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Literary notes about hypodermic (AI summary)

In literature, the term "hypodermic" is employed both in its literal medical sense and as a metaphorical device to evoke a sense of invasion or transformation. In works like Bram Stoker’s Dracula [1] and T. H. Pardo de Tavera’s medical treatise [2], the word underscores a clinical procedure—a precise and controlled method of administering substances, reflecting the medical advancements and practices of the time. Meanwhile, in narratives such as Yogananda’s autobiography [3], "hypodermic" takes on a more dynamic quality, conjuring imagery of a needle with an almost aggressive, penetrating action that heightens the emotional intensity of the scene. Additionally, in cultural discussions like Mooney’s exploration of Cherokee ceremonies [4], the term is interwoven with ritualistic practices, suggesting a broader symbolic significance beyond its purely technical definition.
  1. I shall give hypodermic injection of morphia.”
    — from Dracula by Bram Stoker
  2. Dose 0.25 gram to 1 or 2 grams a day given by stomach or hypodermic injection.
    — from The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by T. H. Pardo de Tavera
  3. As it dug a poisonous hypodermic needle into my thigh, I automatically raised an avenging hand.
    — from Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
  4. Scratching —This is a preliminary rite of the ballplay and other ceremonies, as well as the doctor’s method of hypodermic injection.
    — from Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney

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