American Red Cross Text-Book on Home Hygiene and Care of the Sick Part 28

ANt.i.tOXIN.--A substance that neutralizes the action of a toxin.

ASEPTIC.--Free from living germs.

AXILLA.--The armpit.

B

BACILLUS (pl. bacilli).--A rod-shaped or elongated bacterium.

BACTERIAL.--Relating to bacteria.

BACTERICIDE.--An agent having the power to destroy bacteria.

BACTERIOLOGICAL.--Relating to bacteriology.

BACTERIOLOGY.--The science dealing with microorganisms.

BACTERIUM (pl. bacteria).--A unicellular vegetable micro-organism.

C

CARRIER.--An apparently healthy person who harbors pathogenic germs in his body.

COCCUS (pl. cocci).--A bacterium of spherical or nearly spherical shape.

COUNTER-IRRITANT.--A substance or agent which if applied to the skin causes irritation and thereby relieves an abnormal condition in another part of the body.

D

DEGENERATION.--A deterioration in cells or tissues of the body so that they become less able to perform their proper functions.

DEGENERATIVE.--Pertaining to degeneration.

DEODORANT.--An agent that destroys odors.

DIGESTIVE TRACT.--The entire alimentary ca.n.a.l, including the mouth, sophagus, stomach, and the small and large intestines.

DIPLOCOCCUS.--A form of coccus in which two individuals remain attached after cell division has taken place.

DISINFECT.--To destroy the germs of disease.

DISINFECTANT.--An agent that destroys the germs of disease.

DISINFECTION.--The process of destroying the germs of disease.

E

EMETIC.--A substance used to induce vomiting.

ENEMA.--An injection of fluid into the r.e.c.t.u.m.

F

FECAL.--Pertaining to feces.

FECES.--Matter discharged from the bowels; bowel movement.

FERMENTATION.--Decomposition produced in an organic substance by the action of certain living agents.

FISSION.--The process by which a cell divides into two parts.

FLAGELLUM (pl. flagella).--A long hair-like appendage, by the action of which certain micro-organisms are enabled to move.

FLEX.--To bend at a joint.

FOMENTATION.--See _Stupe_.

G

GASTRIC JUICE.--The fluid secreted by the glands of the stomach.

GERM.--A minute unicellular organism, either animal or vegetable; a micro-organism; a microbe.

GERMICIDE.--An agent having the power to kill germs.

H

HOST.--An animal or plant in or upon which another organism lives.

I

IMMUNE.--Not susceptible to a particular disease; also, a person who is not susceptible to a particular disease.

IMMUNITY.--The state in which an individual is not susceptible to a particular disease.

IMMUNIZE.--To render immune.

INCUBATION.--The interval between exposure to an infectious disease and the first appearance of symptoms.

INFECT.--To communicate disease germs.