Historical Encyclopedia of Psychiatry. Dictionary of mental illness

Historical Encyclopedia Of Psychiatry

Dictionary Of Historic Mental Illness

Archaic medical terms related to mad doctoring of the 1700's.

These are terms from the 1600-1900 that were used in medical and mental health discussions

Ab Extra	from outside.
Adustion	the state of being adust, or excessively dry.
Affidavit	a written statement sworn by a deponent for a judge, from the Latin affidare, to declare on oath.
Aloes	a bitter purgative derived from the aloe plant.
Alterative	any medicine intended to produce alteration, particularly in the processes of nutrition.
Anodyne	any medicine intended to alleviate pain.
Antiphlogistic	any medicine intended to counteract inflammation.
Aorta	the main artery of the system, descending from the left ventricle of the heart.
Apoplexy	a stroke.
Black hellebore	Helleborus officianalis, which is drastically cathartic, was formerly regarded as a specific in mental illness. It is native to Greece and Asia Minor, but was especially associated with the town of Anticyra on the Greek coast near Delphi.
Blackmore	a black person. Also blackamoor.
Bubo	an enlargement of lymphatic glands, especially in the groin, where it is a feature of the ulcerous venereal condition called chancroid, or soft sore.
Cachexy	a generally depraved state of bodily health.
Calomel	mercurous chloride, in common use as a purgative.
Camlet	a costly eastern fabric originally associated with camel hair, though later applied to cheaper substitutes.
Canary	a sweet light wine from the Canary islands.
Carduus	Carduus benedictus, the blessed or holy thistle.
Cassia	a laxative derived from cassia pods.
Cataplasm	a poultice, the application to the skin of muslin dressed with a hot gruel, made from bran, bread or meal and boiling water.
Cathartic	a purgative medicine, more fierce in operation than a laxative but less violent than a drastic purge.
Caustic	any substance that burns living tissue on contact.
Cerebellum/Cerebel	the little or hinder brain, which lies behind the cerebrum. Its chief functions are co-ordination of fine voluntary movements and posture.
Chariot	a light four-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle, kept for private use.
Chimera	a monstrous mythological creature, and subsequently any wild or extravagant fancy.
Chip	wood or woody fibre split into thin strips for making hats.
Choler	bile, the fluid secreted by the liver and formerly supposed to be one of the four humours governing body and temper hence choleric, of an irritable, irascible disposition.
Clyster	medicinal preparation injected into the rectum with a syringe and intended to act as an enema.
Confluent	a rash or spots running together into a single mass.
Conventicle	a meeting or meeting-house, especially of a religious and possibly illegal kind.
Copula	a joining together, a connection.
Cordial	a stimulating preparation, usually a drink, intended to act on the heart and circulation.
Cortex/Cortical	the external structures of a bodily organ, or pertaining to these.
Costive	constipated.
Cupping-Glass	a glass cup in which the air is heated prior to its being applied to a scratched area of skin, the object being to draw blood.
Decoction	a medicinal preparation in which the ingredient is boiled until the water reduces.
Deobstruent	any substance intended to open the passages and pores of the body and thereby remove obstructions.
Diaphoretic	any substance intended to encourage perspiration.
Diuretic	any substance that promotes the expulsion of urine.
Drachm	a weight originally equal to the weight of the ancient Greek coin, the drachma, now resolved at one sixteenth of an ounce.
Drench	large doses of medicine, forcibly given.
Duodenum	the first portion of the small intestine, immediately below the stomach.
Dura Mater	the hard outer membrane enclosing the brain and spinal cord, from the Latin for 'hard mother'.
Election	the doctrine that holds some individuals to be unalterably chosen by God for salvation.
Emetic	any medicine intended to induce vomiting.
Emunctory	to do with the conveyance of waste matter from the body.
Enthusiasm	exaggerated or inspired religious belief or fervour.
Errhine	any medicine, sniffed or inserted into the nose, designed to produce discharge or sneezing.
Erysipelas	St Anthony's Fire, a feverish condition accompanied by inflammation of the skin.
Exostosis	the formation of bone or of a bony tumour upon another bone or structure of the body.
Experimental	based on or derived from experience.
Extravasate	to force or let blood out from its proper vessel.
Feculency	foulness, being polluted by dregs, scum or faeces.
Fetids	drugs having an offensive smell.
Fibril	the subdivision of a fibre in a muscle or nerve.
Flannels	garments made of the loose-textured woollen stuff known as flannel.
Fluxion	the act of flowing, including any excessive flow to an organ of the body.
Flying-Post	a post travelling by relays of horses.
Fomentation	application to the skin of cloths soaked in hot or warm water.
Glyster	same as clyster.
Green Tea	tea that has been roasted straight after gathering, often artificially coloured.
Gruel	a thin liquid food made from oatmeal boiled in milk or water.
Gums	gum secreted from certain trees and shrubs, soluble in water and used medicinally.
Hackney-Coach	a four-wheeled coach, drawn by two horses and able to carry six people.
Hiera Picra	a purgative made from aloes and canella bark, sometimes mixed with honey.
Hypochondres	the left and right sides of the upper abdomen, just below the ribs.
Hypostasis	the substance, basis or essence of a thing.
Ichor	thin, acrid discharge from some wounds or sores.
Idiopathic	characteristic of a primary disease, and therefore not consequent upon any other.
Inappetency	without desire or longing.
Induration	hardening.
