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Test Bank for Acquiring Medical Language 2nd Edition By Jones download

The document provides links to various test banks and solution manuals for medical language and other subjects, including titles by Jones and Brooks. It includes sample questions and answers related to medical terminology, pronunciation, and the structure of medical language. The content emphasizes the importance of understanding medical language origins, syllabic breakdowns, and pronunciation rules.

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100% found this document useful (5 votes)
34 views62 pages

Test Bank for Acquiring Medical Language 2nd Edition By Jones download

The document provides links to various test banks and solution manuals for medical language and other subjects, including titles by Jones and Brooks. It includes sample questions and answers related to medical terminology, pronunciation, and the structure of medical language. The content emphasizes the importance of understanding medical language origins, syllabic breakdowns, and pronunciation rules.

Uploaded by

wiadbfogd0751
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Answer: A
Explanation: Medical language is made up primarily (but not exclusively) of words taken from
Greek and Latin.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: The Origins of Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.02
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

2
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
3) A (n)________ is a word formed by including the name of the person who discovered or
invented what is being described.
A) acronym
B) antonym
C) eponym
D) synonym
E) none of these

Answer: C
Explanation: An eponym is a word formed by including the name of the person who discovered
or invented what is being described. It can also describe the disease's first or most noteworthy
diagnosed victim.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: The Origins of Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.02
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

4) The diagnostic imaging process called magnetic resonance imaging is frequently called MRI.
This is an example of a(n):
A) acronym.
B) antonym.
C) eponym.
D) synonym.
E) none of the above.

Answer: A
Explanation: An acronym is a word made up of the first letters of each of the words that make
up a phrase.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: The Origins of Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.02
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

3
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
5) Which of the following is NOT a reason why Greek and Latin form the backbone and
foundation of medical language?
A) Foundations of Western medicine were in ancient Greece and Rome.
B) Latin was the global language of the scientific revolution.
C) Medical research of the scientific revolution was in Greek.
D) They are no longer spoken and therefore do not change meaning over time.
E) They are no longer spoken and can therefore serve as a common language for medical
professionals who may speak different modern languages.

Answer: C
Explanation: Latin was the language of scholarly discussion during the scientific revolution.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: The Origins of Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.02
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

6) Thinking of medical language as sentences to be translated instead of words to be memorized


allows one to:
A) break down and understand new words.
B) describe all aspects of health care.
C) prescribe medication to patients.
D) translate a few stock medical phrases.
E) understand only the most commonly used medical phrases.

Answer: A
Explanation: If you understand the way the language works, you will be able not only to know
the meaning of a few individual words, but also to break down and understand words you have
never seen before.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: The Principles of Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.03
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

4
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
7) What is the basic rule for emphasizing syllables?
A) in most words, the emphasis usually falls on the first syllable.
B) in most words, the emphasis usually falls on the last syllable.
C) in most words, the emphasis usually falls on the second-to-last syllable.
D) in most words, the emphasis usually falls on the third-to-last syllable.
E) there is no basic rule for pronunciation.

Answer: D
Explanation: When it comes to emphasizing the right syllable, the basic rule is: in most words,
the emphasis usually falls on the third-to-last syllable.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

8) Identify the correct pronunciation for the underlined syllable in cardiovascular.


A) kar
B) sar

Answer: A
Explanation: C is hard (/k/) before a, o, or u.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

9) Identify the correct pronunciation for the underlined syllable in cyanosis.


A) kai
B) sai

Answer: B
Explanation: C is soft (/s/) before e, i, or y.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

5
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
10) Identify the correct pronunciation for the underlined syllable in gamophobia.
A) gam
B) jam

Answer: A
Explanation: G is hard (/g/) before a, o, or u.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

11) Identify the correct pronunciation for the underlined syllable in glycogen.
A) gen
B) jen

Answer: B
Explanation: G is soft (/j/) before e, i, or y.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

12) Identify the correct pronunciation for the underlined syllable inpharynx.
A) fair
B) pair

Answer: A
Explanation: "Ph" is pronounced /f/.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

6
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
13) Identify the correct pronunciation for the underlined syllable in pneumothorax.
A) noo
B) puh-noo

Answer: A
Explanation: "Pneu" is pronounced /n/.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

14) Identify the correct pronunciation for the underlined syllable in pterygium.
A) puh-te
B) tuh

Answer: B
Explanation: "Pt" is pronounced /t/.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

15) Identify the correct pronunciation for the underlined syllables in steatorrhea.
A) oh-ree-uh
B) oh-ruh-hee-ai
C) or-hee-ay
D) or-hay

Answer: A
Explanation: "Rrh" is pronounced /r/.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

7
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
16) Identify the correct pronunciation for the underlined syllables in xiphoid process.
A) eks-foid
B) eks-poid
C) zih-foid
D) zih-poid

Answer: C
Explanation: An initial "x" is pronounced /z/; "ph" is pronounced /f/.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

17) Which is the proper syllabic breakdown for the word cardiac arrest?
A) card/iac a/rrest
B) card/iac arr/est
C) car/di/ac a/rrest
D) car/di/ac arr/est

Answer: C
Explanation: car/di/ac a/rrest
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Analyze
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

18) Which is the proper syllabic breakdown for the word catheter?
A) ca/th/e/ter
B) ca/thet/er
C) cat/het/er
D) cath/e/ter

Answer: D
Explanation: cath/e/ter
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Analyze
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

8
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
19) Which syllable is emphasized when pronouncing the word hypotonia?
A) HAI-poh-toh-nee-yah (first syllable)
B) hai-POH-toh-nee-yah (second syllable)
C) hai-poh-TOH-nee-yah (third syllable)
D) hai-poh-toh-NEE-yah (fourth syllable)
E) hai-poh-toh-nee-YAH (fifth syllable)

Answer: C
Explanation: hai-poh-TOH-nee-yah. In most words, the emphasis usually falls on the third-to-
last syllable.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

20) Which syllable is emphasized when pronouncing the word myodynia?


A) MIE-oh-dih-nee-ah (first syllable)
B) mie-OH-dih-nee-ah (second syllable)
C) mie-oh-DIH-nee-ah (third syllable)
D) mie-oh-dih-NEE-ah (fourth syllable)
E) mie-oh-dih-nee-AH (fifth syllable)

Answer: C
Explanation: mie-oh-DIH-nee-ah. In most words, the emphasis usually falls on the third-to-last
syllable.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

9
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
21) Which syllable is emphasized when pronouncing the word arthroscope?
A) AR-throh-skohp (first syllable)
B) ar-THROH-skohp (second syllable)
C) ar-throh-SKOHP (last syllable)

Answer: A
Explanation: AR-throh-skohp. In most words, the emphasis usually falls on the third-to-last
syllable, except for when a word remains unchanged but by a few letters. Count backwards three
syllables from the end of the word to figure out which syllable gets emphasized.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: How to Pronounce Terms Associated with Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.04
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

22) In medical terminology, what is a root?


A) A beginning that gives essential meaning to the term
B) An ending that gives essential meaning to the term
C) The foundation or subject of the term
D) The part of the word added to the beginning of a term when needed to further modify the
foundation of the term
E) None of these.

