o24 FRANCIS'' CASES OF MORBID ANATOMY. 



organs, is applicable, in some few respects, to the bodies perceived in 

 the present case, but in other respects, will in no degree answer.* 

 The lungs, indeed, scarcely retained the least trace of their original 

 organization ; with their increase of solidity, they possessed an increase 

 of bulk, and it must be matter of surprise how the respiratory process, 

 so imperfectly performed, could support the vital powers to the degree 

 it did. The term scirrhus, used to designate the indurated bodies found 

 in their substance, and on their surface, is had recourse to for want of 

 one more characteristic. They were of a firmer texture than bodies 

 of a scirrhous nature, and from this circumstance, as well as from their 

 atro-purpureus colour, and there being no appearance of suppuration in 

 them, their peculiarity may be ascribed to the minute ferruginous par- 

 ticles floating in the air, which the patient inspired while engaged at his 

 professional business. 



So slight were the appearances of suppuration in the lungs, that it 

 cannot be said, with certainty, whether any of the mucus or purulent, 

 matter which the patient ejected during his illness, did or did not pro- 

 ceed from them : the ulceration of the oesophagus and trachea, was 

 probably sufficient to account for all that he expectorated. 



With regard to the medical treatment, the reader will anticipate the 

 remark, that medicine could avail but little. After the inefficiency of 

 the mercurial plan was fully shown, the means employed were those 

 which seemed best calculated to prolong life on the most advantageous 

 terms : the application of caustic was not made from a belief that it 

 would greatly augment the sufferings of the patient and fail in pro- 

 ducing a radical cure. 



To conclude : the present will stand conspicuous among that class 



* London Medical Communications, vol. 1. p. 361. 



. 



