The surgical diseases of the genito-urinary organs including syphilis / by E.L. Keyes ; a revision of Van Buren and Keyes's text-book upon the same subjects.

  • Keyes, E. L. (Edward Lawrence), 1843-1924.
Date:
1889, ©1888
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The surgical diseases of the genito-urinary organs including syphilis / by E.L. Keyes ; a revision of Van Buren and Keyes's text-book upon the same subjects. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    of the blankets aroiiud him aud lies down, without wiping off the mercury, until he has cooled. Of the different mercurials generally used in fumigation, calomel is the best. About a !^cruple is enough for a batli ; the diminution or increase of this dose is regulated by circumstances. Calomel is better than the other substances used, because it volatilizes promptly with a heat easily attained by a spirit-lamp, and whatever of the fumes escapes into the room is not irritating to the fauces. The red oxide of mercury also volatilizes without reduction. All the other substances in common use—metallic mercury, mercury with chalk, the gray oxide, the black oxide, the binoxide, the yellow oxide, the bisulphuret—are exactly the same thing ; they all reduce lirst, and tiien the metallic mercury vola- tilizes. Pure metallic mercury boils at GG2°, and is apt to sputter on the application of dry heat before it volatilizes. It takes considerable heat to vai)orize it. AVhen the red sulphuret of mercury is employed, the fumes are tiiose of sulphurous acid and metallic mercury; the former is often irritating to the pharynx and lungs, and the prepara- tion should not be used without circumspection. Calomel is often objectionable if the head is kept in, as the inhalation of its vapor in some instances gives rise to intense paroxysms of coughing, often pro- longed, spasmodic, and painful; others inhale the calomel vapor with- out distress. The black oxide, 3 j or 3 ij, can be used if a Bunsen burner is employed. Its fumes are very bland. 3. Immctmi.—This is perhaps, of all, tlie best means of exhibiting mercury. It spares the stomach, and is thorough and efficient; saliva- tion produced by it is usually announced by coming on slowly, and need not generally be allowed to become severe. It may produce any of the bad effects of mercury, but is not likely to do so if watched. But it can not be used for continuous or for very mild treatment. The dose can not be strictly regulated, because it is impossible to know how much is absorbed ; its application is very dirty, and it sometimes produces a local eruption (mercurial eczema) which is annoying. I have tried preparations made with lanolin, but dislike them. The oleates, which I formerly used, I have given up. They, too, irritate the skin—not always, but oftener than ordinary mercurial ointment. I believe that there are only two methods of using mercurial in- unction that are generally satisfactory. One, not the best one, but suitable for some cases, and especially for infants upon whom it is de- sired to try the inunction method, is the method known as Tcale's. Some mercurial ointment is spread upon a ])atch as large as the palm of the hand or thereabouts, and this is bound about the arm, forearm, leg, thigh, body, as the case may be, the ointment being kept upon the thin skin, changed from time to time, and shifted when the under- lying skin begins to show signs of redness, or to itch. Such a band-