Answer: C
Explanation: A root is the foundation or subject of the term.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

10
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
23) What is NOT a difference between a suffix and a prefix?
A) A prefix is at the beginning of the term and a suffix is at the end of the term.
B) A suffix is at the beginning of the term and a prefix is at the end of a term.
C) A prefix is used to further modify the root.
D) A suffix often gives essential meaning to the term.
E) Prefixes can be added to a suffix to create a complete suffix.

Answer: B
Explanation: A prefix is at the beginning of the term and a suffix is at the end of the term.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

24) Which of the following is NOT a root meaning "skin"?


A) cutane/o
B) dermat/o
C) derm/o
D) my/o

Answer: D
Explanation: Cutane/o, dermat/o, and derm/o all mean "skin."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

11
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
25) The root enter/o means:
A) large intestine.
B) liver.
C) nerve.
D) small intestine.
E) stomach.

Answer: D
Explanation: The root enter/o means small intestine.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

26) Which root would be used in medical terms pertaining to blood?


A) arthr/o
B) hemat/o
C) hepat/o
D) pulmon/o
E) xen/o

Answer: B
Explanation: The root hemat/o means blood.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

27) Which root would be used in medical terms pertaining to suffering or disease?
A) gen/o
B) morph/o
C) path/o
D) troph/o
E) xer/o

Answer: C
Explanation: The root path/o means suffering or disease.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute
12
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
28) Which is NOT a suffix used to mean "pertaining to"?
A) -ac
B) -al
C) -algia
D) -ar
E) -ary

Answer: C
Explanation: -algia is a suffix that means pain.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

29) Which is NOT a suffix used to mean "small"?


A) -ic
B) -icle
C) -ole
D) -ule
E) -ula

Answer: A
Explanation: -ic is a suffix that means "pertaining to."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

13
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
30) Which of the following roots mean the same thing?
A) arthr/o and angi/o
B) cardi/o and vascul/o
C) enter/o and gastr/o
D) hem/o and vas/o
E) my/o and muscul/o

Answer: E
Explanation: My/o and muscul/o both mean muscle.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

31) Which of the following prefixes are opposites?


A) anti-, contra-
B) brady-, tachy-
C) circum-, peri-
D) mono-, uni-
E) poly-, multi-

Answer: B
Explanation: Brady- means "slow"; tachy means "fast."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

32) Which of the following prefixes are opposites?


A) ab-, de-
B) exo-, extra-
C) hyper-, hypo-
D) pre-, pro-
E) sym-, syn-

Answer: C
Explanation: Hyper- means "over"; hypo means "under."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute
14
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
33) What is the root in the term tachycardia?
A) a
B) car
C) cardi
D) ta
E) tachy

Answer: C
Explanation: Cardi/o is a root meaning "heart."
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

34) What is the root in the term polyneuropathy?


A) neuro
B) path
C) pathy
D) poly
E) ropathy

Answer: A
Explanation: Neur/o is a root meaning "nerve."
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

35) Translate the root hepat/o.


A) Fungus
B) Liver
C) Lung
D) Heart
E) Small intestine

Answer: B
Explanation: Hepat/o is the root meaning "liver."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute
15
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
36) Translate the root pneumon/o.
A) Fungus
B) Liver
C) Lung
D) Muscle
E) Small intestine

Answer: C
Explanation: Pneumon/o is the root meaning "lung."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

37) Translate the root myc/o.


A) Fungus
B) Liver
C) Lung
D) Muscle
E) Small intestine

Answer: A
Explanation: Myc/o is the root meaning "fungus."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

38) Translate the root sten/o.


A) Fungus
B) Lung
C) Muscle
D) Narrowing
E) Suffering

Answer: D
Explanation: Sten/o is the root meaning "narrowing."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute
16
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
39) Translate the root morph/o.
A) Cause
B) Change
C) Eat
D) Straight
E) Suffering, disease

Answer: B
Explanation: Morph/o is the root meaning "change."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

40) What is the meaning of the root hydr/o?


A) Air
B) Blood
C) Formation
D) Generation, cause
E) Water

Answer: E
Explanation: The root hydr/o means "water."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

41) What is the meaning of the root troph/o?


A) Change
B) Eat
C) Foreign
D) Generation, cause
E) Nourishment, development

Answer: E
Explanation: The root troph/o means "nourishment, development."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute
17
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
42) What is the meaning of the root xen/o?
A) Dry
B) Foreign
C) Hard
D) Soft
E) Water

Answer: B
Explanation: The root xen/o means "foreign."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

43) Identify and define the root in the term arthroscope.


A) arthr/o- joint
B) arthr/o- vessel
C) scop/e - instrument used to look
D) scop/e- vessel
E) thosc/o - chest

Answer: A
Explanation: Arthroscopy breaks down into arthr/o (joint) + scope (instrument used to look).
Arthr/o is the root; scope is the suffix.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

18
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
44) Identify and define the root in the term subcutaneous.
A) ane/o– stomach
B) cut/o– skin
C) cutane/o– skin
D) eous– pertaining to
E) sub– beneath

Answer: C
Explanation: Subcutaneous breaks down into sub (beneath) + cutane (skin) + ous (pertaining
to). Sub is the prefix; cutane/o is the root; ous is the suffix.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

45) Identify and define the root in the term necrosis.


A) is– small
B) necr/o– death
C) necr/o– kidney
D) osis– condition
E) osis– presence of

Answer: B
Explanation: Necrosis breaks down into necr (death) + osis (condition). Necr/o is the root; osis
is the suffix.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

19
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
46) Identify and define the root in the term pyemia.
A) emia– blood condition
B) emia– pertaining to
C) ia– condition
D) py– eat
E) py– pus

Answer: E
Explanation: Pyemia breaks down into py (pus) + emia (blood condition). Py/o is the root; emia
is the suffix.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

47) Translate the prefix ante-.


A) After
B) Again
C) Before
D) Fast
E) Slow

Answer: C
Explanation: The prefix ante- means "before."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
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48) Translate the prefix oligo-.
A) All
B) Few
C) Large
D) Many
E) Small

Answer: B
Explanation: The prefix oligo- means "few."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

49) The prefixes a- and an- both mean:


A) away.
B) in, inside.
C) not.
D) out, outside.
E) with, together.

Answer: C
Explanation: The prefixes a- and an- both mean "not."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

50) The prefixes e-, ec-, and ex- all mean:


A) away.
B) beneath.
C) in, inside.
D) out.
E) through.

Answer: D
Explanation: The prefixes e-, ec-, and ex- all mean "out."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute
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51) Which of the following pairs of prefixes are synonyms that mean "in, inside"?
A) a-, an-
B) con-, contra-
C) en-, endo-
D) ex-, exo-
E) inter-, intra-

Answer: C
Explanation: En- and endo- both mean "in, inside."
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

52) Which of the following pairs of prefixes are synonyms that mean "around"?
A) circum-, contra-
B) circum-, peri-
C) circum-, dia-
D) contra-, peri-
E) dia-, peri-

Answer: B
Explanation: Circum- and peri- both mean "around."
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

53) What is the meaning of the prefix contra-?


