Path. [mod.L., a. Gr. ἐμπύημα a gathering, suppuration, f. ἐμπυέ-ειν to suppurate.]
1. ‘A collection of pus in the cavity of the pleura, the result of pleurisy. The term has also been used to denote any chronic inflammatory effusion in the chest’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.).
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 367. When you shall open a mans side diseased of the Empyema, you must make your incision at the vpper part of the Ribbe.
1702. C. Mather, Magn. Chr., VII. (1852), App. 606. All his … skill in anatomy could not prevent its producing an empyema.
1878. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., I. 569. Suppuration in the antrum, or Empyema.
2. In wider sense: Suppuration. rare.
1866. A. Flint, Princ. Med. (1880), 149. The term empyema only expresses the existence of pus, without indicating its situation.
1880. trans. Ziemssen’s Cycl. Med., IX. 545. This so-called Empyema of the Gall bladder.
† 3. ‘An operation to discharge all sorts of matter with which the midriff is loaded by making a perforation in the Breast’ (Kersey). Obs.–0
1721–1800. in Bailey.
1775. in Ash.
