Elements of pathological anatomy (1843) (21252813432)

Title: Elements of pathological anatomy
Identifier: elementsofpathol02gros (find matches)
Year: 1843 (1840s)
Authors: Gross, Samuel D. (Samuel David), 1805-1884
Subjects: Anatomy
Publisher: Boston, James Dow
Contributing Library: Univ. of Mass Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries



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32 AIR-PASSAGES. (chap. III. ramify in an arborescent manner, and the diameter of which scarcely equals that of a bristle. This variety, which may be said to resemble the continuous stricture of the urethra, usually affects the smaller div^isions of the bronchias, and is almost always complicated with dilatation, the caliber of the tube above the constriction being seldom perfectly natural. In the second variety, (Fig. 52,) the obliteration occupies only a very small portion of the tube, and is observed principally in bronchias of the second and third order. The affected part rarely ex- ceeds half an inch in length ; generally, indeed, it is not near so long, and not un- frequently it presents the ;;; appearance as if the tube had been compressed by a narrow tape or ligature. In this variety, the diameter of ' the bronchisB above and below the obliterated point may be natural, diminished, or, as is more commonly the case, increased. Several tubes may present this spe- cies of contraction in the same lung. The causes under the in- fluence of which this lesion takes place are various, but may all be referred to the following heads: 1. the formation of fibrinous concretions ; 2. thickening of the mucous membrane ; 3. external pres- sure ; 4. the existence of accidental products within the tube. Of these, the first and second are by far the most common, and are both the immediate result of iniiammatory irritation. The principle on which the one acts is similar to that which obtains in the production of contraction and obliteration of the arteries : the type of the other is to be found in the for- mation of stricture of the urethra, the nasal duct, oesophagus. Let us be understood. It is well known that the bronchial tubes are liable to inflammation, followed not infrequently by
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