medIcago

[Corrupted from Gr. Mëdikē poa =the Median gra , which was lucerne, said to have been brought to Greece during the expedition of Darius.] Bot.: Medick; a genus of papilionaceous plants, sub-tribe Trifoliese. The leaves are trifoliolate, the keel obtuse, the legumes spirally twisted, more rarely falcate, often spiny, rarely dehiscent. Found in Europe, the west of Asia, and the north of Africa. Known species, forty. M. arborea , the cytisus of the ancients, grows in the south of Italy, Greece and the Archipelago. The Turks use the wood to make handles for their sabers, and the Greek monks for making beads. med-Ic-al, a . [Low Lat. medical is , from Lat. medic us =a physician, medeor =to heal; Ital. & Sp. medico.] Pertaining to, connected with or employed in the science of medicine, or the art of healing disease; as (1) Engaged in the profe ion of medicine; as, the medical profe ion, a medical student. (2) Used or intended for the teaching and promotion of medical science; as, a medical school. (3) Medicinal; tending to cure or heal. medical jurisprudence, subst . That branch of state medicine which is concerned with the administration of justice. It had its rise in Germany; the first course of lectures on the subject were delivered by Michælis at Leipsic about 1650. Medical jurisprudence deals with (1) questions affecting civil rights: as those of personal identity, age, sex, legitimacy, malingering, and unsoundne of mind; (2) injuries to persons from whatever causes, when those injuries are the subject of judicial inquiry. Under the second head toxicology is sometimes included, though that science has a copious literature of its own.