| talc | <chemical> A soft mineral of a soapy feel and a greenish, whitish, or grayish colour, usually occurring in foliated masses. It is hydrous silicate of magnesia. Steatite, or soapstone, is a compact granular variety. Indurated talc, an impure, slaty talc, with a nearly compact texture, and greater hardness than common talc. Synonym: talc slate. Origin: F. Talc; cf. Sp. & It. Talco, LL. Talcus; all fr. Ar. Talq. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| talc operation | An obsolete operation in which magnesium silicate (talc) powder is applied to the epicardium to create a sterile granulomatous pericarditis and thus promote pericardial anastomoses with the coronary circulation. Synonym: poudrage. (05 Mar 2000) |