Thixotropy
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Thixotropy is the property of colloids to instantly transition from a gel to a sol state and back. This phenomenon, observed in protoplasm, was used as evidence for the suspension theory of protoplasm structure.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
THIXOTROPY (from Greek thingano - to touch and trepo - I turn), the property of colloids to instantly transition from a gel to a sol state and back. The term T. was proposed by Peterfi for corresponding phenomena in living protoplasm during irritations. Since, according to Freundlich, analogous phenomena in inorganic media are most clearly manifested in suspensions and extremely rarely in emulsions, this served as one of the most important proofs of the suspension structure of protoplasm. The viscosity of protoplasm as a thixotropic colloid is extremely variable. Shaking, electrical irritations, various acids, alkalis, amino acids, etc. easily cause phenomena of T. (see Gels).
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“Thixotropy.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/thixotropy/