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scrofulamore about scrofula

scrofula


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Scrofula  \Scrof"u*la\,  n.  [L.  scrofulae,  fr  scrofa  a  breeding 
  sow,  because  swine  were  supposed  to  be  subject  to  such  a 
  complaint,  or  by  a  fanciful  comparison  of  the  glandular 
  swellings  to  little  pigs;  perhaps  akin  to  Gr  ?  an  old  sow: 
  cf  F.  scrofules  Cf  {Scroyle}.]  (Med.) 
  A  constitutional  disease,  generally  hereditary,  especially 
  manifested  by  chronic  enlargement  and  cheesy  degeneration  of 
  the  lymphatic  glands,  particularly  those  of  the  neck,  and 
  marked  by  a  tendency  to  the  development  of  chronic 
  intractable  inflammations  of  the  skin,  mucous  membrane, 
  bones,  joints,  and  other  parts  and  by  a  diminution  in  the 
  power  of  resistance  to  disease  or  injury  and  the  capacity  for 
  recovery.  Scrofula  is  now  generally  held  to  be  tuberculous  in 
  character,  and  may  develop  into  general  or  local  tuberculosis 
  (consumption). 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  scrofula 
  n  :  a  form  of  tuberculosis  characterized  by  swellings  of  the 
  lymphatic  glands  [syn:  {struma},  {king's  evil}] 




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