Path. [f. med. or mod.L. sphacelāt-, stem of sphacelāre, f. sphacelus SPHACELUS. Cf. F. sphacéler (16th cent.).]
1. trans. To affect with sphacelus; to cause to gangrene or mortify.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. xxvii. To some others he spoiled the frame of their kidneys, marred their backs,… sphacelated their shins.
1663. Boyle, Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos., II. ii. 38. The inside of the abdomen looked as well neer black, as if it had been sphacelated.
1676. Wiseman, Surg. Treat., V. ix. 383. For the most part, the long retention of Matter sp[h]acelates the Brain.
2. intr. To become gangrenous or mortified.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., XIV. 474. They render their Patients … lame of their Fingers ends, because the Bones do sphacelate.
1707. Sloane, Jamaica, I. p. cxlvi. It sphacelated more and more and … he died.
1764. Phil. Trans., LIV. 242. The lungs … were … here and there upon their surface beginning to sphacelate.
1829. Cooper, Good’s Study Med. (ed. 3), III. 470. Sometimes the whole aneurismal swelling suddenly inflames, and sphacelates.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 824. The tumour … then sphacelates and drops off.
Hence Sphacelating ppl. a.
1799. Kentish, in Beddoes, Contrib. Phys. & Med. Knowl. (1799), 266. The same sphacelating tendency.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), III. 491. It often alternated from a sphacelating to an erysipelatous inflammation.
