APHLASTON, in Latin Aplastre, a wooden ornament, shaped like a plume of feathers, fastened on the goose's or swan's neck used by the ancient Greeks in the heads of their ships. The Aphlaston had much the same office and effect in a ship that the crest had on the helmet. It seems also to have had the further use of indicating the quarter of the wind by the waving of a party-coloured riband fastened to it.
APHLOGISTIC (α, priv., and φλόξ), or Flameless Lamp. This lamp is formed by winding a close coil of fine platinum wire loosely round the lower part of the wick of a spirit lamp. When the flame is extinguished, the coil will continue in a state of ignition till the spirit is consumed.
APHONIA (α, priv., and φωνή), a suppression or total loss of voice. It is never a primary disease, but a consequence of many different disorders. The cure is to be effected by removing the disorder from whence the aphonia proceeds.