Path. Also sprew, Sc. sproo. [ad. Du. spruw, sprouw (older Flem. sprouwe, WFlem. sproe, = MLG. and LG. sprüwe), perh. related to Flem. spruwen, sproeien to sprinkle (cf. SPREW1).]
1. = THRUSH2 1. ? Obs.
Erroneously defined by Webster (1828–32) as ‘a matter formed in the mouth in certain diseases.’
1825. Jamieson, Suppl., Sproo, a disease affecting the mouths of very young children.
1847. Webster, Sprew, a disease of the mucous membrane, consisting in a specific inflammation of the muciparous glands. Ibid., Sprue,… this is sometimes a vicious orthography of Sprew, the name of the disease otherwise called thrush.
1899. Syd. Soc. Lex., s.v. Thrush, Parasitic stomatitis. Also called aphthæ, sprew, sprue.
2. disease characterized by sore throat, raw tongue, and digestive disturbance, occurring esp. in tropical countries; psilosis.
1888. Thin (title), Psilosis or ‘Sprue’: its nature and treatment.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 777. Amongst the remoter causes of sprue prolonged residence in hot climates must be reckoned as the first.
attrib. 1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 778. One who has resided in a sprue country. Ibid., 790. In the debilitated condition of sprue patients. Ibid., 793. Nostrums used in Java by a class of charlatans who profess to be ‘sprue doctors.’
