ABBREVUATION

< means "aggravation," "worse," or "increase."

> means "amelioration,", "better," or "decrease."

These signs are used in the sense indicated, either as nouns, verbs (present or past tense), or adjectives. For instance "Pain < by rest" may be translated "Pain aggravated by rest," or "Pain worse by rest." Here the sign is used in the adjective way. "< By rest" means that there is "aggravation by rest." Here < takes, the place of a noun. "Motion < pain" means "Motion aggravates or increases pain." Here it is a verb. The idea is the same in all cases, and the sense obvious. "> By rest" means amelioration or relief by rest. "Motion > pain" means Motion relieves or decreases pain." "Toothache > by cold" means "Toothache relieved, ameliorated, or lessened by cold." Sometimes the particle is omitted, but the sense is the same. "> Rest" means "Relief by rest." "Rest >" means "Rest relieves." "Kali bi. has blindness with headache; blindness > as headache <." This means that the blindness of the Kali bi. headache becomes better as the headache becomes worse. I think the utility of these signs will be generally recognised, and the sense cannot be in doubt in passages where they occur.

Another sign which I have often found useful in my private notes I have introduced occasionally into the Dictionary. I mean the equation sign "=" in the sense of causation. "Causation" and "aggravation" are not always identical, though the influences which set up a morbid condition will generally aggravate the condition if existing already. I have used "=" as an indeclinable verb: "Motion =vomiting" means "Motion causes vomiting." "Heat = all eruptions to itch intolerably," means "Heat causes all eruptions to itch intolerably."

N. O. -Natural order.
A. W. -Atomic weight.
Esp. -Especially.
R. -Right.
L. -Left.
h. -hour.
d. -day.