Hygiene

The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. From the name of Hygeia, the daughter of Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine (whose staff with entwined snake is the symbol of medicine). Asklepios (known to the Romans as Aesculapius) had a number of children including not only Hygeia but also Panaceia, the patroness of clinical medicine. Hygeia also followed her father into medicine. As the patroness of health, Hygeia was charged with providing a healthy environment to prevent illness. In Greek, "hygieia" means health.

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1. The science of health and its maintenance. 2. Cleanliness that promotes health and well being, especially of a personal nature. [G. hygieinos, healthful, fr. hygies, healthy]

- criminal h. obsolete term for the branch of mental h. or penology devoted to the study of the causes and prevention of criminality and the treatment of criminals.

- industrial h. practices adopted by an industrial concern to minimize occupation-related disease and/or injury.

- mental h. the science and practice of maintaining and restoring mental health; a branch of early twentieth century psychiatry that has become an interdisciplinary field including subspecialties in psychology, nursing, social work, law, and other professions.

- oral h. the cleaning of the mouth by means of brushing, flossing, irrigating, massaging, or the use of other devices. SEE ALSO: oral physiotherapy.

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hy·giene 'hī-.jēnalso hī-' n

1) a science of the establishment and maintenance of health see industrial hygiene, MENTAL HYGIENE

2) conditions or practices (as of cleanliness) conducive to health

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n.

the science of health and the study of ways of preserving it, particularly by promoting cleanliness.

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hy·giene (hiґjēn) [Gr. hygieia health] the science of health and of its preservation.