Page:A treatise on diseases of the bones (electronic resource) (IA b21289013).pdf/341

 CHAPTER IL.

DISEASES OF THE BONES OF THE SPINE.

Tv would be of little practical utility to consider the dis- eases of the bones of the spine apart from those of their appendant structures, the fibro-cartilages, ligaments, and periosteum ; accordingly, the subject of the following sec- tion will be the diseases of the entire vertebral column.

Some of the diseases of the spine are of an inflammatory nature, stmple or rheumatic; others are of a scrofulous character, and combined with the deposition of tubercle in the bones and fibro-cartilages. There, also, occur in the spine, the malignant diseases carcinoma, encephaloma, melanosis.

The following structural changes from inflammation oceur in the spine=-thickening of the periosteum and liga- ments; suppuration beneath the periosteum, also within the bones; ulceration, hardening, and necrosis of the bones ; softening and ulceration of the fibro-cartilages.

Mechanical injury—such as a blow on the spine, or a sudden and forcible movement of the trunk wrenching the spinal ligaments,—or some special exposure of the body to cold and moisture, comprise the most frequent causes of

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