| poison | 1. Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly effect upon it; as, morphine is a deadly poison; the poison of pestilential diseases. 2. That which taints or destroys moral purity or health; as, the poison of evil example; the poison of sin. Poison ash. <botany> A poisonous shrub of the genus Rhus (R. Venenata); also called poison ash, poison dogwood, and poison elder. It has pinnate leaves on graceful and slender common petioles, and usually grows in swampy places. Both this plant and the poison ivy (Rhus Toxicodendron) have clusters of smooth greenish white berries, while the red-fruited species of this genus are harmless. The tree (Rhus vernicifera) which yields the celebrated Japan lacquer is almost identical with the poison sumac, and is also very poisonous. The juice of the poison sumac also forms a lacquer similar to that of Japan. Synonym: Venom, virus, bane, pest, malignity. Poison, Venom. Poison usually denotes something received into the system by the mouth, breath, etc. Venom is something discharged from animals and received by means of a wound, as by the bite or sting of serpents, scorpions, etc. Hence, venom specifically implies some malignity of nature or purpose. Origin: F. Poison, in Old French also, a potion, fr. L. Potio a drink, draught, potion, a poisonous draught, fr. Potare to drink. See Potable, and cf. Potion. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| poison control centres | Facilities which provide information concerning poisons and treatment of poisoning in emergencies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| poison ivy | <botany> A plant that causes a marked allergic (contact) dermatitis in the majority of individuals. (27 Sep 1997) |
| poison oak | Poison oak is a form of contact dermatitis or inflammation of the skin resulting from chemicals produced from the poison oak plant contacting the skin. The chemicals cause an immune reaction producing redness, itching and blistering of the skin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| poisoning | <radiobiology> Buildup of ash and impurities in a fusion plasma tends to reduce the quality of the plasma and reduce the fusion output, this sort of process is sometimes called poisioning the reactor or the plasma. See: ash, impurities. (09 Oct 1997) |
| poisonous | Characterised by, having the characteristics of, or containing a poison. Synonym: toxic, toxicant, toxiferous, venenous. (05 Mar 2000) |
| poisons | Substances which, when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed, or when applied to, injected into, or developed within the body in relatively small amounts may, by their chemical action, cause damage to structure or disturbance of function. (12 Dec 1998) |
| poisson distribution | <epidemiology> The distribution which arises when parasites are distributed at random amongst hosts. (05 Dec 1998) |
| Poisson, Simeon Denis | <person> French mathematician, 1781-1840. See: Poisson distribution, Poisson-Pearson formula. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Poisson-Pearson formula | A formula to determine the statistical error in calculating the endemic index of malaria: let N = total number of children under 15 years in a locality; n = total number examined for the spleen-rate; x = number found with enlarged spleen; (x/n)100 = spleen-rate; e% = percentage of error; the percentage error will be, by this formula: (05 Mar 2000) |
| Poitou colic | Severe colicky abdominal pain, with constipation, symptomatic of lead poisoning. Synonym: Devonshire colic, painter's colic, Poitou colic, saturnine colic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| poke | <botany> A large North American herb of the genus Phytolacca (P. Decandra), bearing dark purple juicy berries; called also garget, pigeon berry, pocan, and pokeweed. The root and berries have emetic and purgative properties, and are used in medicine. The young shoots are sometimes eaten as a substitute for asparagus, and the berries are said to be used in Europe to colour wine. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pokebag | <zoology> The European long-tailed titmouse; called also poke-pudding. Origin: So called in allusion to its baglike nest. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| poker | 1. One who pokes. 2. That which pokes or is used in poking, especially a metal bar or rod used in stirring a fire of coals. 3. A poking-stick. 4. <zoology> The poachard. Poker picture, a picture formed in imitation of bisterwashed drawings, by singeing the surface of wood with a heated poker or other iron. Origin: From Poke to push. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| poker back | Arthritis and osteitis deformans involving the spinal column; marked by nodular deposits at the edges of the intervertebral disks with ossification of the ligaments and bony ankylosis of the intervertebral articulations, it results in a rounded kyphosis with rigidity. Synonym: Bechterew's disease, poker back, Strumpell's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |