| blind study | A study in which the experimenter is unaware of which group is subject to which procedure. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| blind test | A method of testing in which an independent observer records the results of any test, drug, placebo, or procedure without knowing the identity of the samples or what result might be expected. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blinded study | Clinical trials of drugs are often done blinded so that the patient does not know (is blinded as to) whether they are receiving the product being tested or the control/placebo to ensure that the results of a study are not affected by a possible placebo effect (by the power of suggestion). (12 Dec 1998) |
| blindfish | <marine biology> A small fish (Amblyopsis spelaeus) destitute of eyes, found in the waters of the Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky. Related fishes from other caves take the same name. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blinding disease | Infection with nematodes of the genus onchocerca. Characteristics include the presence of firm subcutaneous nodules filled with adult worms, pruritus, and ocular lesions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blinding glare | Glare resulting from excessive illumination. Synonym: veiling glare. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blindness | The inability to see or the loss or absence of perception of visual stimuli. This condition may be the result of disorders in the organs of sight or of damage or injury to certain areas of the brain. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blindness, cortical | Total loss of vision in all or part of the visual field due to a lesion in the striate area, characterised by the patient's subjective unawareness of his disability and the absence of cortical functions of vision, with the subcortical functions intact. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blindworm | <zoology> A small, burrowing, snakelike, limbless lizard (Anguis fragilis), with minute eyes, popularly believed to be blind; the slowworm; formerly a name for the adder. "Newts and blindworms do no wrong." (Shak) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blinking | Brief closing of the eyelids by involuntary normal periodic closing, as a protective measure, or by voluntary action. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blister | 1. A vesicle of the skin, containing watery matter or serum, whether occasioned by a burn or other injury, or by a vesicatory; a collection of serous fluid causing a bladderlike elevation of the cuticle. "And painful blisters swelled my tender hands." (Grainger) 2. Any elevation made by the separation of the film or skin, as on plants; or by the swelling of the substance at the surface, as on steel. 3. A vesicatory; a plaster of Spanish flies, or other matter, applied to raise a blister. Blister beetle, a beetle used to raise blisters, especially. The Lytta (or Cantharis) vesicatoria, called Cantharis or Spanish fly by druggists. See Cantharis. Blister fly, a blister beetle. Blister plaster, a plaster designed to raise a blister; usually made of Spanish flies. Blister steel, crude steel formed from wrought iron by cementation; so called because of its blistered surface. Called also blistered steel. Blood blister. See Blood. Origin: OE.; akin to OD. Bluyster, fr. The same root as blast, bladder, blow. See Blow to eject wind. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blister agent | <chemistry, pharmacology> Refers to a chemical or agent that causes blisters. (09 Oct 1997) |
| 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) |
| blister pack | A package consisting of a clear plastic overlay affixed to a cardboard backing for protecting and displaying a product. (18 Nov 1997) |
| blistering | <geology> The state of containing vesicles, or the process by which vesicles are formed. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |