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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
A device for killing bacteria and other organisms on surgical supplies, bacteriology test tubes and Petri dishes etcetera, by steam at high temperature and pressure.
But take a look at Webster's 1913 definition:"
Autoclave (Au"to*clave) n. [F., fr. Gr. a'yto`s self + L. clavis key.] A kind of French stewpan with a steam-tight lid. Knight.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. autoclave SYLLABICATION: au·to·clave PRONUNCIATION: ôt-klv NOUN: A strong, pressurized, steam-heated vessel, as for laboratory experiments, sterilization, or cooking. ETYMOLOGY: French : Greek auto-, auto- + Latin clvis, key (from the fact that it is self-locking from the pressurization).
Notice AHD doesn't even mention surgical supplies, which is its most important application.
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
So, what's the device that spins round test tubes to separate out their contents called then?
Bingley
Bingley
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
Bingley
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