| Tuber | n.[ L., a hump. knob; probably akin to tumere to swell. Cf. Tumid. ] 1. (Bot.) (a) A fleshy, rounded stem or root, usually containing starchy matter, as the potato or arrowroot; a thickened root-stock. See Illust. of Tuberous. (b) A genus of fungi. See Truffle. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Anat.) A tuberosity; a tubercle. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Tubercle | n. [ L. tuberculum, dim. of tuber: cf. F. tubercule, OF. also tubercle. See Tuber. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. A small knoblike prominence or excrescence, whether natural or morbid; as, a tubercle on a plant; a tubercle on a bone; the tubercles appearing on the body in leprosy. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Med.) A small mass or aggregation of morbid matter; especially, the deposit which accompanies scrofula or phthisis. This is composed of a hard, grayish, or yellowish, translucent or opaque matter, which gradually softens, and excites suppuration in its vicinity. It is most frequently found in the lungs, causing consumption. [ 1913 Webster ]
Tubercle bacillus (Med.), a minute vegetable organism (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, formerly Bacillus tuberculosis, and also called Koch's bacillus) discovered by Koch, a German physician, in the sputum of consumptive patients and in tuberculous tissue. It is the causative agent of tuberculosis. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]
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| Tubercular | a. 1. Having tubercles; affected with tubercles; tubercled; tuberculate. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Like a tubercle; as, a tubercular excrescence. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Med.) Characterized by the development of tubercles; as, tubercular diathesis. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Tuberculin test | The hypodermic injection of tuberculin, used as a test for past or present infection with tuberculosis. It is used both for humans and cattle. In humans, a previous or acive infection with tuberculosis will cause a distinct reaction to the injection of tuberculin. The test is thus used to screen populations to discover those who may harbor an active tuberculosis infection, and more definitive tests are performed on those showing a positive reaction, to determine if the infection is active. In cattle there is little or no effect of the injection of tuberculin on healthy animals, but there is a marked rise in temperature in tuberculous animals. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ] |
