touch (tutch)

The act, sense, or function of judging of the presence or character of external objects by means of direct contact with some part of the skin. bimanual t. An examination used in gynecological practice in which both hands are used, one being placed flat on the abdomen while the finger or fingers of the other are introduced into the vagina, rectal t. The act of eliciting information by inserting a finger into the rectum, recto-abdominal t. Examination with one finger in the rectum and the other hand on the abdomen, royal t. The t. of a king, formerly in repute as a cure for scrofula (the "king's evil"). sound t. The gaining information as to the roughne , the presence of foreign bodies, or the abnormal shape of the interior of the uterus or bladder transmitted to the hand through a sound introduced into these organs, vaginal t. Investigation of the vagina by means of the finger or fingers introduced into it. vagi no-abdominal t. See bimanual t. [Fr., toucher, to touch.] The word, "touch," rarely used, "examination" more common.