A manual of diseases of the throat and nose : including the pharynx, larynx, trachea, œsophagus, nose and naso-pharynx / by Morell Mackenzie.

  • Mackenzie, Morell, 1837-1892.
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of diseases of the throat and nose : including the pharynx, larynx, trachea, œsophagus, nose and naso-pharynx / by Morell Mackenzie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    51/610 (page 39)
    case occuniug in the ]iractice of Dr. Gordon ^ the jiatient liad sutfered from repeated atfarks of (li/ttjmuia a cund(lemhl(‘ time before iJi/ephai/ia snpe.reened. In other eases,^ in ivliich the early history is obscure, it is (piite possilile that the original lesion may have been due to the temporary impac;- tion of a foreign body, to a jieri-cesophageal abscess, or even to the penetration of a scrofulous gland. In any of these instances, by the time tlie autopsy is made, there is often nothing which can reveal the original cause of the malady, and there is at present no ground for considering that ulcer- ation of the oesophagus can take place as an independent jtrocess. Ulcers of the gullet may follow oesophagitis,-^ and they are certainly found in cancer, syphilis, and phtliisis, as well as in thrush, diphtheria, variola, typhoid fever, and in cases of traumatic lesion. TRAUMATIC (ESOPHAGITIS. Latin Eij.—(Pisophagitis traumatica. French E<j.—(Esophagite traumatii^ue. German Eip—Traumatische Entziindung der Speiserdhre. Italian Eq.—Esofagite traumatica. Defixitiox.—Acute inflammation of the msophae/us ratised hf! caudics or irrita7itn,^ ifivimj rise, when oery severe, to com- plete (lestnictum of the walls of the (jullet, in slighter cases to limited desepiamation, and whem mild to active hypenemia. Hintory.—Inflammation of the gullet from tlie action of caustics has been more or le.s.s known to physiciams since tlie earliest dawn of scientific meilicine, hut it i.s only in modern times that the .sjiecial eflects of the various imtant and corrosive poisons on the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal have been attentively studied. Less attention has, however, been given to the action of such sub- stances on tlie gullet, probably becau.se its resisting lining membrane, its freedom from rece.sses, and its peniendiciilar direction combine to make it much less vulnerable than the mouth or stomach. A mere * Knott: Op. cit. p. 68. ^ Ibid. j). 7b. ^ See page 80. '' (Esophagitis set up by the impaction of foreign bodies i.s jnirposely omitted here, the condition of the gullet under tlio.se circunistaiiees being so dependent on the nature, position, and ultimate course ol the foreign body that it can be best considered in connection with the accidents which give rise to it.