Page:A Contribution to the Pathology of Phlegmasia Dolens.djvu/18

16 veins in this disease be simple adhesive inflammation, or inflammation of a specific kind connected with the puerperal state, and differing not only in degree of intensity, but in its essential nature from phlebitis after venesection, it is difficult to determine. The peculiar character of the symptoms seems strongly to favour the latter opinion, though it cannot be denied that the disease occasionally assumes the form of common phlebitis, fatal cases having occurred, where pus has been found secreted by the internal coats of the iliac veins, and death caused by inflammation and apostematous deposits of matter in the lungs and other remote organs of the body.

Since the preceding paper was communicated to the Society, the three following cases have come under my observation, in which though an inflammatory affection of the veins undoubtedly existed, yet that degree and kind of swelling of the inferior extremity did not take place, which is considered to be characteristic of Phlegmasia