310 APPENDIX. 



or puckered. Within was observed a rounded white 

 mass, about an inch in diameter, composed of little 

 grains of a cartilaginous firmness : this was obviously a 

 cicatrized [healed] abscess, and in its centre were two 

 or three crude tubercles [the commencement of suppura- 

 tive ulcers]. The remainder of the lung was perfectly 

 healthy. 



994. " The right lung, like the left, adhered at the apex, 

 where the pleura was also deeply sunk, and puckered ; 

 beneath one of these plications was the remains of an old, 

 but very small abscess, half filled with granular matter, 

 like that in the other lung, excepting that it was of a 

 darker color : the remainder of the abscess was in a sup- 

 purative state, and contained yellow matter. Close by 

 were the evidences of a second cavity, of the size of a fil- 

 bert, but perfectly filled, and consolidated by white granu- 

 lar matter, precisely like that of the left lung. The other 

 parts were healthy. 



995. " The unexpected morbid appearances of the 

 lungs," says Dr. Morton, " induced me to inquire into the 

 previous history of the patient, when I was informed by a 

 near relative, that in early life she had habituated herself 

 to excessive tight lacing ; but although she had never ex- 

 perienced any obvious ill effects from this practice, she had 

 of late years discontinued the practice, from a conviction 

 of its injurious tendency. 



996. " It seems probable, therefore," he continues, " all 

 circumstances considered, that the lungs became tubercu- 

 lous and cavernous from the irritation of mechanica* 

 pressure ; but on the latter being removed, the morbid 

 secretion ceased, and the cavities became cicatrized and 

 obliterated in the manner just mentioned. Can there be 

 a doubt that if this lady had persisted in the unnatural 

 confinement of her respiratory organs, the tuberculous dis- 

 ease would have extended, the abscesses enlarged, and 

 the disease become a fatal malady ? The predisposition 

 to phthisis [consumption] being slight, it was suspended 

 by the removal of the exciting mechanical cause ; show- 

 ing what important results physical education may pro- 

 duce on the human frame."* 



Illustrations of Consumption, by Samuel George Morton, M. P., &o., 

 &c., pp. 99. Key & Biddle, Philadelphia, 1834. 



