Selected Monographs.

  • New Sydenham Society
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Selected Monographs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

    32/372 (page 18)
    In this case the presence of patches of blood colouring matter can be explained either by small ruptures, or by gradual imbibi- tion through the walls of the vessels. The facts which I have just expounded, suffice to explain in great part the black coloration of the affected tissues in dry gangrene. Nevertheless this cause is not the only one. With regard to this matter I have observed the following: on a foot presenting a complete type of mummified gangrene (absolute blackness and hardness), and which in spite of the already ancient date of death was in a perfect state of preservation, I was much surprised, whilst making a section perpendicular to the axis of the limb, to find below a layer of skin which was quite black the deeper tissues coloured red, of a very marked carmine tint. I believed at first that here again there was a true imbibition of colouring matter of the blood, but microscopic examination of the portion soon undeceived me. Under a low power (20 diameters) the derma as well as the fibrous tracts extending from its deep surface were seen to be of a beautiful rose colour, which deepened at certain points. Con- sequently the black colour of the derma depends solely on the greater condensation of the tissue. Its true colour does not differ sensibly from that of the subjacent parts. The fatty cells contained in the areolae of the connective tissue were found to possess also the same colour. But they had undergone another modification not less curious. They were completely emptied of their contents, and their walls pressed one against another had taken by juxtaposition a polygonal figure, simulating the aspect of the cellular tissue of vegetables. Under a higher power (210 diameters) this arrangement was very obvious. The polygonal cells not enclosing any granular contents presented a rose coloration, which was disseminated in patches, more marked in certain spots without being limited to any cell in particular; it was a kind of general suffusion. In order to be convinced that this colour belonged to the walls of the cells, an exceedingly thin section was made and examined under a higher power (500 diameters). The interior was found com- pletely transparent, whilst the point where the walls were in juxtaposition, and which at the same time offered a greater thickness, presented only a rose tint. A few cells contained