Crossword clues for scrofula
The Collaborative International Dictionary
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).
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
c.1400, scrophulas (plural) from Late Latin scrofulæ (plural) "swelling of the glands of the neck," literally "little pigs," from Latin scrofa "breeding sow" (see screw (n.)). The connection may be because the glands associated with the disease resemble the body of a sow or some part of it, or because pigs were thought to be prone to it. Compare Greek khoirades (plural) "scrofula," related to khoiros "young pig."
Wiktionary
n. (context pathology English) A form of tuberculosis, most common in children, tending to cause enlarged and degenerated lymph glands, especially in the neck, and often chronic, intractable skin inflammation as well.
WordNet
n. a form of tuberculosis characterized by swellings of the lymphatic glands [syn: struma, king's evil]
Usage examples of "scrofula".
Depletion of the blood by drastic and poisonous medicines, such as antimony and mercurials, hemorrhages and blood-letting, syphilis, excessive mental or physical labor, as well as a too early use and abuse of the sexual organs, all tend to waste the blood, reduce the tone of the system, and develop scrofula.
Scrofula may be the consequence of insufficient nourishment, resulting from subsisting upon poor food, or a too exclusively vegetable diet, with little or no animal food.
Discharges from the ear, bronchitis, chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucous membrane, and chronic diarrhea are frequently due to scrofula, while pulmonary consumption is unanimously regarded as a purely scrofulous affectation.
The necessity for such instruction is somewhat indicated, in the effect upon the prenatal state, of such conditions as scrofula or struma, of various forms of tuberculosis and syphilis, of epilepsy, of rheumatism, and of insanity.
There are eminent physicians who swear that it is no more effective than strong tea, and there are those who swear that it is effective in treating anemia, cachexia, scrofula, gastrointestinal catarrh, and malfunctions of the lungs, kidneys, liver, heart, and genital organs.
Where once we had scrofula and dropsy, now we have supraven-tricular tachyarrhythmia and glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Depletion of the blood by drastic and poisonous medicines, such as antimony and mercurials, hemorrhages and blood-letting, syphilis, excessive mental or physical labor, as well as a too early use and abuse of the sexual organs, all tend to waste the blood, reduce the tone of the system, and develop scrofula.
Three of the ladies made it through the first ward, with its cases of scrofula, scabies, eczema, defluxions, and stinking pyemia, before deciding that their charitable inclinations could be entirely satisfied by a donation to L'Hôpital, and fleeing back to the dispensary to shed the rough hopsacking gowns with which we had been furnished.
Eh, maybe seven Easters ago: you see that boy, the one with scrofula over there, he's the fruit of the sin.
She did restore the choir of the Chapel Royal, where mass was said daily from 8 August 1553, and punctiliously observed the old pre-Reformation traditions, such as appointing a Lord of Misrule at Yuletide, or creeping to the Cross and blessing cramp rings on Good Friday, as well as touching sufferers of scrofula, the 'King's Evil', to effect a miraculous cure.
It can be employed as a substitute for cod-liver oil in scrofula, rickets, anaemia, debility following infectious diseases.
Scrofula, a kind of tuberculosis, was in England called the 'King's evil', and was supposedly curable only by the King's touch.
Also largely used for secondary syphilis, skin diseases and scrofula.
A decoction or extract is useful in scrofula, secondary syphilis and several forms of cutaneous disease.