Contributions to the pathology of diphtheritic sore-throat and other kindred affections / by John Burdon Sanderson, M.D.

  • Burdon-Sanderson, J. (John), Sir, 1828-1905.
Date:
[1860]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Contributions to the pathology of diphtheritic sore-throat and other kindred affections / by John Burdon Sanderson, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    OF DIPHTHERITIC SORE-THROAT AND OTHER KINDRED AFFECTIONS. M. Bretonneau in the first page of his treatise on 'Diphtherite,' in drawing a distinction between ordinary inflammation as affecting the mucous membrane, and the diphtheritic inflammation, is unable to account for or explain the existence of a membranous exudation in the one case, and its absence in the other, in any other way than by attributing it to what he calls a special mode inflammatoire, or special modification of the inflammatory process. So long as patho- logists were contented with looking at inflammation from the point of view of its absolute characters, without attempting to disclose the mystery of those vital processes of which they are the mere indices, a vague expression of this kind was the utmost that could be arrived at by way of explanation. Now, however, that we not only study the absolute characters of disease with much more exactitude than our fathers, but have learnt to regard all morbid processes as mere perversions of the functions of the afiected parts, as taught vls by an advanced anatomy and physiology, we are able to dispense with these makeshifts, and in most cases to connect observed dif- ferences in the signs of disease, with corresponding differences either in the seat or nature of the changes on which they depend. Thus, when we find that the mucous membrane of the pharynx and fauces is sub- ject to several conditions of acute disease, to all of which the term in- flammation in its ordinary signification is applicable, however dif- ferent some of the phenomena which express them, we are entitled to as.siune tliat similar differences exist either in the structuz-es affected, the order in which they are affected, or the natm-e of the change to which they are subject. Now, as it is evident that the word ivfiam- maiion only includes in its meaning the four characters, pain, heat, redness, and swelling, and as structural differences cannot be accounted for by any possible variation in the relations between these elements, it is clear that in the question before us that word is meaningless, and may be entirely dispensed with. Modern pathology has taught ua