130 SPECIFIC INELAMMATIOX. 



the dlstiu'bance, I too am ready to call it ^' clironic inflamma- 

 tion"; but where this is not the case, where, e.g. the phenomena 

 in question are due to passive congestion, it would be utterly 

 wrong to go on speaking of an inflammation instead of a simple 

 hypertrophy or overgrowth. 



3. Specific Inflammations. 



(Granulomata and Lymphomata.') 



§ 108. As the present chapter will introduce us for the first 

 time to the hackneyed word ^^ tumour," it is needful that we 

 should give some brief account of its denotation and signifi- 

 cance. As practitioners we incline to call any new growth a 

 " tumour " in proportion as it lacks the known characters of the 

 inflammatory process. Thus : — 1. The less evidence there is of 

 its having been caused by an inflammator}- irritant, the more 

 does the new growth exhibit a character of " spontaneity." 

 Hero of course, as everywhere else in nature, no such thing as 

 real " spontaneity " is possible. But we are still so far from 

 having any clear insight into the etiology of tumours, that it is 

 really a matter of choice whether we follow those who regard 

 the tumour as the localisation of an antecedent dyscrasia 

 (" Geschwulstkrankheit"), or those who consider the local mis- 

 chief to be in every case the starting-point of the general 

 disease. Billroth, in his Manual of General Surgical Pathology, 

 has taken the former view ; while Virchoiv,* in his book on 

 Tumours, adopts tlie .latter. With amazing care, Vircliow 



* Vircliow (Kraukh. Gesdiwillste, vol. i. p. 121) divides tumours 

 resulting from proliferation of tissue (as opposed to cysts, &c.), into : 



1. Histioid ; made up of some one tissue normally present in the 

 body (Sarcoma). 



2. Organoid ; made up of several tissues characteristically arranged 

 to form an organoid structure ; e.g. connective tissue and epithelium in 

 the glandular cancers. 



3. Teratoid; made up of several organoid elements, corresponding, 

 however imperfectly, to an entire system in the healthy organism 

 (Dermoid of ovary). 



4. Compound or mixed; made up of various dissimilar parts or 

 tissues, not conforming to any plan of normal structure (Cystosar- 

 comata, &c.). — Tr. 



