FRANCIS 7 CASES OF MORBID ANATOMY. 517 



the lung, and when cut into caused a crepitus, and imparted a gritty 

 sensation analogous to that arising from dividing matter intimately mixed 

 with large sandy particles. They had no peculiar covering that could 

 be detached, and did not possess any vascularity. The left lung was 

 adhering to the mediastinum and to the diaphragm, and between this lung 

 and the pleura costalis, there was effused about eight ounces of a semi- 

 purulent fluid. The inferior part of the left lung was also by no means 

 of so firm a consistence as that of the right. It nevertheless had many 

 of those scirrhous bodies on its surface, and throughout its texture. 

 Upon cutting into it a frothy purulent fluid oozed out, in very small 

 quantity. The colour of these indurated bodies, so numerous in both 

 lungs, was that of an extremely dark blue, or almost black. Of the 

 diaphragm, it has already been stated, that it was strongly and closely 

 attached to the right and left lungs ; and from all that was noticed, it 

 was apparent that the inflammation had extended much deeper than 

 the common pleuritic covering of this muscle. 



The history of the preceding case, with the detail of morbid appear- 

 ances upon inspection after death, seems to furnish room for one or two 

 remarks. 



As to the causes which laid the foundation of the disease of the 

 oesophagus : these, I think, are abundantly obvious. Irritation is 

 acknowledged to be a frequent cause of spasmodic action. That the 

 disorder now noted was, at its commencement, of a spasmodic character, 

 may be concluded from the manner in which the patient was first 

 attacked, from the mode in which relief was obtained, and from the 

 return of the complaint at intervals. That repeated returns of spasms, 

 whether affecting the oesophagus, intestines, or urethra, may, and fre- 

 quently do produce a thickened and irritable condition of the part thus 

 acted upon ; that the ordinary secretion of the part, the seat of such 

 attacks, may be diminished in quantity or altered in its nature ; thai 



