hospital gangrene

noun

1. Pathology. a contagious, often fatal gangrene, especially involving amputation stumps and war wounds, occurring usually in crowded, ill-kept hospitals, and caused by putrefactive bacteria.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hospital gangrene¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Such terrible scourges as pyaemia and hospital gangrene were rife in all of them.

From Project Gutenberg

Scurvy, diarrhea, dysentery, and hospital gangrene were the prevailing diseases.

From Project Gutenberg

After my third week, an epidemic of hospital gangrene broke out in my ward.

From Project Gutenberg

Scurvy and hospital gangrene frequently existed in the same individual.

From Project Gutenberg

In such cases, vegetable diet, with vegetable acids, would remove the scorbutic condition without curing the hospital gangrene.

From Project Gutenberg