The term edematous laryngitis is intended to describe a disease the underlying process of which is inflammation of a mucous surface, attended by serous transudation into the submucous tissues. To this disease many names have been applied, among which may be mentioned: Phlegmonous laryngitis, abscessus laryngis, edema of the larynx, erysipelas of the larynx, etc. Semon, in a paper on the subject, has called attention to the confusion which has resulted from the multiplicity of terms, and made a very commendable effort to simplify the matter by classifying certain types.
Much of the confusion which certainly does exist in the literature could be obviated if a distinction was sharply drawn between cases in which the symptom edema is present without inflammation, or, as Rice denominates these, the passive cases, and those in which inflammation of the mucous surfaces is an active and conspicuous feature. It is obvious from a study