a. (sb.) [ad. Gr. ζυμωτικός causing fermentation, f. ζυμοῦν: see ZYMOSIS.] A general epithet for infectious diseases, originally because regarded as being caused by a process analogous to fermentation (cf. ZYMOSIS); pertaining to this theory of disease; causing such disease.
1842. W. Farr, in 4th Ann. Rep. Reg-Gen., 200–1. The property of communicating their action, and effecting analogous transformations in other bodies, is as important as it is characteristic in these diseases, which it is proposed therefore to call, in this sense, zymotic.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour (1861), II. 395/2. The zymotic doctrine of the Board of Health as to the cause of cholera.
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 528. Since many morbid processes are analogous, if not akin, to fermentative processes,… the term zymotic has been applied to them,—a term, however, to be avoided rather than recommended.
b. In etymological sense: Causing or consisting in fermentation, fermentative.
1874. Garrod & Baxter, Mat. Med., 145. The zymotic action of yeast.
c. transf. Containing putrefactive germs.
1881. Tyndall, Ess. Floating-Matter of Air, 208. An éprouvette containing one cubic centimeter of cold water, previously ascertained to be zymotic, was evaporated to dryness in the incubator.
B. sb. A zymotic disease.
1842. W. Farr, in 4th Ann. Rep. Reg-Gen., 201. A single word, such as Zymotics, is required to replace in composition the long periphrasis ‘epidemic, endemic, and contagious diseases.’
1859. Househ. Words, 8 Jan., 112/2. I can soon overtake my work in adding up all the people who have died of Zymotics, unless some ridiculous influenza comes on.
1916. Lancet, 8 Jan., 112/1. Health of Belfast…. In 1914 there were 51 notifications of typhus, with 12 deaths; not a case of this zymotic has been reported in 1915.
Hence Zymotically adv.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour (1861), II. 385/2. Whether this mass of filth be, zymotically, the cause of cholera, or [etc.].
