Pathological and practical observations on diseases of the abdomen : comprising those of the stomach and other parts of the alimentary canal, oesophagus, caecum, intestines and peritoneum / by S.O. Habershon.

  • Habershon, S. O. (Samuel Osborne), 1825-1889.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pathological and practical observations on diseases of the abdomen : comprising those of the stomach and other parts of the alimentary canal, oesophagus, caecum, intestines and peritoneum / by S.O. Habershon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    throat interferes with respiration ; the tongue is much furred, it is swollen, and in fact the whole mucous membrane of the mouth is involved; the breath becomes offensive, and the gums covered with secretion; this condition may gradually sub- side ; or with increasing distress rigor comes on, and after a longer or shorter interval the pus which has formed finds a free vent, and there is sudden relief to the urgent symptoms; in some cases a fatal termination suddenly supervenes from suffocation or from exhaustion; suppuration, however, in some cases reaches to the loose cellular tissue external to the tonsil, and it may burrow among the muscles of the neck; ulceration also ensues, and there is then an excavation on the surface of the tonsil sometimes extending into its sub- stance, and even into the soft palate. In scarlet fever ulceration and sloughing of the tonsil is often deep and extensive, and constitutes a very important and serious com- plication. ■ In syphilitic and in strumous subjects this ulceration nas a peculiar and characteristic appearance; in the former having a somewhat circular margin, serpiginous in outline, m the latter having irregularly raised edges and extending m both cases to the soft palate, leading to its destruction and often to perforation. In syphilitic ulceration of the tonsil, the disease sometimes extends to the soft palate, and a circular red line of inflammation may be seen across the soft palate after ulceration has ceased, the disease spreading in the same manner as psoriasis of the skin. In chronic hypertrophy of the tonsil the glands present an irregular and pitted appearance; the enlarged glands, when increased by a sudden accession of acute disease, almost meet, and all the symptoms of the acute disease may be produced. Very slight causes suffice to produce this aggra- vation of symptoms when the tonsils are chronically affected, and what is often of great annoyance to the patient the Eustachian tubes are pressed upon, and the sense of hearing is interfered with. In many instances, as the acute disease subsides, the partial and temporary obstruction of the tube causes some deafness, but in chronic hypertrophy the deaf- ness is more permanent. Another consideration must be borne in mind, namely, that persistent enlargement of the