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tarantella

(Encyclopedia)tarantella târˈəntĕlˈə [key], Neapolitan folk dance that first appeared in Taranto, Italy, in the 17th cent. It had rapid 6–8 meter with an increasing tempo and was thought to cure the bite of...

spavin

(Encyclopedia)spavin spăvˈĭn [key], disease of horses affecting the hock joint. There are two types—bog spavin, in which the hock joint is distended as a result of the collection of synovial fluid; and bone sp...

arrhythmia

(Encyclopedia)arrhythmia ārĭᵺˈmēə [key], disturbance in the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. Various arrhythmias can be symptoms of serious heart disorders; however, they are usually of no medical significan...

arteriosclerosis

(Encyclopedia)arteriosclerosis ärtĭrˌēōsklərōˈsis [key], general term for a condition characterized by thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls of the blood vessels. These changes are freq...

Leloir, Luis Federico

(Encyclopedia)Leloir, Luis Federico, 1906–87, Argentine biochemist, b. France, M.D. Univ. of Buenos Aires, 1932, Ph.D. Leloir was a researcher at the Univ. of Buenos Aires from 1932 to 1943. He then taught briefl...

lymphoma

(Encyclopedia)lymphoma, a cancer of the tissue of the lymphatic system. There are two categories of lymphomas. One type is termed Hodgkin's disease, the other, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (see lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's). ...

Nashoba

(Encyclopedia)Nashoba năshōˈbə [key], former community, Shelby co., SW Tenn., on the Wolf River just E of Memphis. It was established (1825) by Frances Wright and others, influenced by the model of New Harmony,...

Hartford Foundation

(Encyclopedia)Hartford Foundation, fund established (1929) by retail food merchants John A. Hartford (1872–1951) and George L. Hartford (1864–1957) of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P) as a p...

abracadabra

(Encyclopedia)abracadabra ăbˌrəkədăbˈrə [key], magical formula used by the Gnostics (see Gnosticism) to invoke the aid of benevolent spirits to ward off disease and affliction. It is supposed to be derived f...

distemper

(Encyclopedia)distemper, in veterinary medicine, highly contagious, catarrhal, often fatal disease of dogs. It also affects wolves, foxes, mink, raccoons, and ferrets. Distemper is caused by a filtrable virus that ...