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* HYPNOTISM. 407 HYPOCHONDRIASIS. standpoint, Moll, Hypnotism (New York, 1893) ; Beriilieim, Sui/gestive Therapeutics (trans. Xew York, 1889) ; Etudes nouvelles sur Vhypnotisme (Paris, 1891) ; also in general, James, I'rinciples of Psychology, vol. ii. (New York, 1890) ; Leh- maun. Die llypnose (Leipzig, 1890) ; Wundt, By pivot ism us und Suggestion (Leipzig, 1893) ; Dessoir, Hibliographie (Berlin, 1891); .Jastrow, Fact and Fable in Psychology (Boston, 1900). HYPOBOLE, hi-pOb'.Vlo (Gk. wro/SoXji, a tin-owing under, from uvb, hypo, under + /SdXXeii', ballein, to throw). A figure of rhetoric, whereby each of several arguments that appear to favor the side of one's opponent is intro- duced only to be refuted in order. See Rhetobic, FiCUBE.S OF. HYP'OCAUST (Lat. hypocaustum, hypocaus- ion, from Gk. iir6Kav<rTov, vaulted room with furnace below, from inr6, hypo, under + Kavarbs, kaustos, burned, from )ta/«i/, kaiein, to burn). The name for the subterranean hot-air chamber under the calidarium in Roman bathing estab- lishments. The hot air was generated by a cir- cular furnace which heated the water and gave out streams of hot air into the hypocaust, which consisted of a hollow double floor of concrete and tiles, between which were the pillar-like suspensurcE of tiles. The hot air was distributed throughout the building from the h.'i-pocaust by series of wall and floor flues, giving an even temperature. The system was invented shortly l^efore Augustus, and was soon adopted not only in public baths, but in private houses. It is now coming again into use for heating the so- called 'Turkish baths.' It can be studied in all the details of its arrangement in the ruins of Roman liouscs and baths. See Baths. HY'POCHLO'RITES. See Htpochlorous Acid. HY POCHLO^ROUS ACID, HCIO. An acid that may be assumed to be formed when chlorine monoxide (CLO) is dissolved in water. Chlorine monoxide, which decomposes into chlorine and oxygen with explosive violence, may be obtained by the action of dry red o.xide of mercury upon chlorine. In aqueous solution, chlorine monoxide is not explosive. The salts of hvpochlorous acid are termed hypochlorites, and some of them are valuable bleaching agents. Ordinary bleaching- powder is supposed to contain the hypochlorite of calcium ; .Tavelle water contains the hypo- chlorite of potassium; Labarraque's solution contains the hvpochlorite of sodium. Bleaching- powdcr is made by the action of chlorine on lime; similarly, the hypochlorite of potassium may he obtained by the action of chlorine upon a cold solution of caustic potash. If solutions of hypo- chlorites are heated, the corresponding chlorides and chlorates are formed. See Bleachixo- POWDEB. HYPOCHCERIS, hl'p.'.-ke'ris (Xeo-Lat.. from Gk. i>7rox^iipi'5. succory-plant ). A genus of plants of the natural order Compositip, of which one species, Hypochncris radicata, or long-rooted cat's- ear, is extremely common in meadows and pas- tures in Great Britain and other parts of Europe. Its leaves, which are all radical, and spread on the ground, resemble in form those of the dande- lion, but are rough; the stem is branched, the flowers somewhat similar to those of the dande- lion, but smaller. Cattle eat this plant readily. and its abundance is not deemed injurious to pa-ture or ftxlder. HYPOCHONDERS, hi'p6-kon'derz, or HY- POCHONDRIA (from Lat. hypochondrium, Gk. inroxiivSpiov, .soft part of the body below the car- tilage and above the navel, from' Gk. inrb, hypo, imder + ^^''Spos. chondros, cartilage). An old term for the two lateral and superior regions of the abdomen (q.v.) under the cartilages of the false ribs, and to the right and left of the epigastrium. HYPOCHONDRIA, liI'pA k6n'dri-4. See Hs- fOClIO.NDEBS ; HyPOCHOXDRIASI.S. HYP'OCHONDRI'ASIS (Xco-Lat., from Lat. hypochondrium, Gk. inroxMptov, hypochondriac region ; so called because of the supposed connec- tion of the disease with this part of the body). A disease characterized by extreme increase* of sensibility, palpitations, morbid feelings that simulate the greater part of diseases, exaggerated uneasiness, and anxiety, chiefly in what concerns the health, etc. In extreme cases it becomes a species of insanity. The disease is very fre- quently associated with disorder of the digestive functions. When sombreness of disposition and anxiety concerning personal comfort become exaggerated, and attention is directed chiefly to the state of the health, it amounts to common hypochon- driasis. Vhen it passes beyond the control of the will, when the whole mind is directed to the state of the system, or to particular organs, and exalts and misinterprets sensations, the condi- tion is designated hypochondriacal insanity. The disease may be described as the engrossment of the attention by false impressions conveyed, or conceived to be conveyed, from internal "organs. These sensations may, in many instances, be real, and proceed from actual alterations in the struc- ture or functions of the parts supposed to be affected; but they may likewise consist of ordi- nary .sensations, excited and intensified by the act of attention which makes them known to the patient. Neither the experience nor the suffer- ings of the victims are imaginary, however absurd their errors, and however groundless their apprehensions may be; the disease is real, and consists in the exaltation of sensibility and attention, and in the delusions which originate in that morbid state, A man lives in constant fear of death ; he is firmly convinced that he labors under cancer, consumption, disease of the heart, etc. Hypochondriasis is often a precursor of "inelancholia, or other kinds of alienation; but it must likewise be regarded as a distinct and independent aflfection, traceable, generally, to disorder of the digestive and assimilative appa- ratus, to sexual excess or other debilitating in- fluences. Such patients always should be watched, for many of them commit suicide while temporarily under the influence of an hallucina- tion or a delusion. Diversion, camp life, hunt- ing, fishing, and other occupations should engross the patient's attention during an outdoor life, or travel should be his resource, always in the so- ciety of a lively, healthy companion. Drugs alone produce little benefit. Consult: Falret, De Vhypochondrie et du suicide (Paris, 1822) ; Buck- nill and Tuke, Psychological iledioine (London, 1879) : Mcrcier, Psychoiogy, Normal and Morbid (London, 1902).