| nutmeg | <botany> The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans), a native of the Molucca Islands, but cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. This fruit is a nearly spherical drupe, of the size of a pear, of a yellowish colour without and almost white within. This opens into two nearly equal longitudinal valves, inclosing the nut surrounded by its aril, which is mace The nutmeg is an aromatic, very grateful to the taste and smell, and much used in cookery. Other species of Myristica yield nutmegs of inferior quality. American, Calabash, or Jamaica, nutmeg, the fruit of a tropical shrub (Monodora Myristica). It is about the size of an orange, and contains many aromatic seeds imbedded in pulp. Brazilian nutmeg, the fruit of a lauraceous tree, Cryptocarya moschata. California nutmeg, tree of the Yew family (Torreya Californica), growing in the Western United States, and having a seed which resembles a nutmeg in appearance, but is strongly impregnated with turpentine. Clove nutmeg, the Ravensara aromatica, a laura ceous tree of Madagascar. The foliage is used as a spice, but the seed is acrid and caustic. Jamaica nutmeg. See American nutmeg (above). <zoology> Nutmeg bird, an Indian finch (Munia punctularia). Nutmeg butter, a solid oil extracted from the nutmeg by expression. <botany> Nutmeg flower, a spicy tree of Australia (Atherosperma moschata). Origin: OE. Notemuge; note nut + OF. Muge musk, of the same origin as E. Musk; cf. OF. Noix muguette nutmeg, F. Noix muscade. See Nut, and Musk. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| nutmeg liver | Chronic passive congestion of the liver, causing accentuation of the lobular pattern with red central and yellow or tan periportal zones. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nutmeg oil | The volatile oil distilled from the dried kernels of the ripe seeds of Myristica fragrans; used as a flavoring agent and a carminative; in large quantities, it may produce narcosis and delirium; the fixed oil expressed from M. Fragrans is used as a rubefacient. Synonym: myristica oil. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ackee poisoning | An acute and frequently fatal vomiting disease associated with central nervous system symptoms and marked hypoglycaemia, caused by eating unripe ackee fruit of Blighia spaida, a tree common in Jamaica. Synonym: Jamaican vomiting sickness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arsenic poisoning | A severe poisoning that occurs after the exposure (ingested or inhaled). Signs and symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid heart rate, apprehension and difficulty breathing. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bacterial food poisoning | A term commonly used to refer to conditions limited to enteritis or gastroenteritis (excluding the enteric fevers and the dysenteries) caused by bacterial multiplication per se or by a soluble bacterial exotoxin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blister beetle poisoning | Poisoning, most often of horses, by ingestion of blister beetles (Epicauta spp.) in hay; the causative toxin is cantharidin, which produces salivation, shock, pollakiuria, and colic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood poisoning | See: septicaemia, pyaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bracken poisoning | A disease of cattle caused by long-term, low-level consumption of the bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) and characterised by haemorrhages or tumours in the bladder. Synonym: bracken poisoning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cadmium poisoning | Poisoning occurring after exposure to cadmium compounds or fumes. It may cause gastrointestinal syndromes, anaemia, or pneumonitis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| carbon disulfide poisoning | Acute or chronic intoxication by CS2, an industrial condition encountered among rubber workers and makers of artificial silk (rayon) by the viscose process; characterised by insomnia, listlessness, and irritability, followed by paralyses, impaired vision, peptic ulcer, and psychoses. (05 Mar 2000) |
| carbon monoxide poisoning | Toxic asphyxiation due to the displacement of oxygen from oxyhemoglobin by carbon monoxide. (12 Dec 1998) |
| radiation poisoning | A systemic condition caused by substantial whole-body irradiation, seen after nuclear explosions or accidents, rarely after radiotherapy. Manifestations depend on dose, ranging from anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and mild leukopenia, to thrombocytopenia with haemorrhage, severe leukopenia with infection, anaemia, central nervous system damage, and death. Synonym: radiation poisoning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin carbamoylase | <enzyme> Hydrolytic enzyme from shellfish converts saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin, gonyautoxins 1 - 4 to the corresponding decarbamoyl toxins Registry number: EC 3.1.1.- Synonym: pcp toxin carbamoylase, saxitoxin carbamoylase (26 Jun 1999) |
| mercury poisoning | A disease usually caused by the ingestion of mercury or mercury compounds, which are toxic in relation to their ability to produce mercuric ions; usually acute mercury poisoning is associated with ulcerations of the stomach and intestine and toxic changes in the renal tubules; anuria and anaemia may occur; usually chronic mercury poisoning is a result of industrial poisoning and causes gastrointestinal or central nervous system manifestations including stomatitis, diarrhoea, ataxia, tremor, hyperreflexia, sensorineural impairment, and emotional instability (Mad Hatter syndrome). Synonym: hydrargyria, hydrargyrism, mercurialism. (05 Mar 2000) |