On the microscopic pathology of cancer, (with a woodcut) / by John Houston, M.D.

  • John Houston
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the microscopic pathology of cancer, (with a woodcut) / by John Houston, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    culare presents the same microscopic cells and fibrous basis that are found in thee, simplex; but contains, in addition, a vast number of peculiar white corpuscles, the disposition of which among the grey mass is such as to produce the net-like appearance above spoken of. These corpuscles are formed by the agglomeration of small granules. They are usually oblong in shape, although sometimes rounded, [Fig. 3,] and two or three times as large as the red globules of the blood. As the disease advances, the reticular figures readily become confluent, and then appear like irregular white spots. When this occurs, the white mass, as observed by Miiller, presents some resemblance to the first appearance of white tubercle in a grey tissue. C. reticulare is sometimes very rapid in its growth ; and, in by far the greater number of cases, it returns after being extirpated. Here is a specimen and drawing of this disease from a patient who died in the South Dublin Union Workhouse, presented to rae by Mr. Shannon. The tumour is very large and lobulated, and the lymphatic glands, both in the di- rection of the axilla and clavicle, are implicated. Delineations of the cells and corpuscles, magnified, are also here shown. This woman had been visited by Mr. Wilmot and Mr. Cusack two years previously, and while the tumour was of the size of a ben-egg, and these gentlernen had disapproved of any operation, under the conviction that the woman would live longer if let alone. She died of bronchitis, but had acquired a true cancerous aspect, and hjvd suffered much pain in the tumour before death. Notwith- standing the great size of this tumour, and the ex- tensive contamination of lymphatic glands, it is re- markable that it had not contracted adhesions either to the pectoral muscle, or the integuments, except in the situation of the nipple, which was much retracted. This preparation, of which a drawing likewise shows the recent appearances, may serve as a good speci- men of the c. reticulare. It is a breast which I re- moved from a woman in the City of Dublin Hospital some years since. The tumour had grown rapidly, and although so large as to weigh five pounds, was but little adherent to the pectoral muscle, and not at all to the integuments. A cluster of diseased lymphatic glands, which were removed from the axilla at the same