| NCA | National Certification Agency; National Council on Aging; National Council on Alcoholism; neurocircu... |
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| NIA | National Institute on Aging; nephelometric inhibition assay; niacin; no information available; Nutri... |
| OSA | obstructive sleep apnea; Office of Services to the Aging; Optical Society of America; ovarian sectio... |
| PAR | participating provider; passive avoidance reaction; perennial allergic rhinitis; photosynthetically ... |
| PCA | para-chloramphetamine; parietal cell antibody; passive cutaneous anaphylaxis; patient care assistant... |
| black cataract | A cataract in which the lens is hardened and of a dark brown colour. In the 19th century, German black cataract meant gutta severa (q.v.). Synonym: cataracta brunescens, cataracta nigra. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Black Death | <disease, organism> Yersinina pestis is a gram-negative, rod-shaped, faculatively anaerobic bacterial species in the family Enterobacteriaceae. It causes bubonic plaque, which is transmitted by rodent fleas. Historically known as the Black Plague, this disease devastated Europe and Asia in the 1300s. It still exists today and is characterised by sudden high fever, chills, excessively swollen and tender lymph nodes (buboes), followed by tissue bleeding and gangrene. Other complications include pneumonia and septicaemia. (12 Nov 1997) |
| black disease | A disease of sheep caused by the bacterium Clostridium novyi, which invades livers damaged by the fluke Fasciola hepatica and causes severe necrosis and death; this disease occurs in nearly all parts of the world, including the U.S. Sometimes called black disease because of the extensive haemorrhages seen on the inner surface of the pelt when it is removed. Synonym: black disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| black-dot ringworm | Tinea capitis due most commonly to Trichophyton tonsurans or T. Violaceum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Black, Douglas | <person> Scottish physician, *1909. See: Black's formula. (05 Mar 2000) |
| black eye | Ecchymosis of the lids and their surroundings. (05 Mar 2000) |
| black fever | An acute tick-borne illness caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii. The disease is characterised by sudden onset of headache, chills and fever which can persist for 2-3 weeks. A characteristic rash appears on the extremities and trunk about the 4th day of illness. (27 Sep 1997) |
| black friar | A friar of the Dominican order; called also predicant and preaching friar; in France, Jacobin. Also, sometimes, a Benedictine. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Black, Greene | <person> U.S. Dentist, 1836-1915. See: Black's classification. (05 Mar 2000) |
| black-hearted | Having a wicked, malignant disposition; morally bad. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| black heel | Traumatic haemorrhage into the stratum corneum of the heel which may persist for several weeks as centrally confluent black dots. Synonym: black heel. (05 Mar 2000) |
| black hole | A dungeon or dark cell in a prison; a military lock-up or guardroom; now commonly with allusion to the cell (the Black Hole) in a fort at Calcutta, into which 146 English prisoners were thrust by the nabob Suraja Dowla on the night of June 20, 17656, and in which 123 of the prisoners died before morning from lack of air. "A discipline of unlimited autocracy, upheld by rods, and ferules, and the black hole." (H. Spencer) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| black-jack | 1. <chemical> A name given by English miners to sphalerite, or zinc blende; called also false galena. See Blende. 2. Caramel or burnt sugar, used to colour wines, spirits, ground coffee, etc. 3. A large leather vessel for beer, etc. 4. <botany> The Quercus nigra, or barren oak. 5. The ensign of a pirate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| black lead | Plumbago; graphite.It leaves a blackish mark somewhat like lead. See Graphite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| black line | The linea alba in pregnancy, which then becomes pigmented. Synonym: black line. (05 Mar 2000) |