effluvium

noun

Etymology: From Latin effluvium (“an outlet”), from effluō (“flow out or away”), from ex (“out of, from”) + fluō (“flow”).

1. A gaseous or vaporous emission, especially a foul-smelling one.

   “She was now bending over a huge light wood blaze, with a pipe of rude structure and no small dimensions in her mouth, from which the occasional puff went forth, filling the apartment with the unpleasant effluvia of the vilest leaf-tobacco.”

   “It was the mere effluvium of the flame, the subtle ether that it cast off as it passed, working on us, and making us feel strong as giants and swift as eagles.”

2. A condition causing the shedding of hair.

   “Reversible hair loss or effluvium occurs following either endogenous or exogenous damage to anagen hair follicles[…].”