whitishness

[Eng. whitish; -ne .] The quality or state of being whitish or somewhat white. IMG:content-0867.png:[blocks in formation] 1887. whit-low, s . [A corruption of quick - flaw , i. e., a flaw or flaking off of the skin in the neighborhood of the quick , or sensitive part of the finger round the nail. The form whick - flaw (=quick-flaw) is still used in parts of England, and whitflaw and whitflowe_are old forms.] Surg .: Inflammation arising in the phalanges of the fingers, or more rarely of the toes, and gener ally advancing to suppuration. Its seat may be in the skin, in the tendons, in the periosteum, or in the cellular ti ue under the nail, or may affect the bone. The deeper it is seated the more troublesome and even dangerous it is. It may arise spontaneously or be caused by the prick of a needle, a pin, or a thorn, and a burning, shooting pain and swelling arise. In aggravated cases the inflammation extends up the arm, and sometimes caries of the bone takes place. As a rule a whitlow requires surgical treatment, for which it is inconveniently situated when it occurs under the nail. [ONYCHIA, PARONYCHIA.] whitlow-gra , s. Bot.: The genus Draba.