Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A diarrheal illness caused by Pseudomonas species, associated with high fever, a rose-colored  spotted rash that resembles typhoid, and headache. The infection is usually contracted in the tropics.  

Treatment that has no known therapeutic effect. Such treatment may be employed by clinical researchers who are trying to determine whether another intervention will be more effective than doing nothing. Sham therapies are also sometimes used by people engaging in health care fraud.  

Religion of certain peoples of northern Asia who believe good and evil spirits pervade the world and can be influenced only by shamans acting as mediums.  

A passive large-amplitude vibratory movement used in massage.  

A quick test to estimate fetal lung maturity. A sample of amniotic fluid is diluted with normal saline, mixed with 95% ethyl alcohol, and shaken for 30 sec. The continued presence of small foamy bubbles in the solution after 15 min confirms the presence of pulmonary surfactant.  

Shivering caused by a chill, especially in intermittent fever.  

A syndrome seen in abused infants and children, sometimes referred to as “shaken impact syndrome” because of the accompanying impact injuries to the head. The patient has been subjected to violent, whiplash-type shaking injuries inflicted by an abuser. This may cause coma, convulsions, and increased intracranial pressure, resulting from tearing of the cerebral veins, with…

Following another person quietly or disruptively, a characteristic of some people with dementia.  

In radiology, loss of the ability to visualize a body structure because of interference by another part.  

A technique to increase the definition of the material being examined by use of electron microscopy. The object is sprayed from an oblique angle with a heavy metal.