ADENIIIS and are the terms employed in medicine to indicate inflammation of the lymphatic glands and inflammation of the lymphatic vessels respec tively. In most instances of inflammation in the absorbent or lymphatic system, the vessels and glands are simultaneously involved. Although there is plenty of evidence, from the examination of the dead body, that inflammation of the lymphatics may occur internally, it is only observed in the living subject in connection with the skin or an ulcerated surface. The disease usually originates in an open wound of almost any form, us a puncture, a cut, or a blister. This wound is directly infected by some morbid mat ter, as, for example, some local inflammatory product, such as the putrid secretion of a sore; but more commonly by some irritating or poisonous matter from without, or some gaseous matter. The inflanunation that is thus set up in the lymphatics always extends upwards from the wound, and may be traced by lines of redness following the course of these vessels, and not of the veins, and terminating where the inflamed vessels enter a gland. In the arm, for example, they never pass the armpit, in which the axiilary glands lie. The tenderness along these inflamed tracts is excessive, and extends to the next gland, which appears to arrest the further progress of the poisoned lymph, by becoming itself inflamed. The degree of inflammation of the gland may vary from slight enlarge ment with tenderness on pressure, to profuse suppuration. The suppuration may not take place till a week or more after the inflammation of the vessels has subsided, and may excite no rigors or other constitutional symptoms; and a patient may be quite uncon scious that there is anything serious the matter with him, when half a pint or more of matter may be collecting in and around a gland in the armpit. The constitutional symp toms attending an a•tack of acute inflammation of the lymphatic vessels (angeioleucitao are often severe, and are thus summed up by Mr, Moore in his essay " On Diseases of the Absorbent System" in Holmes's System of Surgery : "Rigors, nausea and vomiting, heat. of skin, thirst, dryness and coating of the tongue, with constipation, sleeplessness. and a feeling of languor, are usually the severest,aceompaniments of the disease. If the
fever lie typhoid, if there be profuse fetid sweats, Severe muscular pains, high excitement, or dry burning heat of the skin, and marked delirium, the poison is no longer limited within the lymphatic channels, but has infiltrated the cellular tissues, and has tainted the blood. As the inflammation subsides, a cutaneous eruption or fetid discharge from the bowels comes on, and the general symptoms become those of exhaustion." The following observations on the treatment of inflamed absorbents are mainly taken from Mr. Moore's essay. Many of the ordinary duties of life perpetually expose manual laborers and others to this painful affection. In the way of prevention, the practice of the hands with oil or grease before touching noxious fluids, is found to prevent the mischief which might arise from absorption by a cut or sore, and is a useful precau tion in dissection and in post-mortem examinations; and there can be no doubt that the timely application of a layer of collodion or of court-plaster might avert many attacks of inflamed absorbents. When symptoms of this form of inflammation supervene, the wound should be thoroughly cleansed, by more open, if all its parts are not freely exposed, and then put under a stream of water, syringed, or soaked in a hot bath, as may seem most _suitablc, If recent or punctured,. it should be sucked, and then freely touched with a pencil of nitrate of silver. If flabby, it should be treated with a stimu• lating lotion of sulphate of zinc or of copper; if fetid, it should be wrapped in a solution of Condy's fluid, or in chlorinated lotions; and if sloughy, it should be covered with Peru. vian balsam and a poultice of linseed meal, charcoal, or yeast. A warm poultice of one of these kinds, frequently changed, is usually the most soothing application. At the same time, nitrate of silver should be two or three times drawn along the red tender lines indi cating, the course of the lymphatics, after which the arm should be enveloped in cotton wool; and perfect rest in a comfortable position enjoined. Due attention must at the same time be paid to the general condition of the system, and especially to the condition of the intestinal secretions.