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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
Definition: \Phthi"sis\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to pass or waste
away: cf. F. phthisie.] (Med.)
A wasting or consumption of the tissues. The term was
formerly applied to many wasting diseases, but is now usually
restricted to pulmonary phthisis, or consumption. See
{Consumption}.
{Fibroid phthisis}. See under {Fibroid}.
I think Webster 1913 may have been behind the times in
saying "consumption" for tuberculosis, but I don't know
the date of the latter term.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
Consumption:
Another name for Tuberculosis, commonly used before the 20th century. People who had consumption were referred to as consumptives.Sorry, I guess that's as specific as it gets. I did find these interesting "cures" for consumption here http://www.harvestfields.netfirms.com/food/02/42.htmAnd for all you white wine drinkers, another good reason to keep on drinking...it helps you breathe better! http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s559468.htm
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
Looks like I shall have to double my intake to drink white wine as well as red! 
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
The corresponding verb in Greek is phthino 'to annihilate, destroy', Skt kshinati, from *gwhðei(@)- 'to pass away, vanish; destroy'; much discussed in Calvert Watkins How to Kill a Dragon: Aspects of Indo-European Poetics.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
> much discussed in Calvert Watkins How to Kill a Dragon: Aspects of Indo-European Poetics. Please tell me you're taking the pthisis with thisis! 
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
Please tell me you're taking the pthisis with thisis!
Well, I meant the root that phthisis comes from. Watkins reconstructs a formulaic sentence / phrase from PIE: roughly "The hero destroys the dragon." It occupies about the last 1/3 of the book. It's really the best example of what IE philologists do, written in English, and easily accessible (in that you can find it in public libraries and bookstores).
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Not in our library. Looks like I'm gone hafta buy it.
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