humoralismn.
/ˈhjuːm(ə)rəlɪz(ə)m/, /ˈhjuːm(ə)rl̩ɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈhjumərəˌlɪz(ə)m/ Now historical.
The theory that health, disease, and temperament are determined by the four humours of the body (see humour n. 1a). Also (more generally): the theory that all disease can be ascribed to the state of the body fluids, esp. the blood (= fluidism n. 1). Cf. humorism n. 1.
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the world > health and disease > healing > art or science of medicine > medical theories or doctrines > [noun] > humoralism or fluidism
humoral theory1785
humorism1808
humoralism1822
fluidism1835
humorology1844
1822 Amer. Med. Recorder 5 2 The humours, or more properly speaking the blood, now began gradually to lose its former consequence. Solidism, instead of humoralism, became the fashion of the day.
1849 Brit. & Foreign Medico-chirurg. Rev. 4 233 Dr. Madden illustrates also the superiority of modern humoralism to the ancient, by basing his investigation on well-observed facts,..thus arriving at a precise expression of the kind of change which may be presumed to take place in the blood.
1875 Med. Press & Circular 11 Aug. 105/2 The doctrine of crisis, indeed, was an essential part of his [sc. Hippocrates] system of humoralism.
1910 D. A. Gorton Hist. Med. I. ii. 88 No dissent to it was raised until Borelli proved in the 17th century that disease may arise in the solids; thence the doctrine of Solidism, as opposed to that of Humoralism.
1997 R. Porter Greatest Benefit to Mankind ix. 207 Although critical of certain precepts, he [sc. Daniel Sennert] accepted many Paracelsan notions, blending them with humoralism.
2007 Times Lit. Suppl. 17 Aug. 25/4 One of the powerful strengths of Greek humoralism was its integrated vision of bodily functions, mental as well as physical, states of health as well as those of disease.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1822