The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-12-21
NATURE OF GANGRENE
HcNlFlcANcE OF THE DISEASE THAT
CAUSED M'KINLEY's DEATH,


s Constitutes the Formation Of Pus-l
Invariably Results Fatally.
: Since the autopsy on the body O
Il he late President gangrene has be
3 .0me familiar expression to al
classes Of people. While its genera
l Specification is well understood. If
( technical meaning for medical mel
t and its limitations in the light of re
/ cent advances in surgery, and es
pecially in bacteriology. are not poptl
larly realized. Gangrene, in the olde,
pathology, followed the etymologics
meaning of the Greek root to eat. O,
!: gnaw, and referred to any process.
that caused destruction of tissue. OF
late the term gangrene has been linn
tied to diseased conditions in which
: local death Of tissue took place with
out the liquefying process that con
stitutes the formation of pus.
Medical observers have come to rea.
lie that pus formation is really a
conservative operation on the part of
nature. The material that is thus
thrown off contains irritants. whose
retention would surely prove danger
GUS. The reaction that produces pus
II NOT merely local. 1t is not the
tissues alone In the immediate vicinity
Of the irritated part that share in
the conservative pus formation. Most
OF the cells in puruient material are
white cells from the blood. These
white cells are the body's great de-
tenders against microbic invasion.
Whenever microbes of any kind gain
an entrance into the body these white
cells are attracted from all parts of
the c1rculatory system and begin to
accumulate near the irritated mart.
When the white cells arrive where
the circulation. because of the irritants
present. Is somewhat slowed, they
make their way through the blood
vessel walls. Still retaining their vital
activity they englobe microbes. or bits
Of broken down tissue. that NAV be
present and proceed to digest them.
If the irritant material be a virulent
poison, as for instance a living germ.
the white cells are killed by II and.
martyrs to duty. are thrown off as
the so-called pus cells. carrying the
irritants with them, however. and
thus sparing the system that much
annoyance.
The story of these white cells reads
like fairy tale. but is literally true.
Every part of the human system
reacts to help dispose of the invading |
cells that threaten destruction OF any |!
portion. Therefore 1t is that even the
healing of small localized wounds de-
Ponds on the general condition of
health Of the individual. Therefore
some persons tissues are. in the old
suggestive phraseology. more heal
ng" than others. Therefore, too.
nan run down by overwork and
worry. or by some serious physical all
nent, Is much less able to resist the
INVASION of microbes. Many a
MUSICIAN has learnt the sad lesson
y practical experience. Some slight
Vound becomes infected at a moment
Then he is overworn. and the result
that complete failure of systemic
esistance We know as blood poison |
1g. Ii
Reaction is vital manifestation.
Were 1t occurs there is pus, but no
angrene. Gangrene is death. If the
1000 supply Of tissues is cut of they
e. because deprived Of nourishmeut.
ne blocking Of an artery causes gan
'ene, and this will be intensified by
10 fact that, as no white blood cells {
g carried to the part. natures pro-
ctlve mechanism is shut out and =
lcrobes will be unhampered I'm their
vasion of the tissues. Gangrene may
Use from the blocking of a vein, for
ood must be In circulation to supply
sues with nutrition, and must be
instantly renewed itself in the large
cams. Disturbances OF blood vessels 10
> the most potent factors in the pro- Oh
ction of gangrene. Hence its most m
'quent occurrence in old people, ca
lose blood vessels are thickened. ID
10 iessen1ng their caliber. and con- &C
Iuently the amount of blood carried. IN
e internal coats of the blood vessels sy
Old people are also roughened and 10
CLOTHING and interruption of the pc
Cd stream easily takes place. "A or
n Is as old as his arteries" means TO
even comparatively young men IL
have old arteries Men Of forty sol
NIFTY years Of age often have the REL
cries OF seventy. Such serious con- nus
ons as diabetes and Bright's dis n
OFTEN cause the aging Of arteries CAV
Ore their time, and 30 make, as st
y surgeon well knows, patients ge'
MIDDLE age liable to gangrene of
ues that is really senile in char.
r.
ssioes blood vessels, nerves have q ' =.
er over the nutrition of tissues. "n
VI nerves control the size of the oni
d vessels within certain limits and .un
'egulate circulation. How power ioI'
nervous influences over blood SUD- WI
may be those who blush easily UP
good cause to know. There is ~
east one form of gangrene due All
ely to nervous disturbance. This ~
lie symmetrical gangrene that at on
causes the loss Of fingers or toes WI
9th sides Of the body. Nervous in nan
ices 80 shut up small blood yes .ne
In this affection that death of the ,au'
es results. Any interference with ueii
nerves that are distributed To
vessels is likely to cause serious
ference with the circulation of I"
It. AL
life Of tissues then is dependent yea.
e healthiness of the blood vessels .naA
ng to them and on the nervous LUZ
anism that control their blood 'n a.
y. The problem Of the cause of ne I've,
rene is never simple. Nearly al - !"
,isms that cous.s ~ u micro year
~ h1.s S nnoA oSciu- ed il