The eye is as frequently affected by scrofula. Swelling of the lids and inflammation of the glands are the lighter forms. Pustules on the connective tissue of the eye and on the cornea, accompanied by photophobia, cramp in the lids and flowing of tears are those severe forms that are so frequently observed in scrofula, and that often leave opaque and incurable spots on the cornea of the eye.
Swelling of the glands has at all times been a characteristic phenomenon of scrofula. A swelling is merely the result of diseases of the mucous membrane of the throat or nose, of herpes of the scalp or face, of inflammations of the ears, eyes, periosteum, bones, etc. In the beginning the swelling of the glands is painless and results in flat swellings of about the size of filberts, which may be moved back and forth; such glandular swellings may exist for years, without showing the slightest alterations.
With renewed attacks they enlarge and may become of considerable size. At times single glands become inflamed, hurt when pressed and develop abscesses which perforate the skin after it has become inflamed and reddened.
These abscesses may heal within a few days. In the majority of cases, however, they remain for a longer period, months and even years and result in the well-known tumid, hard and immovable scars.
Inflammation of the periosteum and of the bones is one of the instances of scrofula. Most frequently spina ventosa is found; the same consists of a gradual, painless swelling of the diseased bones, most frequently on the fingers and toes, so that they become bottle-shaped. The skin covering these swellings is pale and tense. The swelling may gradually disappear or begin to suppurate. Besides this hip- and knee-joint inflammation are observed, also inflammations of the ankle, elbow-joint, spine, etc.; especially in the case of diseased bones it is extremely difficult to fix a dividing line between scrofula and tuberculosis.
The frequence of anaemia with scrofula is only a result of the disease and not a symptom. As a result of scrofula nutrition and assimilation become impaired, mostly in the cases of extreme suppuration.
Scrofula is a chronic disease. In many cases it is completely cured, the lighter cases after several months and the more malignant after several years. Extreme scrofula may often remain until puberty and may be completely healed.
Fatal results are due to scrofulously diseased bones, joints or glands, and it can not be denied that a large number of children succumb in this manner. Fatal results may also be due to additional diseases, such as pneumonia, pleurisy, intestinal catarrh, etc.
It has been frequently observed that tuberculosis succeeds scrofula. It is a well-known fact that scrofula furnishes the largest contingent for tuberculosis.
As a precautionary measure against scrofula a careful regulation of the diet is recommended. During the first nine months of life children should be fed with human milk exclusively if possible. If scrofula is hereditary in a family, or if the mother exhibits symptoms of the disease, she should not be allowed to nurse the child but a strong and healthy nurse should be engaged. Recourse to artificial nourishment must only then be taken, when nursing the child is absolutely impossible. For this purpose exceptionally pure cow's-milk ought to be selected. All substitutes, that appear under various names, such as infant's food, condensed milk, etc., contribute much toward the development of scrofula.