SCR 



SCR 



many ancient authors, which he illuftrated by comments of 

 his own : among thefe works were thofe of Vegctius, Frou- 

 tinus, Hyginus, Apuleius, Martial, and Seneca- the tra- 

 gedian. Scriverius wrote a work in the Dutch language on 

 the " Hidory of Printing," in which he maintained the 

 claim of Laurence Colter to the invention of that invaluable 

 art. He publilhed a colleftion of Batavian antiquities, and 

 other pieces relative to the early hillor\' of the united pro- 

 vinces. Scriverius, at the age of 74, loll the ule of his 

 eyes, but he continued to folace himfelf with literature tiU 

 his death in 1660. His funeral was attended by the uni- 

 verfity of Leyden in a body, and an eulogy was pronounced 

 over him by Frederic Gronovius. A colleftioH of pliilolo- 

 gical and poetical pieces from his MSS. was publilhcd at 

 Utrecht in 1737. Moreri. 



SCROBICULUS Cordis, in Anatomy, the fmall dc- 

 preflion in the middle of the upper part of the abdomen, 

 juil over the enfiform cartilage. In common language it is 

 called the pit of the ftomach. 



SCROBILUM, in Ancient Geography, a promontory of 

 the Arabic gulf, which leparated the Heroopolitic and Ela- 

 nitic gulfs. 



SCROFA, in Zoology. See Sus. 



ScROFA, in Ichthyology. Sec ScoRP.TJNA. 



ScROFA, in Entomology. See ScARAB.i;t;s. 



SCROFANELLO,'in Ichthyology, a name by which 

 feme have called a fmall fl{h of the Mediterranean, more 

 ufually known by the name of the fccrpxna. 



SCROFULA, or ScROPHULA, from s-zj.Sx, fwine, 

 called alfo^;-am<2, or the king's evil, in Surgery. The name 

 of fcrofula was derived from an opinion that fwine were par- 

 ticularly fubjeft to this difeafe. The fciofulous conftitution 

 is obferved to be, in many inilances, denoted by particular 

 fymptoms. The complexion is often fair, and the colour 

 of the hair either reddilh, or of fome other hght tint ; 

 people with dark complexions and black hair being much 

 lefs fubjeft to fcrofulous complaints. The fliin is remarkably 

 foft and white, and the face often has a fliinmg polifhed 

 fmoothnefs. The cheeks are in general florid ; and the 

 tunica albuginea is frequently of a dead white colour, and 

 more pale than ufual. The edges of the eye-lids are lome- 

 times affefted with a degree of tendernefs which eafily dege- 

 nerates into a troublefomc inflammation, that diftrcfles the 

 patient by its continuance, and produces a dilagreeable de- 

 gree of deformity. There is likewife frequently a iwelling 

 of the upper lip, with fome thickening of the noftrils and 

 point of the nofe. Ruflell on Scrofula, p. 8. 



One of the moft frequent fymptoms of fcrofula is a fwell- 

 ing in the fuperficial lymphatic glands, efpecially in thofe 

 of the neck. Such glands fwell without any previous com- 

 plaint, and often attain a large fize before the fweUing at- 

 trafts notice. The fwellings are frequently unaccompanied 

 with pain or difcolouration ; a circumllance which favours 

 the conclufion that the inflammation attendant on fcrofulous 

 difeafe is flow, and the complaint of an indolent nature. 



The frequency and great number of fuch tumours of the 

 lymphatic glands have led many furgeons to fuppofe fcrofula 

 to be altogether a difeafe of the lymphatic fyllem. Mr. 

