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Webster 1913 Edition
Scrofula
Scrof′u-la
,Noun.
[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. [GREEK] 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).
Webster 1828 Edition
Scrofula
SCROF'ULA
,Noun.
A disease, called vulgarly the king's evil, characterized by hard, scirrous, and often indolent tumors in the glands of the neck, under the chin, in the arm-pits, &c.
Definition 2024
scrofula
scrofula
English
Noun
scrofula (plural scrofulas or scrofulae or scrofulæ)
- (pathology) 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.
- 1970: R.H.C. Davis A History of Medieval Europe Longman: SBN 582482089. P298. "(In 1100) It (The Church) relied on the king (of France) for protection and in return gave him authority. It even ..gave support for the claim that by his royal touch, he could miraculously cure the scrofula. (A similar claim was made for the kings of England, and was exercised till the reign of Queen Anne; one of the last people to be cured in that way being Dr. Johnson.)
Related terms
Synonyms
Translations
A form of tuberculosis
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References
- 1902, Websters International Dictionary.