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A cancerous induration; see Carcinoma.

(med.) A hardened gland forming a tumor: a hardening, esp. that preceding cancer.

A disease, so called from the hardness that characterizes it. It is a state of induration, of a peculiar kind, affecting glandular structures generally, but capable of occurring in other textures. It usually precedes carcinoma, of which it may, indeed, be considered as the first stage. Scirrhus must not he confounded with the induration which succeeds inflammation, although the two states are often complicated, and may stand, occasionally, in the relation of cause and effect to each other. Scirrhus is ordinarily accompanied by violent shooting pains. It is also irregular on its surface; and when cut into has a bluish or grayish white colour. When the surgeon is satisfied of the existence of scirrhus, he had better remove it at once. No other treatment seems to possess much advantage. Galen uses the term Scirrho'sis for a livid excrescence caused by inflammation.

Hard cancer with predominance of connective tissue.

An indurated tumor, especially a scirrhous cancer.

n. [Latin, Greek] Au indolent induration, particularly of the glands;—a hard, cancerous growth, which emits a creaking sound when incised.