A) Against
B) Bad
C) Down
D) Good
E) With

Answer: A
Explanation: The prefix contra- means "against."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute
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54) What is the meaning of the prefix poly-?
A) Few
B) Half
C) Many
D) No, none
E) One

Answer: C
Explanation: The prefix poly- means "many."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

55) What is the meaning of the prefix syn-?


A) Against
B) Before, on behalf of
C) Between
D) Through
E) With, together

Answer: E
Explanation: The prefix syn- means "with, together."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

56) Identify and define the prefix in the term antigen.


A) anti – across
B) anti– against
C) anti– along
D) gen– creation, cause
E) gen– suffering, disease

Answer: B
Explanation: Antigen breaks down into prefix: anti (against) + root: gen (generation, cause).
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute
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57) Identify and define the prefix in the term eugenic.
A) eu– bad
B) eu– good
C) gen– generation, cause
D) ic– cause
E) ic– pertaining to

Answer: B
Explanation: Eugenic breaks down into prefix: eu (good) + root: gen (generation, cause) +
suffix: ic (pertaining to).
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

58) Identify and define the prefix in the term transdermal.


A) al– across
B) al– pertaining to
C) derm– skin
D) trans– across
E) trans– pertaining to

Answer: D
Explanation: Transdermal breaks down into prefix: trans (across) + root: derm (skin) + suffix:
al (pertaining to).
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

24
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59) Identify and define the prefix in the term heminephrectomy.
A) hemi– half
B) hemi– out
C) nephr– kidney
D) tomy– incision
E) y– condition, procedure

Answer: A
Explanation: Heminephrectomy breaks down into prefix: hemi (half) + root: nephr (kidney) +
suffix: ectomy (removal of).
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

60) Identify and define the prefix in the term hypertrophic.


A) hyper– over
B) hyper– under
C) ic– condition
D) ic– pertaining to
E) troph– nourishment, development

Answer: A
Explanation: Hypertrophic breaks down into prefix: hyper (over) + root: troph (nourishment,
development) + suffix: ic (pertaining).
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

25
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61) The suffixes -algia and -dynia both mean:
A) abnormal softening.
B) inflammation.
C) pain.
D) presence of.
E) resembling.

Answer: C
Explanation: The suffixes -algia and -dynia both mean "pain."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

62) Translate the suffix -logy.


A) Medical science
B) Specialist in medicine of
C) Specialist
D) Specialist in the study of
E) Study of

Answer: E
Explanation: The suffix -logy means "the study of."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

63) Translate the suffix -graph.


A) Instrument used to look
B) Instrument used to produce a record
C) Process of measuring
D) Process of recording
E) Written record

Answer: B
Explanation: The suffix -graph means "instrument used to produce a record."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute
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64) Translate the suffix -emia.
A) Blood condition
B) Flow
C) Hernia
D) Rupture
E) Tissue, structure

Answer: A
Explanation: The suffix -emia means "blood condition."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

65) What is the meaning of the suffix -oid?


A) Involuntary contraction
B) Resembling
C) Rupture
D) Suture
E) Tumor

Answer: B
Explanation: The root -oid means "resembling."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

27
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66) What is the meaning of the suffix -oma?
A) Involuntary contraction
B) Resembling
C) Rupture
D) Suture
E) Tumor

Answer: E
Explanation: The root -oma means "tumor."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

67) What is the meaning of the suffix -rrhaphy?


A) Involuntary contraction
B) Resembling
C) Rupture
D) Suture
E) Tumor

Answer: D
Explanation: The root -rrhaphy means "suture."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

28
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68) What is the meaning of the suffix -rrhexis?
A) Involuntary contraction
B) Resembling
C) Rupture
D) Suture
E) Tumor

Answer: C
Explanation: The root -rrhexis means "rupture."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

69) What is the meaning of the suffix -spasm?


A) Involuntary contraction
B) Resembling
C) Rupture
D) Suture
E) Contraction

Answer: A
Explanation: The root -spasm means "involuntary contraction."
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

29
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written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
70) Identify and define the suffix in the term craniostomy.
A) crani– bone
B) crani– skull
C) osto– bone
D) stomy– creation of an opening
E) stomy– removal

Answer: D
Explanation: Craniostomy breaks down into root: cranio (skull) + suffix:stomy (creation of an
opening).
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

71) Identify and define the suffix in the term cardiomalacia.


A) cardio– heart
B) cardio– lung
C) ia– deficiency
D) malacia– abnormal hardening
E) malacia– abnormal softening

Answer: E
Explanation: Cardiomalacia breaks down into root: cardio (heart) + suffix: malacia (abnormal
softening).
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

30
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written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
72) Identify and define the suffix in the term costochondritis.
A) chondr– cartilage
B) chondr– persistent
C) costo– rib
D) itis– inflammation
E) itis– persistent

Answer: D
Explanation: Costochondritis breaks down into costo (rib) + chondr (cartilage) + itis
(inflammation); costo and chondr are roots; -itis is a suffix.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

73) Identify and define the suffix in the term dysmenorrhea.


A) dys– bad
B) dys– not
C) meno– muscle
D) rrhea– flow
E) rrhea– rupture

Answer: D
Explanation: Dysmenorrhea breaks down into prefix: dys (bad) + meno(menstruation) + rrhea
(flow).
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Topic: Parts Used to Build Medical Language
Bloom's: Apply
Learning Outcome: 01.05
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Est Time: 0-1 minute

