Normergy

NORMERGY (normergy) (from Latin normalis-normal and Greek ergon-action), the normal reaction of tissues to this or that irritation. Usually, the inflammatory reaction is meant, and it is called normergic when one wants to note the uniform, i.e., the usual combination of the basic signs of inflammation in the sense of alteration, exudation, and proliferation. Deviations from N. in one direction or another are designated as allergy (see), and deviations toward weakening of these signs can be designated as allergy with a negative sign (hypergy or anergy); strengthening of the same signs, especially the alterative, is designated as allergy with a positive sign (hyperergy, see). Any changes within these extremes are simply called allergy, or allergic reaction. However, the concept of N. is extremely relative, and it is more correct to speak of the normergic action of each separate irritant on this or that type of animal or on this or that tissue of the latter. On the other hand, each irritant, especially one possessing antigenic properties, can under certain conditions, e.g., with prior sensitization, in the same animal and in the same tissue, produce not only normergic but also allergic reactions, as we observe, for example, in the Arthus phenomenon (see Anaphylaxis). ^♦NORRIS BODIES (Norris), transparent, colorless formations in the form of disks; described in blood serum; their significance is not yet clear.