Obscure Medical and Health Terms Quiz

Answer: A man pretending to be insane

This old term was named after a ward in the old Bethlem Hospital in London, the the first hospital of its kind set up to deal with mental illnesses. Amazingly, this was built way back in 1247. Initially though, it was a centre to raise funds for the crusaders, and to house the poor and sick.

It began to be used more and more as a centre for the mentally ill from the late 1300s and was fully so from the early 1400s. Because of the state of chaos within its wards, the total lack of knowledge of mental illness - and its treatment - it soon acquired the nickname of Bedlam. Rather incredibly, this hospital, though not in the same location, was still a working centre for the mentally ill in 2015.

The Abraham ward was one of the wards in the old Bedlam era. Beggars who roamed the streets of London pretending to be insane found they were given more assistance (while finding it easier to steal) by saying they were out on leave from that ward.

They became known as Abram-men or Abraham-men.

Answer: Thick lips

It's proving difficult to find the origins of this term, although it has been in use since at least the 11th century in English speaking countries. Listed in medical terminology, its only meaning is given as thick-lipped or possessing thick lips. It is frequently seen in conjunction with the word "bytellbrowede" as well. That means beetle browed, so perhaps it was someone with an appearance of overhanging brows and wide open slack lipped mouth, such as found in illustrations of criminal types from centuries ago, or perceptions of people with delayed intellect from the same era.

Answer: Scrotum

Chimney sweep's cancer, which attacks the scrotum of its sufferers, was named after those young workers from earlier times who were once seen everywhere. It was believed to be caused by prolonged exposure to the carcinogens in soot. Also known as soot wart, this disease takes its place in the history of mankind as being the first occupational disease to be placed on record.

It was identified in 1775 by the surgeon, Sir Percival Pott. His discovery led to the legislation of the 1788 Chimney Sweepers Act, which was an attempt to stop little boys as young as four being used as child labourers.

The youngest age a child could work was set at eight, parental consent had to be provided, suitable clothing and living conditions had to be provided by the employer, and the child had to have time off on Sundays to go to church.

Answer: A goitre

Caused by an enlargement of the thyroid gland, a goitre is a distinctive protuberance of the neck or larynx. Hypothyroidism is caused by an underactive thyroid gland. It creates physical and intellectual delays in its sufferers. In children this was once called cretinism.

Some dogs, cats and horses can also develop this disorder. Hyperthyroidism is caused by an overactive thyroid gland. Its symptoms include muscle weakness, rapid heart beat, adverse reactions to heat, and weight loss. Goitre was given the early name of Derbyshire neck because this condition was once known for its high incidence in that part of England.

Answer: Depression

Also known as English melancholy, this medical terminology can be dated back to at least 1772 in that country. Perhaps it's related to the weather. There is a more modern condition known as a "seasonal affective disorder" which tends to hit people more so in the northern hemisphere than down south. Related to the lack of sunlight in winter months, those who suffer from this condition experience depression at this time of the year.

However, it would be wrong to believe this hits the English only. The inhabitants of that lovely land would suffer no more incidence of depression per capita than anywhere else. Actually, that's not strictly true. Going by a world map released by the Washington Post on 7 November 2013, based on research carried out by the University of Queensland in Australia, the highest incidence of depression sufferers in the world are located in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Answer: A hermaphrodite beast

A freemartin was a female animal that presented with the external organs of the fairer sex, but with the internal organs of a male. This condition, of course, made that animal sterile. The poor creature wouldn't know whether to moo or bellow - not to mention the confusion this would cause its suitors.

Answer: Red facial blotches

Known today as rosacea, this is described in Wikipedia as "facial redness, small and superficial dilated blood vessels on facial skin, papules, pustules, and swelling". Back then, however, it was called grog blossoms, and was thought to be caused by drinking too much alcohol. Grog was a naval term introduced in the 1740s by the Royal English navy.

This drink consisted of rum, diluted with a little water or lemon juice - and one imagines not too much of that. The typical red blotches seen on the faces of people suffering from rosacea was thought, unfairly so, to be caused by an over consumption of same.

Answer: A dull and stupid man

How rude. This term, no longer in use, refers to a dull and stupid man. It was also applied to very clumsy people, regardless of gender, and - how can I phrase this delicately - a part of a gentleman's physique that was no longer in its prime. In fact it had retired altogether.

Answer: The finger that physicians used to stir ointments

Interesting, and, given our knowledge of bacteria and germs today, highly alarming. The medical finger, which we know today as the ring finger, was the finger used by physicians in ancient Roman and Greek days, with which they stirred ointments and other unguents to a smooth consistency.

It was believed then, and for some centuries following, that the veins in this finger linked to the heart, and that the heart itself would be able to detect anything wrong or dangerous in the mix. It's a wonder the human race has survived at all, isn't it? It probably has done so by only by good luck rather than by management.

Answer: Nervousness associated with riding a bike

Lord bless us, what next, didn't men feel nervous when learning to ride a bike as well? Truly, the "diseases" physicians ascribed to women over the ages, simply because they were women, is ridiculous. Freud and the boys didn't improve matters either. Him and his stupid penis envy. Apparently, however, when sane women, first upon mounting a bike, displayed degrees of nervousness upon so doing, this was promptly given the medical term, occypodynia, by the powers that be at that time.

A modern translation of this disease or condition could also be classed under the heading "common sense".