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CHAPTER XXI

TOPAZ

T OPAZ is the most popular yellow stone in jewellery, and often


forms the principal stone in brooches or pendants, especially in
old-fashioned articles. It is a general idea that all yellow stones are
topazes, and all topazes are yellow; but neither statement is correct.
A very large number of yellow stones that masquerade as topaz are
really the yellow quartz known as citrine. The latter is, indeed,
almost universally called by jewellers topaz, the qualification
‘Brazilian’ being used by them to distinguish the true topaz. Many
species besides those mentioned yield yellow stones. Thus
corundum includes the beautiful ‘oriental topaz’ or yellow sapphire,
and yellow tourmalines are occasionally met with; the yellow
chrysoberyl always has a greenish tinge. Topaz is generally brilliant-
cut in front and step-cut at the back, and the table facet is
sometimes rounded, but the colourless stones are often cut as small
brilliants; it takes an excellent and dazzling polish.
Topaz is a silicate of aluminium corresponding to the formula
[Al(F,OH)]2SiO4, which was established in 1894 by Penfield and
Minor as the result of careful research. Contrary to the general idea,
topaz is usually colourless or very pale in tint. Yellow hues of
different degrees, from pale to a rich sherry tint (Plate I, Fig. 9), are
common, and pure pale blue (Plate I, Fig. 7) and pale green stones,
which often pass as aquamarine, are far from rare. Natural, red and
pink, stones are very seldom to be met with. It is, however, a
peculiarity of the brownish-yellow stones from Brazil that the colour
is altered by heating to a lovely rose-pink. Curiously, the tint is not
apparent when the stone is hot, but develops as it cools to a normal
temperature; the colour seems to be permanent. Such stones are
common in modern jewellery. Although the change in colour is
accompanied by some slight rearrangement of the constituent
molecules, since such stones are invariably characterized by high
refraction and pronounced dichroism, the crystalline symmetry,
however, remaining unaltered, the cause must be attributed to some
change in the tinctorial agent, probably oxidation. The yellow stones
from Ceylon, if treated in a similar manner, lose their colour entirely.
The pale yellow-brown stones from Russia fade on prolonged
exposure to strong sunlight, for which reason the superb suite of
crystals from the Urulga River, which came with the Koksharov
collection to the British Museum, are kept under cover.
The name of the species is derived from topazion (τοπάζειν, to
seek), the name given to an island in the Red Sea, which in olden
times was with difficulty located, but it was applied by Pliny and his
contemporaries to the yellowish peridot found there. The term was
applied in the Middle Ages loosely to any yellow stone, and was
gradually applied more particularly to the stone that was then more
prevalent, the topaz of modern science. As has already been pointed
out (p. 111), the term is still employed in jewellery to signify any
yellow stone. The true topaz was probably included by Pliny under
the name chrysolithus.
The symmetry is orthorhombic, and the
crystals are prismatic in shape and
terminated by numerous inclined faces, and
usually by a large face perpendicular to the
prism edge (Fig. 72). Topaz cleaves with
great readiness at right angles to the prism
edge; owing to its facile cleavage, flaws are
easily started, and caution must be exercised
not to damage a stone by knocking it
against hard and unyielding substances. The
dichroism of a yellow topaz is always
perceptible, one of the twin colours being Fig. 72.—Topaz Crystal.
distinctly more reddish than the other, and
the phenomenon is very marked in the case of stones the colour of
which has been artificially altered to pink. The values of the least
and the greatest of the principal indices of refraction vary from
1·615 to 1·629, and from 1·625 to 1·637, respectively, the double
refraction being about 0·010 in amount, and positive in sign. The
high values correspond to the altered stones. The specific gravity,
the mean value of which is 3·55 with a variation of 0·05 on either
side, is higher than would be expected from the refractivity. A
cleavage flake exhibits in convergent polarized light a wide-angled
biaxial picture, the ‘eyes’ lying outside the field of view. The relation
of the principal optical directions and the directions of single
refraction to the crystal are shown in Fig. 27. The hardness is 8 on
Mohs’s scale, and in this character it is surpassed only by
chrysoberyl, corundum, and diamond. Topaz is pyro-electric, in
which respect tourmaline alone exceeds it, and it may be strongly
electrified by friction.
Although the range of refraction overlaps that of tourmaline, there
is no risk of confusion, because the latter has nearly thrice the
amount of double refraction (cf. p. 29). Apart from the difference in
refraction, a yellow topaz ought never to be confused with a yellow
quartz, because the former sinks, and the latter floats in methylene
iodide. The same test distinguishes topaz from beryl, and, indeed,
from tourmaline also.
Judged by the criterion of price, topaz is not in the first rank of
precious stones. Stones of good colour and free from flaws are now,
however, scarce. Pale stones are worth very little, possibly less than
4s. a carat, but the price rapidly advances with increase in colour,
reaching 20s. for yellow, 80s. for pink and blue stones. Since topazes
are procurable in all sizes customary in jewellery, the rates vary but
slightly, if at all, with the size.
Topaz occurs principally in pegmatite dykes and in cavities in
granite, and is interesting to petrologists as a conspicuous instance
of the result of the action of hot acid vapours upon rocks rich in
aluminium silicates. Magnificent crystals have come from the
extensive mining district which stretches along the eastern flank of
the Ural Mountains, and from the important mining region
surrounding Nertschinsk, in the Government of Transbaikal, Siberia.
Fine green and blue stones have been found at Alabashka, near
Ekaterinburg, in the Government of Perm, and at Miask in the Ilmen
Mountains, in the Government of Orenburg. Topazes of the rare
reddish hue have been picked out from the gold washings of the
Sanarka River, Troitsk, also in the Government of Orenburg. Splendid
pale-brown stones have issued from the Urulga River, near
Nertschinsk, and good crystals have come from the Adun-Tschilon
Mountains. Kamchatka has produced yellow, blue, and green stones.
In the British Isles, beautiful sky-blue, waterworn crystals have been
found at Cairngorm, Banffshire, in Scotland, and colourless stones in
the Mourne Mountains, Ireland, and at St. Michael’s Mount,
Cornwall. Most of the topazes used in jewellery of the present day
come from either Brazil or Ceylon. Ouro Preto, Villa Rica, and Minas
Novas, in the State of Minas Geraes, are the principal localities in
Brazil. Numerous stones, often waterworn, brilliant and colourless or
tinted lovely shades of blue and wine-yellow, occur there; reddish
stones also have been found at Ouro Preto. Ceylon furnishes a
profusion of yellow, light-green, and colourless, waterworn pebbles.
The colourless stones found there are incorrectly termed by the
natives ‘water-sapphire,’ and the light-green stones are sold with
beryl as aquamarines; the stones locally known as ‘king topaz’ are
really yellow corundum (cf. p. 181). Colourless crystals, sometimes
with a faint tinge of colour, have been discovered in many parts of
the world, such as Ramona, San Diego County, California, and Pike’s
Peak, Colorado, in the United States, San Luis Potosi in Mexico, and
Omi and Otami-yama in Japan.
CHAPTER XXII

SPINEL
(Balas-Ruby, Rubicelle)

