Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Calculi
The general name given to concretions in, for example, the urinary bladder kidneys or gall-bladder. Unusual mineral salt formations occurring within the body of an animal.
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Caesarean Section
The operation used to deliver a baby through its mother’s abdominal wall. It is performed when the risks to mother or child of vaginal delivery are thought to outweigh the problems associated with operative delivery. An elective section is one that is preplanned because of a known hazard; an emergency section is one performed urgently…
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Bypass Operation
A technique by which narrowing or blockage of an artery, vein or a section of the gastrointestinal tract is bypassed using surgery. Arterial blockages — usually caused by atherosclerosis — in the carotid, coronary or iliofemoral arteries are bypassed utilising sections of artery or vein taken from elsewhere in the patient. Tumour growths in the…
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Burns and Scald
Burns are injuries caused by dry heat, scalds by moist heat, but the two are similar in symptoms and treatment. Severe burns are also caused by contact with electric wires, and by the action of acids and other chemicals. The burn caused by chemicals differs from a burn by fire only in the fact that…
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Burning Feet
A syndrome characterised by a burning sensation in the soles of the feet. It is rare in temperate climes but widespread in India and the Far East. The precise cause is not known, but it is associated with malnutrition; lack of one or more components of the vitamin B complex is the likeliest cause.
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Budgerigar-Fancier’s Lung
Budgerigar-Fancier’s Lung is a form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis, resulting from sensitization to budgerigars, or parakeets as they are known in North America. Skin tests have revealed sensitization to the birds’ droppings and/or serum. As it is estimated that budgerigars are kept in 5-6 million homes in Britain, current figures suggest that anything up to…
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Bronchopleural Fistula
An abnormal communication between the tracheo-bronchial tree and the pleural cavity. Most commonly occurring from breakdown of the bronchial stump following pneumonectomy, it may also be caused by trauma, neoplasia or inflammation. An abnormal opening between the pleural space and an airway in the lung. An anomalous linkage between a respiratory conduit and the pleural…
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British Medical Association
A membership organization which looks after the professional and personal needs of doctors in the UK, about 2 out of 3 doctors being members. It is also a trade union and negotiates doctors’ terms and conditions of service. It is not a disciplinary body.
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British Dental Association
The professional association and trade union for UK dentists. It has about 23,000 members.
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British Approved Names
The officially approved name for a medicinal substance used in the UK. A 1992 European Union directive required the use of a Recommended International Non-proprietary Name (rINN) for these substances. Usually the BAN and rINN were identical; where there was a difference, the rINN nomenclature is now used. An exception is adrenaline, which remains the…
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