cartilaginous or fleshy, or partly of osseous matter, arising from the
periosteum and outer shell of the bone, and these often acquire a great
magnitude before the diseased mass reaches the interior or medullary
part of the bone.
SPINA VENTOSA.
By this term is understood a mere expansion of a bone from a collection
of matter in its substance. The disease may be produced by external
injury, exciting inflammation, and consequent suppuration, in the
cancellated tissue; or in a weakened and unhealthy constitution, the
action may be of a chronic nature. The fluid accumulates, the cancelli
are broken down, and the much-attenuated parietes of the bone are
pressed outwards. Occasionally inflammatory action is excited on
the external surface, from the pressure of the contained fluid, and
minute nodules of bony matter are effused, as if nature endeavoured
to strengthen those walls which are daily becoming thinner, and
more incapable of supporting the weight of those parts which they
encircle. The disease differs from Osteosarcoma in the contents being
uniformly fluid, generally purulent, though often mixed with more
liquid and dark-coloured matter, or with a curdy substance—in the
gradual extension of the bone—in no fungus protruding after a portion
of the attenuated bone has given way, matter being discharged as
from a common abscess; and in the tumour not possessing a malignant
disposition. At first there is considerable pain in the part whilst
the matter is forming, but afterwards it becomes much less acute, and
in many instances there is no inconvenience, except from the bulk of
the tumour. Often after having reached no very large size, it becomes
stationary, neither recedes or enlarges, and all painful sensations
cease; in other cases it enlarges gradually, attains an enormous
size, and produces much disturbance of the constitution; but in such
instances the patient is generally weak and cachectic. The largest
tumour of this species which I have seen, occurred in the lower part of
the femur. It measured, in breadth, seven inches, in length, seven and
one-fourth. The parietes were composed of an extremely thin lamina of
bone, and in this there were numerous deficiencies supplied by delicate
ligamentous matter; its cavity was divided into several compartments by
thin septa, partly osseous and partly membranous. A representation of
the femur so affected is given in the _Practical Surgery_, p. 350. The
patient was a boy of twelve years of age; amputation of the limb was
earnestly advised, the friends objected, he died hectic.
ANEURISMAL TUMOURS.
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