S PINEL labours under the serious disadvantage of being


overshadowed at almost all points by its opulent and more
famous cousins, sapphire and ruby, and is not so well known as it
deserves to be. The only variety which is valued as a gem is the
rose-tinted stone called balas-ruby (Plate XXVII, Fig. 3), which is
very similar to the true ruby in appearance; they are probably often
confused, especially since they are found in intimate association in
nature. Spinels of other colours are not very attractive to the eye,
and are not likely to be in much demand. Blue spinel (Plate XXVII,
Fig. 4) is far from common, but the shade is inclined to steely-blue,
and is much inferior to the superb tint of the true sapphire. Spinel is
very hard and eminently suitable for a ring-stone, but is seldom
large and transparent enough for larger articles of jewellery.
Spinel is an aluminate of magnesium corresponding to the formula
MgAl2O4, and therefore is closely akin to corundum, alumina, and
chrysoberyl, aluminate of beryllium. The composition may, however,
vary considerably owing to the isomorphous replacement of one
element by another; in particular, ferrous oxide or manganese oxide
often takes the place of some magnesia, and ferric oxide or chromic
oxide is found instead of part of the alumina. When pure, spinel is
devoid of colour, but such stones are exceedingly rare. No doubt
chromic oxide is responsible for the rose-red hue of balas-ruby, and
also, when tempered by ferric oxide, for the orange tint of rubicelle,
and manganese is probably the cause of the peculiar violet colour of
almandine-spinel. It is scarcely possible to define all the shades
between blue and red that may be assumed by spinel. Stones which
are rich in iron are known as pleonaste or ceylonite; they are quite
opaque, but are sometimes used for ornamental wear.
The name of the species comes from a diminutive form of σπῖνος,
a spark, and refers to the fiery red colour of the most valued kind of
spinel. It may be noted that the Latin equivalent of the word,
carbunculus, has been applied to the crimson garnet when cut en
cabochon. Balas is derived from Balascia, the old name for
Badakshan, the district from which the finest stones were brought in
mediæval times.
Spinel, like diamond,
belongs to the cubic system
of crystalline symmetry, and
occurs in beautiful
octahedra, or in flat
triangular-shaped plates
(Figs. 73, 74) the girdles of
which are cleft at each
corner, these plates being Figs. 73, 74.—Spinel Crystals.
really twinned octahedra.
The refraction is, of course, single, and there is therefore no double
refraction or dichroism; this test furnishes the simplest way of
discriminating between the balas and the true ruby. Owing to
isomorphous replacement the value of the refractive index may lie
anywhere between 1·716 and 1·736. The lower values, about 1·720,
correspond to the most transparent red and blue stones; the deep
violet stones have values above 1·730. Spinel possesses little colour-
dispersion, or ‘fire.’ In the same way the values of the specific
gravity, even of the transparent stones, vary between 3·5 and 3·7,
but the opaque ceylonite has values as high as 4·1. Spinel is slightly
softer than sapphire and ruby, and has the symbol 8 on Mohs’s
scale, and it is scarcely inferior in lustre to these stones. Spinel is
easily separated from garnet of similar colour by its lower
refractivity. Spinels run from 10s. to £5 a carat, depending on their
colour and quality, and exceptional stones command a higher rate.
Spinel always occurs in close association with corundum. The
balas and the true ruby are mixed together in the limestones of
Burma and Siam. Curiously enough, the spinel despite its lower
hardness is found in the river gravels in perfect crystals, whereas the
rubies are generally waterworn. Fine violet and blue spinels occur in
the prolific gem-gravels of Ceylon. A large waterworn octahedron
and a rough mass, both of a fine red colour, are exhibited in the
Mineral Gallery of the British Museum (Natural History), and a
beautiful faceted blue stone is shown close by.
The enormous red stone, oval in shape, which is set in front of the
English crown, is not a ruby, as it was formerly believed to be, but a
spinel. It was given to the gallant Black Prince by Pedro the Cruel
after the battle of Najera in 1367, and was subsequently worn by
Henry V upon his helmet at the battle of Agincourt. As usual with
Indian-fashioned stones it is pierced through the middle, but the
hole is now hidden by a small stone of similar colour.
The British Regalia also contains the famous stone called the
Timur Ruby or Khiraj-i-Alam (Tribute of the World), which weighs
just over 352 carats, and is the largest spinel-ruby known. It is
uncut, but polished. Its history goes back to 1398, when it was
captured by the Amir Timur at Delhi. On the wane of the Tartar
empire the stone became the property of the Shahs of Persia, until it
was given by Abbas I to his friend and ally, the Mogul Emperor,
Jehangir. It remained at Delhi until, on the sack of that city by Nadir
Shah in 1739, it, together with immense booty, including the Koh-i-
nor, fell into the hands of the conqueror. Like the great diamond, it
eventually came into the possession of Runjit Singh at Lahore, and
on the annexation of the Punjab in 1850 passed to the East India
Company. It was shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851, and
afterwards presented to Queen Victoria.
Mention has been made above (p. 121) of the blue spinel which is
manufactured in imitation of the true sapphire. The artificial stone is
quite different in tint from the blue spinel found in nature.
CHAPTER XXIII

GARNET

T HE important group of minerals which are known under the


general name of garnet provides an apt illustration of the fact
that rarity is an essential condition if a stone is to be accounted
precious. Owing to the large quantity of Bohemian garnets, of a not
very attractive shade of yellowish red, that have been literally
poured upon the market during the past half-century the species has
become associated with cheap and often ineffective jewellery, and
has acquired a stigma which completely prevents its attaining any
popularity with those professing a nice taste in gem-stones. It must
not, however, be supposed that garnet has entirely disappeared from
high-class jewellery although the name may not readily be found in
a jeweller’s catalogue. Those whose business it is to sell gem-stones
are fully alive to the importance of a name, and, as has already been
remarked (p. 109), they have been fain to meet the prejudices of
their customers by offering garnets under such misleading guises as
‘Cape-ruby,’ ‘Uralian emerald,’ or ‘olivine.’
Garnets may, moreover, figure under another name quite
unintentionally. Probably many a fine stone masquerades as a true
ruby; the impossibility of distinguishing these two species in certain
cases by eye alone is perhaps not widely recognized. An instructive
instance came under the writer’s notice a few years ago. A lady one
day had the misfortune to fracture one of the stones in a ruby ring
that had been in the possession of her family for upwards of a
century, and was originally purchased of a leading firm of jewellers
in London. She took the ring to her jeweller, and asked him to have
the stone replaced by another ruby. A day or two later he sent word
that it was scarcely worth while to put a ruby in because the stones
in the ring were paste. Naturally distressed at such an opinion of a
ring which had always been held in great esteem by her family, the
lady consulted a friend, who suggested showing it to the writer. A
glance was sufficient to prove that if the ring had been in use so
long the stones could not possibly be paste on account of the
excellent state of their polish, but a test with the refractometer
showed that the stones were really almandine-garnets, which so
often closely resemble the true ruby in appearance. Beautiful as the
stones were, the ring was probably not worth one-tenth what the
value would have been had the stones been rubies.
To the student of mineralogy garnet is for many reasons of
peculiar interest. It affords an excellent illustration of the facility
which certain elements possess for replacing one another without
any great disturbance of the crystalline form. Despite their apparent
complexity in composition all garnets conform to the same type of
formula: lime, magnesia, and ferrous and manganese oxides, and
again alumina and ferric and chromic oxides may replace each other
in any proportion, iron being present in two states of oxidation, and
it would be rare to find a stone which agrees in composition exactly
with any of the different varieties of garnet given below.
Garnet belongs to the
cubic system of crystalline
symmetry. Its crystals are
commonly of two kinds,
both of which are very
characteristic, the regular
dodecahedron, i.e. twelve-
faced figure (Fig. 75), and
the tetrakis-octahedron or Figs. 75, 76.—Garnet Crystals.
three-faced octahedron (Fig. 76); the latter crystals are, especially
when weather- or water-worn, almost spherical in shape. Closer and
more refined observations have shown that garnet is seldom
homogeneous, being usually composed of several distinct individuals
of a lower order of symmetry. Although singly refractive as far as can
be determined with the refractometer or by deviation through a
prism, yet when examined under the polarizing microscope, garnets
display invariably a small amount of local double refraction. The
transition from light to darkness is, however, not sharp as in normal
cases, but is prolonged into a kind of twilight. In hardness, garnet is
on the whole about the same as quartz, but varies slightly; hessonite
and andradite are a little softer, pyrope, spessartite, and almandine
are a little harder, while uvarovite is almost the same. All the
varieties except uvarovite are fusible when heated before the
blowpipe, and small fragments melt sufficiently on the surface in the
ordinary bunsen flame to adhere to the platinum wire holding them.
This test is very useful for separating rough red garnets, pyrope or
almandine, from red spinels or zircons of very similar appearance.
Far greater variation occurs in the other physical characters. The
specific gravity may have any value between 3·55 and 4·20, and the
refractive index ranges between 1·740 and 1·890. Both the specific
gravity and the refractive index increase on the whole with the
percentage amount of iron.
Garnet is a prominent constituent of many kinds of rocks, but the
material most suitable for gem purposes occurs chiefly in crystalline
schists or metamorphic limestones. Pyrope and demantoid are
furnished by peridotites and the serpentines resulting from them;
almandine and spessartite come mostly from granites.
The name of the species is derived from the Latin granatus, seed-
like, and is suggested by the appearance of the spherical crystals
when embedded in their pudding-like matrix.
The varieties most adapted to jewellery are the fiery-red pyrope
and the crimson and columbine-red almandine; the closer they
approach the ruddy hue of ruby the better they are appreciated.
Hessonite was at one time in some demand, but it inclines too much
to the yellowish shade of red and possesses too little perfection of
transparency to accord with the taste of the present day. Demantoid
provides beautiful, pale and dark emerald-green stones, of brilliant
lustre and high dispersion, which are admirably adapted for use in
pendants or necklaces; on account of their comparative softness it
would be unwise to risk them in rings. In many stones the colour
takes a yellowish shade, which is less in demand. Uvarovite also
occurs in attractive emerald-green stones, but unfortunately none as
yet have been found large enough for cutting. A few truly
magnificent spessartites are known—one, a splendid example,
weighing 6¾ carats, being in the possession of Sir Arthur Church;
but the species is far too seldom transparent to come into general
use. The price varies per carat from 2s. for common garnet to 10s.
for stones most akin to ruby in colour, and exceptional demantoids
may realize even as much as £10 a carat. The old style of cutting
was almost invariably rounded or en cabochon, but at the present
day the brilliant-cut front and the step-cut back is most commonly
adopted.
The several varieties will now be considered in detail.

