Under the name of _bubo_ the ancient Physicians understood any form of inflammation of the lymphatic glands. Now such inflammation occurs above all other places in the inguinal region, and thus inflammation of the inguinal glands came to be especially indicated by the word, as well as the inguinal region itself. Similarly the Romans used _inguen_ (the groin) both for the region and for the disease. Subsequently many distinctions were drawn; a phlegmonous affection combined with swelling was called a βουβὼν (bubo), while the name φῦμα (swelling) was appropriated to a swelling of the glands characterized by its rapid establishment and its tendency to suppuration (bubo with suppurative pustule in the centre), and φύγεθλον (burning swelling) to one conjoined with (cutaneous) inflammation of an erysipelas character,[408] which last form, if it passes on into induration, is known as χοιρὰς or _struma_ (scrofulous or strumous swelling). The best exposition from the points of view equally of pathology and therapeutics is found in _Galen_.[409] The glands in virtue of their spongy structure are peculiarly liable to take up rheums or fluxes of all descriptions; accordingly the glands of the groin, armpits and neck swell, directly ulcers are set up in the toes, fingers or head. The body being overloaded with evil humours is another reason for the establishment of buboes, and in this case they are more difficult to cure. Further, _Hippocrates_[410] derived buboes in women from interrupted menstruation, and maintains[411] that the most part owe their origin to some affection of the liver.