 Ruflell, however, entertains doubts refpefting the accuracy 

 of the doftrine ; for he obferves that many other parts of 

 the body, which are not very glandular, are often the 

 primitive feat of fcrofula. It very frequently attacks the 

 joints of the extremities, the bones, and the mucous mem- 

 branes, without any previous or concomitant affeftion of 

 the lymphatic fyftem. Befides, it is to be recollefted that 

 the abforbent fyftem is not only liable to idiopathic attacks 

 of fcrofula, in common with the reit of the body, but is 

 4 



likewife expofed to fuffer fymptomatically, in confequence 

 of the difpofition of the glands to fwell and inflame from any 

 caufe of irritation propagated along the courfe of the ab- 

 forbents ; and from this fource of error the commencem.ent 

 of fcrofula in the lymphatic fyltem may be fuppofed more 

 frequent than what the natural proportion of idiopathic 

 cafes w-arrant. 



Scrofulous fwellings of the glands are often ftationary, or 

 at leall very (low in their progrefs of increafe or diminution. 

 The fame indolence and abfence of inflammatory fymptoms, 

 which charafterize fcrofulous fwellings of the lymphatic 

 glands, likewife diilinguifti fimilar affeftions in other parts of 

 the body. The commencement of the attack is, in general, 

 unperceived, and the progrefs flow ; though the tumefaftion 

 which follows is frequently very confiderable. 



The greater number of fcrofulous afteftions are accom- 

 panied with a preternatural fwelling of the parts attacked. 

 The tumour is of two kinds, one remarkable for its foftnefs, 

 the other of a more firm confiftence. Soft fcrofulous 

 tumours are always formed by the effufion of a fluid, and it 

 may be remarked that they are fomewhat variable m their 

 fize, being one day more prominent and tenfe, the next more 

 funk and flaccid. When they are opened in the early ftate, 

 they arc found to contain nothing but a ferous fluid, which 

 lies in the cells of the cellular membrane. As the fluid is 

 not contained in one common cavity, the tumour has a foft 

 flabby feel, and imparts to the lingers of a furgical examiner 

 no diftintl fenfation, either of elaftijity or fluctuation. 

 But when the fluid has been for fome time eff^ufed, a llriking 

 difference occurs, a fluid lodged in a particular cavity now 

 being evidently perceptible. This change feems to proceed 

 from the deftruftion of the partitions which are between the 

 cells of the cellular fubftance. As thefe colleftions, how- 

 ever, are not accompanied with any ienfible degree ot in- 

 flammation, they are not furrounded with a firm, fohd, cir- 

 cumfcribed bafe ; and they do not betray any great tendency 

 to ulcerate the ikiB, and burlt of their own accord. Hence 

 they fometimes become very prominent, and the flcin is gra- 

 dually diltended to a furprifing degree. 



The matter contained in fuch tumours alfo undergoes a 

 change. After a time, the more folid parts are depofited 

 in the form of little mafles, refembling coagulated milk. 

 The remaining portion of the fluid is rendered thinner, and 

 refembles whey. A quantity of purulent matter is alfo 

 formed on the internal furface of the cavity, which feems 

 to be attacked with a flow kind of inflammation. The 

 admixture of this purulent matter greatly changes the 

 appearance of the contents of the tumour, and they 

 now bear more refemblance to thofe of a common abfcefs. 

 They never acquire, however, exatlly the properties of 

 healthy purulent matter, being always thinner, more 

 tranfparent, and more of a greenilh colour. 



Although the tendency to ulceration is not confiderable, 

 the ll<in at length gives way, and allows the matter to 

 efcape through a narrow opening. After the contents are 

 evacuated, the tumour fubfides ; but there being in general 

 little difpofition in the parts to heal, a fcrofulous fore is 

 ufually formed, which difcharges unhealthy matter, and con- 

 tinues open for an indefinite length of time. 



The other more firm kind of fcrofulous fwelling always 

 increafes flowly, and moil commonly attacks the neighbour- 

 hood of joints. The affefted part enlarges, without ac- 

 quiring any circumfcribed determinate form. By degrees, 

 the tumour becomes foftcr, and at laft particular portions 

 near the furface become more prominent, inflame, fuppurate, 

 burlt, and difcharge matter. But as the fuppuration is 

 only partial, and the difchar^ inconfiderable, they have little 



effea 