(a) Hessonite
(Grossular, Cinnamon-Stone, Hyacinth, Jacinth)
This variety, strictly a calcium-aluminium garnet corresponding to
the formula Ca3Al2(SiO4)3, but generally containing some ferric oxide
and therefore tending towards andradite, is called by several
different names. In science it is usually termed grossular, a word
derived from grossularia, the botanical name for gooseberry, in
allusion to the colour and appearance of many crystals, or hessonite,
and less correctly essonite, words derived from the Greek ἥσσων in
reference to the inferior hardness of these stones as compared with
zircon of similar colour; in jewellery it is better known as cinnamon-
stone, if a golden-yellow in colour, or hyacinth or jacinth. The last
word, which is indiscriminately used for hessonite and yellow zircon,
but should more properly be applied to the latter, is derived from an
old Indian word (cf. p. 229); jewellers, however, retain it for the
garnet.
Only the yellow and orange shades of hessonite (Plate XXIX, Fig.
5) are used for jewellery. Neither the brownish-green kind, to which
the term grossular may properly be applied, nor the rose-red is
transparent enough to serve as a gem-stone. Hessonite may mostly
be recognized, even when cut, by the curiously granular nature of its
structure, just as if it were composed of tiny grains imperfectly fused
together; this appearance, which is very characteristic, may readily
be perceived if the interior of the stone be viewed through a lens of
moderate power.
The specific gravity varies from 3·55 to 3·66, and the refractive
index from 1·742 to 1·748. The hardness is on the whole slightly
below that of quartz. When heated before a blowpipe it easily fuses
to a greenish glass.
The most suitable material is found in some profusion in the gem-
gravels of Ceylon, in which it is mixed up with zircon of an almost
identical appearance; both are called hyacinth. Hessonites from
other localities, although attractive as museum specimens, are not
large and clear enough for cutting purposes. Switzerland at one time
supplied good stones, but the supply has long been exhausted.

(b) Pyrope
(‘Cape-Ruby’)
Often quite ruby-red in colour (Plate XXIX, Fig. 6), this variety is
probably the most popular of the garnets. It is strictly a magnesium-
aluminium garnet corresponding to the formula Mg3Al2(SiO4)3, but
usually contains some ferrous oxide and thus approaches almandine.
Both are included among the precious garnets. Its name is derived
from πυρωπός, fire-like, in obvious allusion to its characteristic
colour.
Although at its best pyrope closely resembles ruby, its appearance
is often marred by a tinge of yellow which decidedly detracts from its
value. Pyrope generally passes as a variety of ruby, and under such
names as ‘Cape-ruby,’ ‘Arizona-ruby,’ depending on the origin of the
stones, commands a brisk sale. The specific gravity varies upwards
from 3·70, depending upon the percentage amount of iron present,
and similarly the refractive index varies upwards from 1·740; in the
higher values pyrope merges into almandine. Its hardness is slightly
greater than that of quartz, and may be expressed on Mohs’s scale
by the symbol 7¼.
An enormous quantity of small red stones, mostly with a slight
tinge of yellow, have been brought to light at Teplitz, Aussig, and
other spots in the Bohemian Mittelgebirge, and a considerable
industry in cutting and marting them has grown up at Bilin. Fine
ruby-red stones accompany diamond in the ‘blue ground’ of the
mines at Kimberley and also at the Premier mine in the Transvaal.
Similar stones are also found in Arizona and Colorado in the United
States, and in Australia, Rhodesia, and elsewhere.
Although commonly quite small in size, pyrope has occasionally
attained to considerable size. According to De Boodt the Kaiser
Rudolph II had one in his possession valued at 45,000 thalers (about
£6750). The Imperial Treasury at Vienna contains a stone as large as
a hen’s egg. Another about the size of a pigeon’s egg is in the
famous Green Vaults at Dresden, and the King of Saxony has one,
weighing 468½ carats, set in an Order of the Golden Fleece.

(c) Rhodolite
This charming pale-violet variety was found at Cowee Creek and at
Mason’s Branch, Macon County, North Carolina, U.S.A., but in too
limited amount to assume the position in jewellery it might
otherwise have expected. In composition it lies between pyrope and
almandine, and may be supposed to contain a proportion of two
molecules of the former to one of the latter. Its specific gravity is
3·84, refractive index 1·760, and hardness 7¼. It exhibits in the
spectroscope the absorption-bands characteristic of almandine.

