L
lacerated. Torn.
lacuna. A small gap or hollow space.
lacuna, osseous. A space in the Haversian system occupied by bone-corpuscle.
lacunar resorption. Absorption of lacunae.
lamella. One of the plates forming the Haversian system of bone.
lancet. A surgical knife with a two-edged blade.
lancinating. A sharp, cutting pain.
Lassar’s paste. An ointment containing salicylic acid, talcum and zinc oxide.
laughing gas. Nitrous oxide gas.
lead and opium wash. See Wash.
leucemia. A disease of the blood marked by persistent leucocytosis.
leucocyte. White blood corpuscle or a white cell.
leucocytosis. An increase in the number of white cells in the blood.
leukos. White, as in leucocyte, a white blood cell.
ligament. A band or sheet of fibrous tissue connecting two or more bones, cartilages or other structures or serving as support for fasciae or muscle.
ligature. A thread or the like tied about a blood vessel or other structure to constrict it.
linimentum. Liniment. A medicament in alcohol, oil or water, applied by friction to the skin.
l. aconiti et chloroformi. Anodyne application.
l. ammoniae. Counter irritant.
l. ammonii iodidi. Discutient.
l. calcis. To mollify burns and scalds.
l. camphorae. A mild counterirritant.
l. chloroformi. Anodyne and rubefacient.
l. crotonis. Counterirritant.
l. hydrargyri. Anti-syphilitic.
l. iodi. Discutient.
l. opii. Anodyne.
l. saponis. A base for other liniments.
l. sinapis. Counterirritant.
l. terebinthinae. Soothing application.
lint. A soft absorbent material used in surgical dressings.
lipoma. A fatty tumor.
liquor. Solution of a nonvolatile substance.
l. acidi chromici. Used, well diluted, as a wash in bromidrosis.
l. alumini acetatis (Burows’ solution). For external use as an astringent and antiseptic.
l. antisepticus. A mouthwash.
l. bromi. Antiseptic.
l. Burowii. Astringent and antiseptic (See l. alum. acet.)
l. caoutchouc. For rubber skin.
l. cresolis compositus. Antiseptic and disinfectant where vesicles form.
l. ferri persulphatis. Styptic.
l. ferrisub sulphatis. Monsel’s solution. Styptic.
l. hydrargyri nitratis. Caustic application.
l. iodi carbolatus. Antiseptic counterirritant.
l. plumbi subacetatis. For bruises and sprains.
l. sodii boratis compositus. Dobell’s solution. An alkaline antiseptic preparation.
l. sodii ethylatis. Employed externally as a caustic.
l. sodii silicatis. Used in surgery for applying splints.
l. zinci chlorodi. Disinfectant and deodorant.
listerine. Trade name of a solution containing boric acid, benzoic acid, thymol and other substances.
Lister’s method. Antiseptic surgery.
lith. Stone, as in lithology, the branch of medical science, relating to calculi or concretions.
litter. A stretcher for carrying the sick or wounded.
locomotor ataxia (tabes dorsalis). Hardening of the posterior columns, ganglia, roots and peripheral nerves of the spinal cord.
logos. Treatise, as in Pathology, a branch of medical science which treats of disease in all its relations.
lotio. Latin for lotion or wash.
l. hydrargyri flava. Yellow mercurial wash.
l. hydrargyri nigra. Black mercurial wash. (Both of the above are used as applications to venereal sores).
l. plumbi et opii. Lead and opium wash. Applied to sprains and bruises.
luetic. Syphilitic.
luetin test. A skin test for the diagnosis of syphilis.
lumen. The space in the interior of a tubular structure, such as an artery.
lunula. The opaque, whitish, semi-lunar area near the root of the nail.
lymph. A clear yellow fluid found in the lymph spaces or lymphatic vessels of the body.
lymphangioma. New formation of lymphatic vessels.
lymphangitis. Inflammation of lymphatic vessels.
lymphoma. A tumor of lymphoid tissue.
lysis. Solution, as in analysis, the breaking up of a chemical compound into its simpler elements. Also the gradual subsidence of symptoms in a disease as distinguished from crisis.
lysol. Trade name of a mixture of soaps and phenols; used as a disinfectant.