A manual of diseases of the throat and nose : including the pharynx, larynx, trachea, œsophagus, nose and naso-pharynx / by Morell Mackenzie.

  • Mackenzie, Morell, 1837-1892.
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of diseases of the throat and nose : including the pharynx, larynx, trachea, œsophagus, nose and naso-pharynx / by Morell Mackenzie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    38/610 (page 26)
    DISEASES OF THE GULLET. ACUTE (ESOPHAGITIS. Latin Eq.—G^sophagitis acuta. French Eq.—CEsophagite aigiie. German Eq.—Acute Entzundung der Speiserdhre. Italian Eq.—Esofagite acuta. Definition.—Acute idiopathic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oesoqyhaqus, givinc] riee to euireme odyn- phagia, and. often to aphaegia. The disease is attende>d with some danger, but generally ends in resol-utiom, and only in extremely rare cases terminates in ulcer, abscess, or gangrene. Historg.—Amongst the ancient physicians Galen* alone appears to have recognized this disease. After referring to difficulty of swallowing caused hy tumours and paralysis, he observes that when the oesophagus is affected by inflammation the condition of the jiart itself acts as a hindrance to the passage of food ; deglutition, moreover, being accompanied by excruciating i>ain. In 1722 Boehm- called attention to the complaint, especiallj' dwelling on the pain and heat which “reach even down to the stomach, accomivinied by hiccough and a constant flow of serum from the mouth.” In 1745 Van Swieten * gave a short account of the aft’ection, obviously Ivised more upon literary research than experience. Honkoop publishe*! a thesis on inflammation of the gullet in 1774, and in 1785 Rleuland * described the disease in his short treatise on the oesophagus. Bleuland’s remarks are entitled to special weight, inasmuch as he hail himself suffered from a violent attack of the disorder, whereas the preGous accounts of this rare affection appear to be entirely foundeil on Galen’s descrii)tion, which is admirably accurate so far as it goes, but necessarily inconpilete. Besides his oum attack Bleuland states that he was acipiainted with the details of four other cases of the comiilaint which had occurred in the practice of his master Van Doevcron. A good description of the disease was given in 1792 by John Peter Frank,” who hist jirojio.sed to designate it by the name “(esophagitis.” Some years later the jiathologt' of inflammation of 1 “ De loconini affect. iiotitiA,” lih. v. cap. iv. - “ Dissertatio (ie iiiorbis a’sopliajii.” Halnc, 1772. This was a thesis presented liy Hoehni for tlie doctor's dcKrec, uiicier the academical presidency of the cele- lirated Hofmann, towliom the work has (renerally lieen ascribed by sulisequent writers. 3 “Comment, in H. Roerliaavc aphorismos. Lufrdiini Batavorum, 1745, t. ii. p. 602, S 804. 4 “ Dias, de morbo (esophagi inflammatorio.” Lupduni Batavorum, 1774. 3 “ Oils, aiiat. nicd. de saiiA et morliosA (esopliam stmetnrA. Leida?. 178.5. 0 “ Do curandis honiinum morbis, lib. it. pp. 104, 105. Mannheraii Tubingnj, Vienna;, 1792—1821.