effluvium

effluvium definition - medical

ef·flu·vi·um (ĭ-flo͞oˈvē-əm)

noun pl. ef·flu·vi·ums or ef·flu·vi·a (-vē-ə)
  1. A shedding, especially of hair.
  2. An exhalation, especially one of bad odor or injurious influence. No longer in technical use.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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