the animal economy, one of the four humours whereof the ancients supposed the blood to be composed. The chemists make phlegm or water an elementary body, the characters of which are fluidity, insipidity, and volatility.

Phlegmagogues, in medicine, a term anciently made use of for such medicines as were supposed to be endowed with the property of purging off phlegm; such as hermodactyls, agaric, turpith, jalap, &c.

Phlegmatic, among physicians, an appellation given to that habit or temperament of body wherein phlegm is predominant; which gives rise to catarrhs, coughs, &c.

Phlegmon, denotes an external inflammation and tumour, attended with a burning heat.