(d) Almandine
(Carbuncle)
This variety is iron-aluminium garnet corresponding to the formula
Fe3Al2(SiO4)3, but the composition is very variable. In colour it is
deep crimson and violet or columbine-red (Plate XXIX, Fig. 8), but
with increasing percentage amount of ferric oxide it becomes brown
and black, and opaque, and quite unsuitable for jewellery. The name
of the variety is a corruption of Alabanda in Asia Minor, where in
Pliny’s time the best red stones were cut. Almandine is sometimes
known as Syriam, or incorrectly Syrian garnet, because at Syriam,
once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Pegu, which now forms
part of Lower Burma, such stones were cut and sold. Crimson
stones, cut in the familiar en cabochon form and known as
carbuncles, were extensively employed for enriching metalwork, and
a half-century or so ago were very popular for ornamental wear, but
their day has long since gone. Such glowing stones are aptly
described by their name, which is derived from the Latin
carbunculus, a little spark. In Pliny’s time, however, the term was
used indiscriminately for all red stones. It has already been
remarked that the word spinel has a similar significance.
The specific gravity varies from 3·90 for transparent stones to
4·20 for the densest black stones, and the refractive index may be
as high as 1·810. Almandine is one of the hardest of the garnets,
and is represented by the symbol 7½ on Mohs’s scale. The most
interesting and curious feature of almandine lies in the remarkable
and characteristic absorption-spectrum revealed when the
transmitted light is examined with a spectroscope (p. 61). The
phenomenon is displayed most vividly by the violet stones, and is,
indeed, the cause of their peculiar colour.
Although a common mineral, almandine of a quality fitted for
jewellery occurs in comparatively few localities. It is found in Ceylon,
but not so plentifully as hessonite. Good stones are mined in various
parts of India, and are nearly all cut at Delhi or Jaipur. Brazil supplies
good material, especially in the Minas Novas district of Minas Geraes,
where it accompanies topaz, and Uruguay also furnishes serviceable
stones. Almandine is found in Australia, and in many parts of the
United States. Recently small stones of good colour have been
discovered at Luisenfelde in German East Africa.

(e) Spessartite
Properly a manganese-aluminium garnet corresponding to the
formula Mn3Al2(SiO4)3, this variety generally contains iron in both
states of oxidation. If only transparent and large enough its aurora-
red colour would render it most acceptable in jewellery. Two splendid
stones have, indeed, been found in Ceylon (p. 211), and good
stones rather resembling hessonites have been quarried at Amelia
Court House in Virginia, and others have come from Nevada;
otherwise, spessartite is unknown as a gem-stone.
The specific gravity ranges from 4·0 to 4·3, and the refractive
index is about 1·81, both characters being high; the hardness is
slightly greater than that of quartz.

(f) Andradite
(Demantoid, Topazolite, ‘Olivine’)
Andradite is strictly a calcium-iron garnet corresponding to the
formula Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3, but as usual the composition varies
considerably. It is named after d’Andrada, a Portuguese mineralogist,
who made a study of garnet more than a century ago.
Once contemptuously styled common garnet, andradite suddenly
sprang into the rank of precious stones upon the discovery some
thirty years ago of the brilliant, green stones (Plate XXIX, Fig. 7) in
the serpentinous rock beside the Bobrovka stream, a tributary of the
Tschussowaja River, in the Sissersk district on the western side of
the Ural Mountains. The shade of green varies from olive through
pistachio to a pale emerald, and is probably due to chromic oxide.
Its brilliant lustre, almost challenging that of diamond, and its
enormous colour-dispersion, in which respect it actually transcends
diamond, raise it to a unique position among coloured stones.
Unfortunately its comparative softness limits it to such articles of
jewellery as pendants and necklaces, where it is not likely to be
rubbed. When first found it was supposed to be true emerald, which
does actually occur near Ekaterinburg, and was termed ‘Uralian
emerald.’ When analysis revealed its true nature, it received from
science the slightly inharmonious name of demantoid in compliment
to its adamantine lustre. Jewellers, however, prefer to designate it
‘olivine,’ not very happily, because the stones usually cut are not
olive-green and the name is already in extensive use in science for a
totally distinct species (p. 225); they recognized the hopelessness of
endeavouring to find a market for them as garnets. The yellow kind
of andradite known as topazolite would be an excellent gem-stone if
only it were found large and transparent enough. Ordinary andradite
is brown or black, and opaque; it has occasionally been used for
mourning jewellery.
The specific gravity varies from 3·8 to 3·9, being about 3·85 for
demantoid, which has a high refractive index, varying from 1·880 to
1·890, and may with advantage be cut in the brilliant form. It is the
softest of the garnets, being only 6½ on Mohs’s scale.

(g) Uvarovite
This variety, which is altogether unknown in jewellery, is a
calcium-iron garnet corresponding mainly to the formula
Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3, but with some alumina always present, and was
named after a Russian minister. It has an attractive green colour, and
is, moreover, hard, being about on Mohs’s scale, but it has never yet
come to light of a size suitable for cutting. The specific gravity is low,
varying from 3·41 to 3·52. Unlike the kindred varieties it cannot be
fused by heating before an ordinary blowpipe.
CHAPTER XXIV
TOURMALINE
(Rubellite)

