| 释义 |
lignum nephriticum, n. Med. and Science. Now hist.
Brit. |ˈlɪgnəm nɪˈfrɪtɪkəm|, U.S. |ˈˌlɪgnəm nəˈfrɪdɪk(ə)m|
[‹ post-classical Latin lignum nephriticum (1592 or earlier) > n.1) + post-classical Latin nephriticum (see nephritic adj.1).]
A tropical wood used, in the form of an aqueous infusion, to treat diseases or pain of the kidneys (esp. kidney stones). Cf. nephritic wood n. at nephritic n. and adj.1 Special uses.
Aqueous infusions of lignum nephriticum were also well known for their changeable colour, which was later explained as fluorescence. Lignum nephriticum was originally the product of a tropical American tree (probably Eysenhardtia polystachya (family Leguminosae (Papilionoideae)), but it may later have been obtained from an Old World species (perh. Pterocarpus indicus of East and South-East Asia).
1640J. Parkinson Theatrum Botanicum xvii. cxl. 1664 Lignum Nephriticum. The tree against the stone. 1663R. Boyle Usefulnesse Nat. Philos. ii. ii. 128 Whilst it [sc. Saccharum Saturni] lyes dissolved in the same Spirit of Vinager which extracted it from the Metal, being put to the bare Infusion of Log-wood, Lignum Nephriticum, red Roses (to name those I now remember I made tryal of) they will precipitate each other. 1672I. Newton in Philos. Trans. 1671 (Royal Soc.) 6 3084 The odd Phænomena of an infusion of Lignum Nephriticum, Leaf gold, Fragments of coloured glass, and some other transparently coloured bodies, appearing in one position of one colour, and of another in another. 1754Dict. Arts & Sci. III. 2203/2 Nephritic wood, lignum nephriticum, a wood of a very dense and compact texture, and of a fine grain, brought us from New Spain... The tree is the coatli of Hernandez. 1797Encycl. Brit. VIII. 176/2 The wood [of moringa] dyes a beautiful blue colour. It is the lignum nephriticum, or nephritic wood, of the dispensatories. 1845Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 135143 In the infusion of lignum nephriticum..the reflected tint arises from suspended particles too minute, or too nearly of the specific gravity of the liquid, to be separated by subsidence. 1916W. E. Safford in Ann. Rep. Board of Regents Smithsonian Inst. 1915 271 Lignum nephriticum is a remarkable wood which was celebrated throughout Europe.., not only for its reputed medicinal virtues but on account of the strange color phenomena displayed by its infusion in spring water. 1958Q. Rev. Biol. 33 59/2 The pharmacopeia-by-intuition (which prescribed, at various times, powdered fireflies, lignum nephriticum, and phosphorus for kidney stone). 1983Phytochemistry 23 168/1 In the middle of the seventeenth century a second lignum nephriticum was imported to Europe from the Philippines and for part of its journey was transported overland through Mexico. |