DISEASES AND INJURIES OF THE ARTERIES AND GANGRENE
Gangrene is a term employed to denote the death of a part of the body, in mass.
Necrosis and mortification are terms used in a similar sense though necrosis is reserved in surgery to mean death of bone.
Gangrene may result from the gradual or sudden cessation of the arterial supply, or from a stoppage of the venous outflow. In general the etiology of gangrene comprises:
1. Traumatic causes.
2. Constitutional causes.
3. Thrombosis and embolism.
4. Cold.
5. The effect of certain chemicals.
Before entering into a consideration of these subjects, it is wise to first consider the varieties of gangrene.