Integument	a covering.
Intropression	pressure directed inwards.
Ipecacuanha	root of the South American shrub, having a range of purgative properties. Ipecacuanha wine involves infusing the root in wine.
Irrefragable	obstinate, inflexible.
Issue	an incision or artificial ulcer kept from healing in order to allow discharge of blood or other fluid from the body.
Latex	the watery part of the blood, from the Latin for 'liquid'.
Laudanum	formerly any preparation including a large proportion of opium, though now referring to tincture of opium. z
Long list	The 'long list' would be those patients regarded as incurable.
Magnesia Alba	white manganese, or hydrated magnesium carbonate, cathartic medicine.
Manna	a laxative derived from the Manna ash tree.
Meatus Auditorius	the channel of the ear.
Medullar	pertaining to the medulla, or 'medulla oblongata', which is the upper part of the spinal cord. It also refers td spinal marrow and to the marrow of the bones generally.
Mittimus	a warrant, from the Latin for 'we send', for holding a named individual in custody.
Mortification	the death of tissues.
Mould	the top of the head.
Nitre	potassium nitrate (saltpetre); also a supposed nitrous element in the air.
Nosology	the listing or classifying of diseases.
Oedema	swelling caused by infiltration of water into tissues. Dropsy.
Opiate	a medicinal preparation involving opium and intended to induce sleep.
Ordinary	a daily meal served by a tavern at a fixed price.
Palpebra	an eyelid.
Parenchyma	the parts of a bodily organ that are concerned with its function, as opposed to connective tissue or flesh.
Pathogonomic	a symptom specifically characteristic of a particular disease.
Pellucid	transparent.
Pendente Lite	while the lawsuit is pending.
Pericranium	the membrane enveloping the skull, though formerly also simply the brain.
Peripneumony	pneumonia.
Phlebotomy	the opening of a vein in order to let blood.
Phlegm	mucus secreted in the respiratory passages and formerly regarded as one of the four humours governing the body and disposition hence, phlegmatic, of a cold, dull or even temper.
Phrenitis	inflammation of the brain.
Pia Mater	the delicate inner membrane covering the brain and spinal cord, from the Latin for 'tender mother'.
Plethoric	characterised by excessive fullness.
Pleurisy	the inflammation of the pleura, the thin membrane covering the surface of the lungs.
Plexus Choroides	network of nerves and vessels connecting the eye to the brain.
Poignancy	sharpness or piquancy.
Porringer	a small basin.
Gravity	corrupt or evil quality, now superseded by 'depravity'.
Preternatural	above or beyond the normal course of nature.
Ptyalism	excessive secretion of saliva.
Pulmonary	pertaining to disease of the lungs.
Quinquina	the bark of cinchona trees, producing quinine.
Recrement	superfluous or waste product of an animal or plant system.
Reprobation	the doctrine that holds certain individuals to be unalterably chosen by God for perpetual damnation.
Rheum	an excessive secretion of liquid from the eyes, nose or mouth.
Salivation	treatment that involves stimulating the excessive production of saliva, usually by the administration of mercury.
Sanguine	relating to blood and formerly regarded as one of the four humours governing the body and temper hence, of an optimistic, courageous and amorous disposition.
Scapula	the shoulder-blade.
Scorbutic	relating to scurvy.
Sensorium	the percipient focus of sense-impressions in the brain.
Seton	a thread or tape drawn through the skin to allow discharge and prevent healing.
Sinapism	a poultice made from mustard flour.
Sizy	thick and glutinous.
Solutive	a laxative.
Sordes	foul matter collecting in or on the body.
Spoon-Meat	soft or liquid food to be taken with a spoon by invalids.
Stickle	to stand up for, to strive or contend on behalf of.
Stone	a calculus or small stone that has developed within the body's secretion system, usually the bladder or kidneys.
Subdolous	cunning.
Sudorific	any medicine intended to induce perspiration.
Suppurate	to form or secrete pus.
Systasis	an alliance, synthesis or collection.
Tartar	an emetic comprising antimony and potassium tartrate.
Tester	a canopy over a bed, supported either by bed-posts or from the ceiling.
Thorax	the organs of the chest.
Tick	linen or cotton covering for the feathers or flock of a mattress.
Tincture	essential principle of a substance suspended in alcohol.
Tissick	a corruption of `phthisic', a wasting lung disease, though the term also referred to asthma or a severe cough.
Toast	a toasted slice of bread steeped in water or other liquid and used, generally, as a drink for invalids.
Tormina	acute griping or wringing pains in the bowels.
Tow	fibrous material used as wadding in a pistol.
Trachea	the windpipe.
Tunica Arachnoides	delicate membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord, lying between the pia mater and the dura mater.
Unctuous	oily, or involving ointment.
Vapours	depression of spirits supposed to arise from the presence of exhalations within the bodily organs.
Vellicate	to irritate, tickle or twitch.
Venery	sexual pleasure.
Venesection	the operation of opening a vein to let blood.
Ventricle	one of usually four cavities in the adult brain.
Vesicatory	any application intended to raise blisters on the skin.
Vesicle	a small cavity or sac covered by a membrane.
Viscera	the internal organs of the body.
Vitriol	a sulphate of metal used medicinally, especially sulphate of iron; oil of vitriol is concentrated sulphuric acid.
Volatiles	substances liable to evaporate or diffuse at ordinary temperatures, especially volatile salts, such as sal volatile, a solution of ammonia.
Wool-Stapler	someone who buys wool from the producer and sells it on, graded for quality, to the manufacturer.

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