Cerebral softening
Encyclopedia
In medicine, Cerebral softening (encephalomalacia) is a localized softening of the brain
substance, due to hemorrhage or inflammation
. Three varieties, distinguished by their colour and representing different stages of the morbid process, are known respectively as red, yellow, and white softening.
One notable victim of this syndrome was Daniel O'Connell
, who died of it in 1847.
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
substance, due to hemorrhage or inflammation
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
. Three varieties, distinguished by their colour and representing different stages of the morbid process, are known respectively as red, yellow, and white softening.
One notable victim of this syndrome was Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
, who died of it in 1847.