
- Hydrops pericardii
Increased fluid within the pericardial sac.
- Hydrothorax
Water on or in the thorax; water in the chest. The condition of having fluid in the pleural cavity.
- Hypercatharsis
Excessive and frequent defecation.
- Hæmorrhoids
Dilated blood vessels similar to varicose veins located around the rectum or anal canal.
- Ichor
A thin, acrid fluid which distils from wounds.
- Ileus
Painful intestinal obstruction, usually in the ileum, often fatal.
- Incrustation
The forming of a scab over a part of the body as a result of a cutaneous disease.
- Indigestion
Discomfort caused by difficulty in digesting food.
- Intumescentia
An enlargement in the vertebral column.
- Ischuria
Difficulty passing urine, inability to pass urine.
- Kink
Fit of coughing.
- Lassitude
Fatigue, lethargy, sleeps/sleeping much, tired (if unusually so), weariness, heaviness.
- Leucoma
Whitening of the cornea, caused by an inflammation of the eye, an abscess in the cornea, small pox, measles, wounds or burns.
- Leucophlegmatic
A dropsical habit of body, with a white bloated skin.
- Leucorrhoea
A mucous or mucopurulent discharge from the lining membrane of the female genital organs.
- Lienteria
A form of diarrhoea, in which the food passes through the bowels partially or wholly undigested.
- Lochial
Vaginal discharge after giving birth.
- Looseness
Looseness of bodily fluids, especially connected with the bowels, for example, caused by worms in the alimentary canal.
- Macula
A spot or blemish. A cutaneous efflorescence that changes the colour of a cuticle.
- Mastodynia
Pain in the nipple caused by inflammation.
- Muscae volitanes
Moving black specks or threads seen before the eyes caused by opaque fragments floating in the vitreous humour or a defect in the lens.
- Mutitas
Muteness or the inability to articulate words.
- Nephritis
Inflammation or swelling of the kidney.
- Obstipatio
No ejection of faeces or less frequent than usual. See also entry for costiveness.
- Oedemata
A fluid-filled tumour or swelling; excessive fluid in tissues.
- Ophthalmia cancrosa
Cancerous inflammation of the eye.
- Ophthalmia membranarum
Inflammation of the membranes of the eye.
- Ophthalmia palpebrarum
Blisters and ulceration in the corners of the eyes and the Meibomian follicles.
- Ophthalmia scrofulosa
Inflammation and infection of the eyes caused by scrofula.
- Ophthalmia tarsi
Inflammation of the edges of the eyelids.
- Ophthalmia
Inflammation in the eye, e.g. conjunctivitis.
- Otalgia
Ear pain.
- Palpitatio cordis
Palpitation of the heart.
- Palpitations
Tachycardia, quick heartbeat, fluttering heartbeat.
- Paraphonia rauca
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
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.
- Paroxysm
A sudden attack, outburst or accession. Includes exacerbation (usually of a fever).
- Pectoral
Complaints of the chest, including coughing and difficulty breathing.
- Pectoralgia
Pain in the chest.
- Peripneumonia
Historical term for inflammation of the lung. See entry for pneumonia.
- Petechiae sine febre
Consists of minute effusions of dark blood under the skin.
- Petechiae
Small red or purple spots on the skin caused by broken capillaries, a symptom of typhus.
- Phagedaena
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.
- Phlegmon
An inflammation of soft tissue that spreads under the skin or inside the body.
- Physconia
Distention of the abdomen, usually caused by a scirrhous tumour or enlargement of an organ.
- Plethora
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.
- Pleuritic
A pain which is sharp and stabbing, commonly in a part of the chest.
- Polydipsia
The feeling of extreme thirstiness, often linked to urinary complaints.
- Polyp
Abnormal tissue growth.
- Polypous
A growth resembling or in the form of a polyp.
- Profluvia
A copious discharge of fluid, especially a bodily fluid.
- Psellismus
Indistinct pronunciation; stammering; a speech disorder.
- Pulmonary
An affection of the lungs, including catarrh and phthisis.
- Purpura
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
Relating to pus for example consisting of or containing pus; suppurating.
- Pus
A thick, yellow in colour matter which can appear on healing wounds or inside abscesses.
- Pyrexia
An intermission in or absence of a fever.
- Pyrosis
See entry for dyspepsia.
- Raucedo
Hoarseness; weakness or roughness of the voice.
- Restringent
Halts or prevents the flow of bodily fluids, especially blood and urine.
- Rugous
Wrinkled, corrugated, rough or ridged skin.
- Salivation
Secretion of saliva (as symptom of mercury treatment).
- Sand
Usually as sediment found in urine. Also known as gravel, sand, concretions.
