gangrene (gan'gren)

Complete death of a considerable portion of the living body. It is due to pre ure, constriction, invagination, or torsion; to embolism, bos is, or disease of the wall of a blood ve el; to certain diseases of the blood ve el; to exposure to great heat or cold; to the application of certain drugs; and to poisoning of the system with ergot taken internally. When the cause is unknown, it is said to be idiopathic. G. is cla ed as dry or moist, according as the ti ues are dry, shrunken, hard, and black, or soft, wet, rotten, and foul-smelling. symmetrical g. Syn.: asphyxia local is cum gangrena symmetric a. See Raynaud's disease under Raynaud. [Gr., gaggraina, an eating sore, from gran, to gnaw.]