Trachoma and its complications in Egypt / by A. F. MacCallan.

  • MacCallan, A. F. (Arthur Ferguson)
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Trachoma and its complications in Egypt / by A. F. MacCallan. 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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    PART II. Pathology of Trachoma. A. Morbid Anatomy. B. The Active Agent. A. Morbid Anatomy. The Morbid Anatomy of trachoma will be discussed under the following heads: (1) follicles or granulations, seen typically in trachoma I and trachoma Ila, (2) papillae, seen in trachoma lib, (3) cicatricial tissue, seen in trachoma III and trachoma IV, (4) pannus seen in every stage, (5) degeneration of the conjunctiva. (1) Follicles. The micro-histology of a follicle somewhat closely follows the clinical features of an attack of trachoma; that is to say, fibrous elements make their appearance in proportion to chronicity. In an early follicle the epithelium covering it may be so thinned as to be almost non-existent, and polymorphonuclear cells may be noticed amongst the strata. Rupture of the epithelium is associated with spontaneous ex- trusion of the follicle. The follicles lie in the subepithelial tissue, which is further involved in a more or less general infiltration. In the early stage a capsule is suggested by the presence of elongated flattened cells at the periphery; internal to this is a conglomeration of lympho- cytes, the centre being composed of less deeply staining cells, many of which are of the large epithelioid type, and present the appear- ance of cells undergoing degenerative or necrotic transformation. Here and there thin walled vascular channels can be demonstrated. Plasma cells are not a feature of the trachoma follicle, in contrast to the lymphoid follicle. They may however be demonstrated and are invariably found in considerable numbers in the subepithelial tissue. Older follicles have a more or less definite connective tissue capsule, more fibrous stroma and vessels, and much the same