Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The operation whereby a part of the shaft of a long bone (e.g. humerus, femur) is excised. Removal of part of the shaft of a long bone.  

An over-the-counter drug used to relieve dry, irritating, persistent coughs, this opioid acts as a cough suppressant. It is available either alone or in combination with other drugs in linctuses, lozenges and syrups prepared to provide symptomatic relief for coughs and colds.  

A drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It can be used to treat narcolepsy and hyperactive children but should not be used to combat obesity or treat depression. It is also a drug of abuse.  

An agent which binds to heavy metals (chelating agent) used in the treatment of iron poisoning and thalassaemia. An intriguing medication is employed to eliminate surplus iron from the body’s tissues, which builds up due to recurrent blood transfusions in specific forms of anemia, namely aplastic anemia and thalassemia. Moreover, it serves as a remedy…

Dermographism, or factitious URTICARIA, refers to transient erythema and wealing caused by trauma to the skin. A form of urticaria (hives) in which a pale raised wheal and red flare are produced on the skin when it is gently stroked or scratched. Dermographism is a condition characterized by an exaggerated sensitivity of the skin to…

The removal of the surface layer of the skin by high-speed planing or sanding. Originally, dermabrasion was performed to improve the appearance of scars that resulted from injury or disease. It is now also used to treat acne scars, remove tattoos, and correct sun-related skin damage such as fine wrinkles and age spots. Dermabrasion, or…

A measure of an individual’s or group’s lack of normal social amenities such as proper housing, diet and warmth. It was devised to help assess the medical services needed by a socially deprived population.  

A form of chronic body sore occurring in Eastern countries, caused by a protozoan parasite, Leishmania tropica. An ulcer resulting from a leishmaniasis infection.  

Malformations or distortions of part of the body. They may be present at birth, or they may be the result of injuries, or disease, or simply produced by bad posture, like the curved spine occasionally found in children.