General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 3 (of 3)Bichat, Xavier
Science
General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 3 (of 3)
Bichat, Xavier
Human anatomy; Human physiology
3d. The inflammation of each gland has a particular character. That of
the kidneys does not resemble that of the liver, the testicles, &c. The
prostate gland when inflamed produces symptoms wholly different from
those of the testicles, &c. I do not speak of the differences resulting
from the diversity of the fluids, but only of those which arise from
the difference of texture.
4th. Each gland has its peculiar diseases, or such at least to which
it is disposed more than the others. Hydatids are very often found
near the convexity of the liver; they are never seen in the salivary
glands or the testicles. Though the parotid glands are as much exposed
to the action of external bodies as the testicles, there are twenty
sarcoceles to one scirrhus of these glands. The liver alone exhibits
that peculiar state that is called fatty; no gland is more frequently
the seat of steatomatous tumours. Physicians who have opened but few
bodies, employ the vague and insignificant word _obstruction_, &c. for
every kind of glandular swelling. But observe that most commonly these
swellings have nothing in common among them but the increase in size;
their nature is wholly different, and yet observe how ignorant many are
in medicine; they perceive by the touch that there is a hardness of the
liver, and immediately aperients, the acetate of potash, &c. are the
common means which they oppose to hydatids, to steatomatous tumours, to
scirrhi with granulations like marble, to fatty livers and to a hundred
different alterations from which the increase of size may arise, as
if it was this increase and not the kind of tumour that produced it,
which they had to combat. Give then also aperients when the liver
displaced by hydrothorax projects unnaturally, and you will act almost
as rationally.
5th. Each gland exhibits peculiar modifications in those evacuations
that are called critical, of which it is sometimes the seat after long
diseases, &c. &c.
6th. It is also to the difference of vitality of the different parts of
the glandular system, that must be referred the following phenomenon;
certain glands enter suddenly into action, either from a direct
irritation, or a sympathetic excitement, as the lachrymal for example,
which from a state of remission passes suddenly from the influence
of the passions, to that of copious secretion. On the contrary, it
requires some time to excite the other glands, as for example the
kidneys, pancreas, &c. which cannot suddenly pour out their fluids,
whatever may be the excitement they experience. The same stimulus
applied to the conjunctiva, produces a flow of tears, and at the same
time increases the action of the Meibomian glands; but the first effect
takes place before the other. The same stimuli applied to the mucous
surfaces can never produce a catarrhal discharge till the expiration of
some time.
_Second Character. Remission of the Glandular Life._
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