Khonam: an old word in ancient Persian texts in connection with zoology

Meshmesheh is a fatal disease common between man and perissodactyla, which has since long attracted the attention of many people in different civilizations, including Muslim zoologists of earlier times, thus being named variously. Amongst its different names, the Persian term khonam is noteworthy. Studies indicate that the concept behind this term goes well beyond the description of the disease meshmesheh, and has originally been applied to every kind of lymphangitis, regardless of the sort of pus oozing from it. Khonam can therefore be employed as a substitute term for “ulcerative lymphangitis”. In this article, by examining the term and its equivalents in both old and modern medical and zoological texts and considering the views of physicians and veterinarians from various centuries, the development of its meaning and application is discussed. Besides, some research is done on the etymology of khonam and a number of etymological possibilities are suggested.