Scrofula

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Scrofula \Scrof"u*la\, n. [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}.] (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).
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  scrofula
       n : a form of tuberculosis characterized by swellings of the
           lymphatic glands [syn: {struma}, {king's evil}]