CHYMISTRY
\t͡ʃˈa͡ɪmɪstɹi], \tʃˈaɪmɪstɹi], \tʃ_ˈaɪ_m_ɪ_s_t_ɹ_i]\
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A branch of the natural sciences, whose object is to investigate the nature and properties of bodies, simple and compound, inorganic and organized; and to study the force or power, by virtue of which every combination is effected. It investigates the action between the integrant molecules or atoms of bodies. Organ'ic Chemistry, Chymi'a organ'ica, Organochemi'a, is the chymistry of organized substances, -animal and vegetable. Animal Chym'istry, Zooch'emy or Zooch'ymy, Zoochemi'a, is the chymistry of substances afforded by the dead or living animal body. This branch of chymistry has been farther subdivided into physiological, when it considers the changes produced in organized bodies in health,-pathological, when it regards those produced by organic or other diseases. Anthropoch'ymy, Anthropochemi'a, is the chymistry of the human body. Chymistry is called Therapeu'tical or Pharmaceu' tical, Pharmaco-chymi'a, Chymi'a pharmaceu'tica, when it is engaged in the analysis of simple medicines; in improving the prescribing and preparing of chemical and Galenical medicines; in the means of preparing them, and detecting adulterations, &c. Hygien'ic Chym'istry is that which is applied to the means of rendering habitations healthy, of analyzing the air we breathe, preventing the occurrence of disease, pointing out healthy aliments, and appreciating the influence of professions, &c., on the health of man. All these different subdivisions, with vegetable chymistry, are, at times, included under the head of Medical Chym'istry, Phytochymistry; at others, the term comprehends only the Animal, Vegetable and Pharmaceutical subdivisions. Vital Chemistry, Biochymi'a, is that which is exerted under the influence of vitality. Histoch'ymy, Histochemi'a, Histo-chem'istry, is the chemistry of the tissues, and Phlegmatoch'emy, that of the animal humours, (Lehmann). A knowledge of chemistry is of great importance to the physician. Many of the functions are of a chemical nature: many diseases require a chemical mode of treatment; and, without an acquaintance with it, two or more substances might be given in combination, which, by forming a chemical union, might give rise to other compounds, possessing very different virtues from the components taken singly, and thus the prescriber be disappointed in the results.
By Robley Dunglison
Word of the day
basidiomycota
- comprises fungi bearing the spores on basidium: Gasteromycetes (puffballs); Tiliomycetes (comprising orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts)); Hymenomycetes (mushrooms; toadstools; agarics; bracket fungi); in some classification systems considered a division of kingdom comprises fungi bearing spores on a basidium; includes Gasteromycetes (puffballs) Tiliomycetes comprising the orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts) Hymenomycetes (mushrooms, toadstools, agarics bracket fungi).