INFLAMMATIONS. 43 



fauces, and then it will produce all the symptoms of the Cynan- 

 che stridula or trachealis." 



CCCXXV. There have been many dissections made of in- 

 fants who had died of this disease ; and almost constantly there 

 has appeared a preternatural membrane lining the whole inter- 

 nal surface of the upper part of the trachea, and extending in 

 the same manner downwards into some of its ramifications. 

 This preternatural membrane may be easily separated, and 

 sometimes has been found separated in part, from the subjacent 

 proper membrane of the trachea. This last is commonly found 

 entire, that is, without any appearance of erosion or ulceration ; 

 but it frequently shows the vestiges of inflammation, and is 

 covered by a matter resembling pus, like to that rejected by 

 coughing ; and very often a matter of the same kind is found in 

 the bronchias, sometimes in considerable quantity. 



CCCXXVI. From the remote causes of this disease, from 

 the catarrhal symptoms commonly attending it, from the py- 

 rexia constantly present with it, from the same kind of preter- 

 natural membrane being found in the trachea when the cy- 

 nanche maligna is communicated to it, and from the vestiges 

 of inflammation on the trachea discovered upon dissection, we 

 must conclude, that the disease consists in an inflammatory af- 

 fection of the mucous membrane of the larynx and trachea, 

 producing an exudation analogous to that found on the surface 

 of inflamed viscera, and appearing partly in a membranous crust, 

 and partly in a fluid resembling pus. 



CCCXXVII. Though this disease manifestly consists of 

 an inflammatory affection, it does not commonly end either in 

 suppuration or gangrene. The peculiar and troublesome cir- 

 cumstance of the disease seems to consist in a spasm of the 

 muscles of the glottis, which, by inducing a suffocation, prevents 

 the common consequences of inflammation. 



CCCXXV II I. When this disease terminates in health, it is 

 by a resolution of the inflammation, by a ceasing of the spasm 

 of the glottis, by an expectoration of the matter exuding from 

 the trachea, and of the crusts formed there ; and frequently it 

 ends without any expectoration, or at least with such only as 

 attends an ordinary catarrh. 



CCCXXIX. When the disease ends fatally, it is by a suffo- 