T OURMALINE is unsurpassed even by corundum in variety of hue,


and it has during recent years rapidly advanced in public favour,
mainly owing to the prodigal profusion in which nature has formed it
in that favoured State, California, the garden of the west. Its
comparative softness militates against its use in rings, but its
gorgeous coloration renders it admirably fitted for service in any
article of jewellery, such as a brooch or a pendant, in which a large
central stone is required. Like all coloured stones it is generally
brilliant-cut in front and step-cut at the back, but occasionally it is
sufficiently fibrous in structure to display, when cut en cabochon,
pronounced chatoyancy.
The composition of this complex species has long been a vexed
question among mineralogists, but considerable light was recently
thrown on the subject by Schaller, who showed that all varieties of
tourmaline may be referred to a formula of the type 12SiO2.3B2O3.
(9-x)[(Al,Fe)2O3].3x[(Fe,Mn,Ca,Mg,K2,Na2,Li2,H2)O].3H2O. The ratios
of boric oxide, silica, and water are nearly constant in all analyses,
but great variation is possible in the proportions of the other
constituents. Having regard to this complexity, it is not surprising to
find that the range in colour is so great. Colourless stones, to which
the name achroite is sometimes given, were at one time exceedingly
rare, but they are now found in greater number in California. Stones
which are most suited to jewellery purposes are comparatively free
from iron, and apparently owe their wonderful tints to the alkaline
earths; lithia, for instance, is responsible for the beautiful tint of the
highly prized rubellite, and magnesia, no doubt, for the colour of the
brown stones of various tints. Tourmaline rich in iron is black and
almost opaque. It is a striking peculiarity of the species that the
crystals are rarely uniform in colour throughout, the boundaries
between the differently coloured portions being sharp and abrupt,
and the tints remarkably in contrast. Sometimes the sections are
separated by planes at right angles to the length of the crystal, and
sometimes they are zonal, bounded by cylindrical surfaces running
parallel to the same length. In the latter case a section perpendicular
to the length shows zones of at least three contrasting tints. In the
Brazilian stones the core is generally red, bounded by white, with
green on the exterior, while the reverse is the case in the Californian
stones, the core being green or yellow, bounded by white, with red
on the exterior. Tourmaline may, indeed, be found of almost every
imaginable tint, except, perhaps, the emerald green and the royal
sapphire-blue. The principal varieties are rose-red and pink
(rubellite) (Plate XXVII, Fig. 1), green (Brazilian emerald), indigo-
blue (indicolite), blue (Brazilian sapphire), yellowish green (Brazilian
peridot) (Plate XXVII, Fig. 2), honey-yellow (Ceylonese peridot),
violet-red (siberite), and brown (Plate XXVII, Fig. 8). The black,
opaque stones are termed schorl.
The name of the species is derived from the Ceylonese word,
turamali, and was first employed when a parcel of gem-stones was
brought to Amsterdam from Ceylon in 1703; in Ceylon, however, the
term is applied by native jewellers to the yellow zircon commonly
found in the island. Schorl, the derivation of which is unknown, is
the ancient name for the species, and is still used in that sense by
miners, but it has been restricted by science to the black variety. The
‘Brazilian emerald’ was introduced into Europe in the seventeenth
century and was not favourably received, possibly because the
stones were too dark in colour and were not properly cut; that they
should have been confused with the true emerald is eloquent
testimony to the extreme ignorance of the characters of gem-stones
prevalent in those dark ages. Achroite comes from the Greek,
ἄχροος, without colour.
To the crystallographer tourmaline is one
of the most interesting of minerals. If the
crystals, which are usually prismatic in form,
are doubly terminated, the development is
so obviously different at the two ends (Fig.
77) as to indicate that directional character
in the molecular arrangement, termed the
polarity, which is borne out by other physical
properties. Tourmaline is remarkably
dichroic, A brown stone, except in very thin
sections, is practically opaque to the
ordinary ray, and consequently a section cut
parallel to the crystallographic axis, i.e. to
Fig. 77.—Tourmaline
the length of a crystal prismatically
Crystal.
developed, transmits only the extraordinary
ray. Such sections were in use for yielding plane-polarized light
before Nicol devised the calcite prism known by his name (cf. p. 44).
It is evident that tourmaline, unless very light in tint, must be cut
with the table facet parallel to that axis, because otherwise the stone
will appear dark and lifeless. The values of the extraordinary and
ordinary refractive indices range between 1·614 and 1·638, and
1·633 and 1·669 respectively; the double refraction, therefore, is
fairly large, amounting to 0·025, and, since the ordinary exceeds the
extraordinary ray, its character is negative. The specific gravity varies
from 3·0 to 3·2. The lower values in both characters correspond to
the lighter coloured stones used in jewellery; the black stones, as
might be expected from their relative richness in iron, are the
densest. The hardness is only about the same as that of quartz, or
perhaps a little greater, varying from 7 to 7½. It will be noticed that
the range of refractivity overlaps that of topaz (q.v.) but the latter
has a much smaller double refraction, and may thus be distinguished
(p. 29). Unmounted stones are still more easily distinguished,
because tourmaline floats in methylene iodide, while topaz sinks.
The pyro-electric phenomenon (cf. p. 82) for which tourmaline is
remarkable, although of little value as a test in the case of a cut
stone, is of great scientific interest, because it is strong evidence of
the peculiar crystalline symmetry pertaining to its molecular
arrangement. Tourmalines range in price from 5s. to 20s. a carat
according to their colour and quality, but exceptional stones may
command a higher rate.
Tourmaline is usually found in the pegmatite dykes of granites, but
it also occurs in schists and in crystalline limestones. Rubellite is
generally associated with the lithia mica, lepidolite; the groups of
delicate pink rubellite bespangling a background of greyish white
lepidolite are among the most beautiful of museum specimens.
Magnificent crystals of pink, blue, and green tourmaline have been
found in the neighbourhood of Ekaterinburg, principally at Mursinka,
in the Urals, Russia, and fine rubellite has come from the Urulga
River, and other spots near Nertschinsk, Transbaikal, Asiatic Russia.
Elba produces pink, yellowish, and green stones, frequently
particoloured; sometimes the crystals are blackened at the top, and
are then known locally as ‘nigger-heads.’ Ceylon supplies small
yellow stones—the original tourmaline—which are confused with the
zircon of a similar colour, and rubellite accompanies the ruby at Ava,
Burma. Beautiful crystals, green and red, often diversely coloured,
come from various parts, such as Minas Novas and Arassuahy, of the
State of Minas Geraes, Brazil. Suitable gem material has been found
in numerous parts of the United States. Paris and Hebron in Maine
have produced gorgeous pink and green crystals, and Auburn in the
same state has supplied deep-blue, green, and lilac stones. Fine
crystals, mostly green, but also pink and particoloured, occur in an
albite quarry near the Conn River at Haddam Neck, Connecticut. All
former localities have, however, been surpassed by the extraordinary
abundance of superb green, and especially pink, crystals at Pala and
Mesa Grande in San Diego County, California. As elsewhere, many-
hued stones are common. The latter locality supplies the more
perfectly transparent crystals. Kunz states that two remarkable
rubellite crystals were found there, one being 45 mm. in length and
42 mm. in diameter, and the other 56 mm. in length and 24 mm. in
diameter. Madagascar, which has proved of recent years to be rich in
gem-stones, supplies green, yellow, and red stones, both uniformly
tinted and particoloured, which in beauty, though perhaps not in
size, bear comparison with any found elsewhere.
CHAPTER XXV
PERIDOT

T HE beautiful bottle-green stone, which from its delicate tint has


earned from appreciative admirers the poetical sobriquet of the
evening emerald, and which has during recent years crept into
popular favour and now graces much of the more artistic jewellery,
is named as a gem-stone peridot—a word long in use among French
jewellers, the origin and meaning of which has been forgotten—but
is known to science either as olivine, on account of the olive-green
colour sometimes characterizing it, or as chrysolite. It is of interest
to note that the last word, derived from χρυσός, golden, and λίθος,
stone, was in use at the time of Pliny, but was employed for topaz
and other yellow stones, while his topaz, curiously enough,
designated the modern peridot (cf. p. 199), an inversion that has
occurred in other words. The true olivine must not be confused with
the jewellers’ ‘olivine,’ which is a green garnet from the Ural
Mountains (p. 217). Peridot is comparatively soft, the hardness
varying from 6½ to 7 on Mohs’s scale, and is suitable only for
articles which are not likely to be scratched; the polish of a peridot
worn in a ring would soon deteriorate. The choicest stones are in
colour a lovely bottle-green (Plate XXIX, Fig. 2) of various depths;
the olive-green stones (Plate XXIX, Fig. 3) cannot compare with their
sisters in attractiveness. The step form of cutting is considered the
best for peridot, but it is sometimes cut round or oval in shape, with
brilliant-cut fronts.
Peridot is a silicate of magnesium and iron, corresponding to the
formula (Mg,Fe)2SiO4, ferrous iron, therefore, replacing magnesia. To
the ferrous iron it is indebted for its colour, the pure magnesium
silicate being almost colourless, and the olive tint arises from the
oxidation of the iron. The latitude in the composition resulting from
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