Lectures on the structure and physiology of the parts composing the skeleton, and on the diseases of the bones and joints of the human body : preceded by some observations on the influence of the brain and nerves, delivered before the Royal College of Surgeons of London, in the summer of the year 1820 / by James Wilson.
- Wilson, James.
- Date:
- 1820
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Lectures on the structure and physiology of the parts composing the skeleton, and on the diseases of the bones and joints of the human body : preceded by some observations on the influence of the brain and nerves, delivered before the Royal College of Surgeons of London, in the summer of the year 1820 / by James Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)
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![LECT. XV.] PSOAS AND LUMBAR ABSCESSES. WO toms being great lassitude of motion, and a heavy dull pain felt near the seat of the disease. When suppuration does take place from caries on the anterior part or the sides of the bodies belonging to the lower dorsal or to the lumbar vertebra, the adhe- sive inflammation, which takes place on the surfaces nearest to the cavity of the abdomen, thickens and stengthens the boundary between the abscess and the peritoneum, so as to prevent the matter from bursting into the cavity. The matter as it accu- mulates generally works its way downwards in the direction of the psoas muscle, and appears first in the groin: or sometimes in the upper part of the thigh, forming the psoas abscess. On some occa- sions the matter has taken the course of the sper- matic vessels and has passed through the ring, so as to be mistaken by careless observers for inguinal herniee. In other instances the matter has ex- tended round to the loins, and the tumour opened behind, forming the lumbar abscess. When disease affects the spinal marrow, cha- racteristic symptoms of the paralytic kind will often take place before any curvature of the verte- brae is perceptible, and the pain in the beginning of the disease cannot always be referred to any decided part of the spine ; indeed even when well marked symptoms of the existence of the disease have taken place, the part cannot always be disco- vered either by the sight or touch. In general, how- ever, although there may be no perceptible projection Dd 2](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21288331_0421.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)