On diseases of the rectum and anus / by Harrison Cripps.

  • William Harrison Cripps
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On diseases of the rectum and anus / by Harrison Cripps. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    133/704 (page 59)
    caused by the violent contraction of the abdominal muscles in the act of springing. These little ruptures are liable to recur, and often produce a certain amount of irritation, leading to hypertrophy of the anal fold in which they are situated, thus forming one of the causes of the third variety of external piles, to be presently described. Apart from the little tumour which occurs suddenly after straining, a thrombus will often form within a dilated venous pouch, and is really secondary to some inflammation spreading from a crack or fissure in the muco-cutaneous surface. (Edematous Pile. — The second variety forms a considerable proportion of what is commonly called an “ attack of the piles.” Such attacks vary greatly in degree. In slight cases the patient complains of little more than irritation of the part, while in others, especially if the inflammation extend to the venous plexus, acute pain may be experienced, with considerable constitutional disturbance. I will consider the slighter cases first, for in these will be found the explanation of the severer forms. A patient will present himself complaining that he “ has got the piles.” We shall find, upon questioning him, that the trouble commenced a day or two previously with a sense of irritation and heat in the part. The irritation has now passed on to a sensation of actual pain, especially on attempting to pass a motion. He will also be conscious of a swelling or fulness about the rectum, and it will generally be found, upon further inquiry, that he has had such attacks before, but that they have usually passed oh in a few days, leaving no permanent trouble. In the slight case I am now considering there will be no constitutional disturbance. Upon examining the part, a small swelling may be seen, perhaps the size of a filbert at the anal margin, and upon further investigation