General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 2 (of 3)Bichat, Xavier
Science
General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 2 (of 3)
Bichat, Xavier
Human anatomy; Human physiology
One of the phenomena which the examination of dead bodies perhaps
most often exhibits, is the swelling of the lymphatic glands from
the organic affections of the principal viscera. We observe this
phenomenon, 1st, in the neck from the affections of the thyroid gland
and sometimes of the larynx, in the jugular glands; 2d, on the
chest from cancer in the breast, in the axillary and often in the
mammary glands, from every kind of phthisis in those that surround
the bronchiæ, very rarely if ever from diseases of the heart, whether
aneurism, ossification or diseases of the valves; 3d, in the abdomen,
from cancerous diseases of the stomach, especially of the pylorus,
and most of those in which the texture of the liver is altered, in
the numerous glands that accompany the biliary vessels and those
surrounding the pancreas; from schirrus of the intestines, from their
cancers, which are in general rather rare, in the mesenteric glands;
from the affections of the womb, the rectum, and the bladder, in
the glands of the pelvis; from schirrus of the testicles, diseases
of the urethra, in the inguinal and lumbar glands, &c.; 4th, on the
superior extremities from punctures, bites and most of the inflammatory
affections in the axillary glands; 5th, on the inferior extremities
from many affections in the inguinal glands.
These swellings of the lymphatic glands are of the same nature as the
affection that produces them; if that is acute they are so, if chronic
they pursue the same course. The swelling of the glands in the axilla
is acute, if it is the consequence of a prick of the finger, of a
whitlow, &c. and chronic, if it arises from cancer.
I am far from considering all these different swellings as the result
of a sympathetic influence exerted upon the gland. No doubt the
conveyance of absorbed matter produces the effect, as happens when
there is some virus, punctures with poisoned instruments, &c. producing
the swelling. But sometimes also sympathy alone is the cause. When by
the acute pain that a whitlow, a splinter under the nail or a bruise of
the finger occasion, the axillary glands swell; when the same glands
swell from the effect of a blister applied to the arm or fore-arm, &c.;
when this phenomenon happens in the inguinal glands from a blister
on the thigh or the leg, of which I have seen many cases, &c. &c.
there is certainly no matter conveyed to the gland; it is an effect of
sympathy.
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