QUINSY, or Cynanche, or Angina, is an inflammation of the throat. Nosologists, having applied the name of cynanche to nearly all the inflammatory diseases in this part, have been obliged to distinguish the different affections of the several organs included in it, by specific names; hence we have Comanche parotidaa,another name for mumps ; C. trachealis, which is croup ; C. pharynjea, or inflammation of the pharynx ; C. tonsillaris, or inflammation of the tonsils ; and many other species, named either from the organ chiefly affected, or the character of the inflammation. Of these, mumps and croup having been treated of in separate articles, the present may be devoted to the two last mentioned, which are indeed those that are commonly intended by the popular name quinsy.
Cynanche pharyngea, or inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the back of the mouth and the upper part of the throat, is that which usually exists in a common sore throat, brought ou, as it most frequently is, by a change in the weather, or by sitting in cold or damp air. It is usually a mild disease, and chiefly annoying from its liability to recur on slight occasions. The extent of the inflammation varies greatly in different cases ; it may be confined to the pharynx, or it may spread from it over the soft palate and the tonsils, and into the cavities of the nose, where it produces the additional symptoms of a cold, or into the tympauutu, giving rise to deafness. On examination the back of the mouth and fences, when thus inflamed, will be found unnaturally red and swollen, and often covered with tough mucus or lymph; and from these changes there result dryness and soreness of the throat, pain on swallowing, and a sensation as if the diseased parts were closely constricted.
A common sore throat does not need much treatment; warmth, gentle purgatives, and sweating medicines, the avoidance of stimulating food, and the inhaling of the vapour of hot water, or hot vinegar and water, or the application of a large poultice round the throat, will usually effect its removal in a few days. Sometimes however the
disease is prolonged in a slight but obstinate form, which is commonly called a relaxed sore throat. In this condition the redness of the parts affected is still observed, but it is of a less vivid colour, and is irregularly streaky, iustead of being evenly diffused; the velum also, which is commonly implicated, is elongated, and it is from its unnatural contact with the back of the tongue and the epiglottis that the tickling sensation in the throat arises, and excites a constant desire to swallow or to cough. For this condition the necessary treatment consists of stimulating gargles, such as hot wine, infusion of Cayenne pepper, very diluted mineral acids, &c., and if the patient be iu general ill health, tonics and appropriate alteratives.
are also some sub-varieties of the others. The quince-tree is used, and chiefly propagated in this country, for furnishing stocks for grafting with such pears as are intended to be grown as dwarfs, or when early fruiting is desired. The Portugal quince is to be preferred for this purpose, as its growth corresponds nearer with that of the pear than the other stnaller-leaved sorts. It is also better for pur poses to which the fruit of the quince is applied, such as marmalade, and syrups or jellies. The propagation of the trees is easily effected by layering, but they root and grow slowly ; and seedlings form the best stocks, though they require two or three years longer than these from layers before grafting. As the tree vegetates early, it should, when used as a stock, be grafted as soon as the weather will permit. From this not being attended to, a want of success has occasionally been complained of. The stocks should be headed down even as early as January. Quinces are best adapted for light and rather moist soils. In dry soils the pears grown upon them are rendered gritty. [Cvnoxte, in NAT. HIST. Dry.]