Posts tagged W. G. MacCallum

Fibrous Syphilitic Orchitis The word “orchitis” can tell you what’s going on here - “orch-” is the Greek root that literally means “testicle”. The suffix “-itis“ refers to any inflammation. Knowing that, you can tell that this illustrated case is of fibrous swelling of the testicles caused by syphilis. A Text-Book of Pathology. W.G. MacCallum, 1916.

Fibrous Syphilitic Orchitis

The word “orchitis” can tell you what’s going on here - “orch-” is the Greek root that literally means “testicle”. The suffix “-itis“ refers to any inflammation. Knowing that, you can tell that this illustrated case is of fibrous swelling of the testicles caused by syphilis.

A Text-Book of Pathology. W.G. MacCallum, 1916.

Pulmonary phthisis with cavity formation. “Phthisis” is referring to the wasting away and necrotizing of the lung tissues affected by the tubercules. Tuberculosis was really a pretty horrible way to go…it could take decades of getting progressively worse before you finally died from it. A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Pulmonary phthisis with cavity formation.

“Phthisis” is referring to the wasting away and necrotizing of the lung tissues affected by the tubercules. Tuberculosis was really a pretty horrible way to go…it could take decades of getting progressively worse before you finally died from it.

A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Pharynx with blocked trachea You can see in this case, that the epiglottis failed to cover the trachea while this person was swallowing, and as a result, the meat lodged within the airway. The epiglottis is elastic cartilage, and is a fairy stiff structure. Just like every other thing ingested, foods like meats (which are dense and generally not easily broken apart, even after chewing) can end up getting into the trachea if the epiglottis does not function correctly. However, it’s noted in this book that they can be more difficult to dislodge than other foods of comparable size, simply because they’re able to get “caught” on the epiglottis. An emergency tracheotomy is generally the only hope those patients have, as forceps or other medical tools are needed to dislodge the meat, and most people don’t carry those around in their pockets… A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Pharynx with blocked trachea

You can see in this case, that the epiglottis failed to cover the trachea while this person was swallowing, and as a result, the meat lodged within the airway.

The epiglottis is elastic cartilage, and is a fairy stiff structure. Just like every other thing ingested, foods like meats (which are dense and generally not easily broken apart, even after chewing) can end up getting into the trachea if the epiglottis does not function correctly. However, it’s noted in this book that they can be more difficult to dislodge than other foods of comparable size, simply because they’re able to get “caught” on the epiglottis. An emergency tracheotomy is generally the only hope those patients have, as forceps or other medical tools are needed to dislodge the meat, and most people don’t carry those around in their pockets…

A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Infarction of the spleen Occlusion of the splenic artery or any of its branches can lead to splenic infarction, which is the necrosis of tissue due to oxygen deprivation (necrosis can occur for numerous other reasons - infarction is simply a term for a specific type of necrosis). Though ruptured spleen, hemorrhage, or pseudocyst formation can occur, the spleen is generally not removed, even if large areas are necrosed. Because the body can often rebuild the destroyed tissue (or simply break down the dead tissue and only use the remainder of the organ), and there’s an overwhelming level of post-splenectomy infection, splenectomy is rarely indicated. A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Infarction of the spleen

Occlusion of the splenic artery or any of its branches can lead to splenic infarction, which is the necrosis of tissue due to oxygen deprivation (necrosis can occur for numerous other reasons - infarction is simply a term for a specific type of necrosis).

Though ruptured spleen, hemorrhage, or pseudocyst formation can occur, the spleen is generally not removed, even if large areas are necrosed. Because the body can often rebuild the destroyed tissue (or simply break down the dead tissue and only use the remainder of the organ), and there’s an overwhelming level of post-splenectomy infection, splenectomy is rarely indicated.

A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Brain displaying necrosis due to carbon monoxide poisoning In the past, carbon monoxide toxicity was not unheard of, especially during the winter. Cold nights and CO-producing fires lead to a silent death while asleep. Though people were aware that they needed ventilation when fires were burning, frigid cold outside leading to people keeping too much air out, and having a stove burning through the night (so as not to freeze to death…), led to at least several dozen documented deaths throughout the Midwestern United States in the 1890s.  A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Brain displaying necrosis due to carbon monoxide poisoning

In the past, carbon monoxide toxicity was not unheard of, especially during the winter. Cold nights and CO-producing fires lead to a silent death while asleep.

Though people were aware that they needed ventilation when fires were burning, frigid cold outside leading to people keeping too much air out, and having a stove burning through the night (so as not to freeze to death…), led to at least several dozen documented deaths throughout the Midwestern United States in the 1890s. 

A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Scarring of heart wall in chronic fibrous myocarditis Chronic endocarditis or myocarditis was typically caused by long-term systemic infections, such as syphilis, untreated malaria, diabetes, and chronic nephritis. This book also notes that exposure to lead and phosphorus led to chronic myocarditis, as did abuse of tobacco and alcohol. A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Scarring of heart wall in chronic fibrous myocarditis

Chronic endocarditis or myocarditis was typically caused by long-term systemic infections, such as syphilis, untreated malaria, diabetes, and chronic nephritis. This book also notes that exposure to lead and phosphorus led to chronic myocarditis, as did abuse of tobacco and alcohol.

A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Deformation of kidneys following obstruction of left ureter. The atrophy of the left kidney would only have been caused if the obstruction of the ureter was a chronic condition. An acute obstruction would have most likely caused a condition called “hydronephrosis” - the swelling of a kidney due to backup of urine. Long-term swelling can cause permanent kidney damage (such as atrophy), but if it only affects one kidney, the body can generally function without severe complications. A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Deformation of kidneys following obstruction of left ureter.

The atrophy of the left kidney would only have been caused if the obstruction of the ureter was a chronic condition. An acute obstruction would have most likely caused a condition called “hydronephrosis” - the swelling of a kidney due to backup of urine.

Long-term swelling can cause permanent kidney damage (such as atrophy), but if it only affects one kidney, the body can generally function without severe complications.

A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.