The meaning of scrofula

[Eugenio Aguilar]

Dear Dr. Krishnamoorthy
I have seen the term 'scrofula' in texts like:
"Homoeopathy : its fundamental principles outlined"
by Dr J. T. Kent, I Quot


In "What the doctor needs to know in order to make a successful
prescription" Kent says:



From "Old Disease Names"
By Sylvain Cazalet:

Scrofula or scrofula fugax: Primary tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands,
especially those in the neck. A disease of children and young adults, it
represents a direct extension of tuberculosis into the skin from underlying
lymph nodes. It evolves into cold abscesses, multiple skin ulcers, and
draining sinus tracts. Tuberculosis of neck lymph glands. Progresses slowly
with abscesses and pustulas develop. Young person's disease. Possibly
chicken pox.

Scrofula mesenterica: An internal non-pulmonary tuberculosis, resulting in a
swollen abdomen, loss of appetite and a pale complexion.

Scrofula vulgaris: An itchy rash associated with hospitals. Most probably a
streptococcal infection.
From "On-Line Medical Dictionary"
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd? ... ome&query=

scrofula
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).

Origin: 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. An old sow: cf. F.
Scrofules. Cf. Scroyle.

Source: Websters Dictionary

Is this a valid concept to dicuss in Homoeopathy?
It is possible to repertorize this 'disease'?
Thank you for your kind attention.
Eugenio Aguilar.

[APEX PRECITECH]

Dear Eugenio Aguilar,
You wrote:
Is this a valid concept to dicuss in Homoeopathy?
I believe The term definitely is valid today. Since we
use repertories, and all the good ones are old,
scrofula still has relevance. Knerr's page 1191,
constitution, scrofulous, has a good deal of remedies
represented. It can be best taken as a predisposition,
a lack of the ability to thrive among its lesser
meanings. can we take "Tubercular affectation of
glands particularly of the inherited variety is
scrofula ?"

Looking back again, I still have not added anything
to what Dr Krishnamoorthy wrote.

I have copied into a file the fruit of your labour in
searching for so much material . Thanks.
Regards
J.venkatasubramanian
________________________________________________________________________
Yahoo! India Mobile: Download the latest polyphonic ringtones.
Go to http://in.mobile.yahoo.com

[Homoeopathy]

"Scrofula: Tuberculous lymphadenitis of the cervical nodes may produce a
mass of firm, matted nodes just under the mandible. There can be chronic
draining fistulous tracts to overlying skin. This complication may
appear in children, and
Mycobacterium scrofulaceum may be cultured."

Ref. Tuberculosis
http://medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTO ... B/MTB.html


Anthony Gunterman