- Sanies
A thin discharge from a wound or ulcer, containing serum, pus, and blood.
- Scabies
A skin disease with scabby or scaly eruptions. Also known as psora or the itch.
- Scales
See entry for cutaneous.
- Sciatic nerve
Nerve in the sciatica area that runs from the lower back to the feet.
- Scirrhous
Hard tumour or growth.
- Scorbutus
See entry for scurvy.
- Scrobiculus cordis
Anatomical term for pit of the stomach; heart-pit.
- Scurf
Flakes on the surface of the skin that form as fresh skin develops below, occurring especially as dandruff.
- Scybala
Hard faecal matter discharged in round lumps.
- Singultus
The hiccup. Relating to or affected with hiccough. A spasmodic affection of the diaphragm, generally arising from irritation produced by acidity in the stomach, error of diet, etc.
- Sordes
The crusts that collect on the teeth and lips in debilitating diseases with protracted low fever.
- Spasmi
Spasmodic contractions, twitching, involuntary movement.
- Spasmodic
Can indicate both a symptom and a type of disease (a 'spasmodic affection' such as epilepsy or hysteria).
- Spasmodica
Classified in 1768 by Boissier de Sauvages as a partial tonic spasms, together with strabismus, tics, contractures, ankylosis, cramps and priapism caused by an organic factor.
- Sputum
Spit; the action of spitting or the fluid that leaves the mouth when coughing.
- Squamulae
Scales on the skin.
- Stomaccace
Foul, or unpleasant smell, of the mouth with a bloody discharge from the gums.
- Stone
Most common use is in reference to 'calculus' (renal calculi). A renal concretion of material accumulated in the renal system.
- Stool
See entry for faeces.
- Strangury
Also known as vesical tenesmus. Slow, painful discharge of small volumes of urine expelled only by straining despite a feeling of urgency.
- Stricture
Abnormal narrowing of a canal or duct in the body.
- Succus gastricus
Gastric acid as digestive fluid within the stomach lining.
- Suggillation
A bruise or inflammation of a part of the body caused by suction. It is also associated with ecchymosis where blood collects under the skin when an object hits the body.
- Suppuration
Creation or discharge of pus - internal suppuration could cause intense pains and fever.
- Syncope
Temporary loss of consciousness caused by low blood pressure. Another term for fainting.
- Syrigmus
Perception of sound usually associated with disease in the middle ear, the inner ear, or the central auditory pathways.
- Tabes Mesenterica
Wasting condition of the mesenteric lymph nodes in the abdomen. See also phthisis.
- Tabes
A wasting condition with extreme debility and hectic fever.
- Taenia Worm
Also known as Taeniasis. A parasitic infection caused by the tapeworm species in the Taenia genus.
- Teething
The process of growing or cutting milk teeth.
- Tinnitus Aurium
Ringing in the ears.
- Torpor
A numbness or deficient sensation.
- Tubercle
Abnormal lesions and nodules on the body or in an organ.
- Tumour
Various types of abnormal growth.
- Tunica adnata
The enclosing membrane or layer of tissue of the eyeball.
- Tunica Albuginea
Fibrous connective tissue, but may variously refer to those in the testicles, penis, ovaries etc.
- Tunica Conjunctiva
Membrane of pale pink colour that lines the back of the eyelids, connecting them to the eyeball.
- Turgescence
The act of swelling, or the state of being swollen.
- Tussicula
A slight cough, less powerful than a tussis.
- Tussis Hysterica
A persistent cough that serves as a symptom of hysteria. Psychosomatic.
- Tussis
The technical name for a cough. Can be a symptom of a variety of ailments.
- Tympanites
Distention of the abdomen by gas or air in the intestine, peritoneal cavity or uterus.
- Ulcer
An open sore on an external or internal surface of the body.
- Ulceration
The action, process or state of forming ulcers or of becoming ulcerated.
- Ulcus mali moris
A malignant ulcer.
- Varicose
Unnaturally swollen or dilated.
- Ventris Murmura
Abdominal murmuring; term for when stomach is making noise.
- Vermiculation
Sensation as if worms or small animals are moving under the surface of the skin.
- Vertigo
Condition in which patient loses equilibrium and consciousness; dizziness; giddiness.
- Vesania
Loss of reason, insanity, insane, loss of senses.
- Vesicalis
Inflammation of the bladder that causes pain and frequent need to urinate.
- Vibices
Lines that appear on skin that denote subcutaneous bleeding.
- Vision
See entry for blindness.
- Vomica
An ulcerous cavity or abscess, usually in the lungs. Also known as purulent; ulcerous.
- Vomiting
Sickness, retching, throwing up.
- Aesophagismus
