Also 5–7 vlcer, 5–6 vlcere, 6 ulcere. [ad. L. ulcer-, ulcus neut. (related to Gr. ἔλκος), whence also It. ulcera fem., ulcero masc., Sp. and Pg. ulcera fem., F. ulcère masc. († and fem.), OF. ulcere (1314).]
1. Path. An erosive solution of continuity in any external or internal surface of the body, forming an open sore attended with a secretion of pus or other morbid matter.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 215. Þe cure of vlcers þat ben olde.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 35. Þe clensyng of þe vlcer of flessh mortified by þe forseid poudre. Ibid., 89. Sanguis veneris heleþ wele … depe woundez … and holow vlcerez.
1541. R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 F iv. Yf the lyppes of the vlcere appere harde and stony, they must be cutte.
1589. Nashe, Almond for Parrat, 10. The disease of disobedience proceeds from the swelling of pride, as madness from some intollerable vlcer.
1615. H. Crooke, Body of Man, 56. Why if a bone be caued or hollowed by an vlcer … the flesh can neuer be generated ouer it?
1637. Nabbes, Microcosm., v. Conscience stain’d Is like a fretting ulcer.
1694. Ray, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 201. The ulcers upon my leg … are … broken out again.
c. 1720. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Guide, II. lv. (1738), 210. A small ulcer is more easily managed than one that is large.
1772. W. Buchan, Dom. Med., I. 712. Ulcers may be the consequence of wounds, bruises, or imposthumes improperly treated.
1797. M. Baillie, Morb. Anat. (1807), 154. I have reason to believe that ulcers of the stomach are often slow in their progress.
1846. Brittan, trans. Malgaigne’s Oper. Surg., 270. These foreign bodies introduced by the wound finished by transforming it into an ulcer.
1877. F. T. Roberts, Handbk. Med. (ed. 3), I. 48. When inflammation destroys the tissues on a surface, an ulcer is formed.
transf. 1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. i. 52. Thou … Powr’st in the open Vlcer of my heart, Her Eyes, her Haire [etc.].
b. Used in sing. as a generic term.
1623. Lodge, Poor Mans Talent, 13. For the Cancer, vlcer, and Noli me tangere.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 484. Intestin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs.
1749. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. 126. The subsequent Pain is to be referred to the Heads of Inflammation and Ulcer.
1820. Good, Nosology, 274. For so closely is ulcer connected with gangrene, that it cannot exist without it.
c. 1837. in A. Combe, Physiol. Digestion (1842), ix. 250. Scurvy, typhoid fever, dysentery, and ulcer, which up to the period of the change had produced great havoc.
1884. Bryant, Pract. Surg. (ed. 4), I. 83, marg. Local causes of ulcer. Ibid., Constitutional causes of ulcer.
c. attrib. and Comb.
1611. Cotgr., Vlceratif,… vlcer-breeding.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxvi. 336. Enlargements of the tonsils, without any ulcer-like cavities, were not unfrequently observed.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 765. The mucous membrane overhanging the ulcer cavity is œdematous.
2. fig. Any corroding or corrupting influence; a morally diseased or unsound element; a plague-spot.
1592. trans. Junius on Rev. xvi. 2. It doeth signifie a spirituall ulcer.
1613–8. Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng., Wks. (Grosart), IV. 211. Hee would not wrest any thing by an Imperiall power from the Kingdome (which might breed vlcers of dangerous nature).
1643. Baker, Chron., Q. Eliz., 105. This was the right way to finde, whether the ulcer of his minde were throughly cured or no.
1873–4. Dixon, Two Queens, XXI. iii. IV. 138. His enmity to some of the Reformers … was the ulcer of his fame.
b. Applied to persons. rare.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. iv. Yon putred ulcer of my roiall bloode.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 34. This wicked vlcer that corrupts the state, Nere thinkes of death, till that it be too late.
