A treatise on the venereal disease / by John Hunter.

  • Hunter, John, 1728-1793.
Date:
1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the venereal disease / by John Hunter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    times. In such cases it is a lucky circumstance when the two modes of treatment can be united; but where they act in opposition it is very unfortunate. If the venereal disease attacks the lungs, although that disposition may be corrected, consumption may ensue; and in like manner where the bones are affected, or the nose, scrofulous swellings or fistula lacrymalis may be the consequence, though the disease may have been cured. Many of the diseases arising from this cause appear to be peculiar to such causes, and seem to be formed out of the constitution, the disease, and method of cure; therefore it is difficult to say of what nature such a disease maybe; but it will in general have a particular tendency from the constitution; and if we are acquainted with the general ten* dency of a constitution, we are to suspect that as the strongest cause, and that the disease will partake more of it than of the other. In this country these complaints have most commonly a scrofulous tendency, and are often truly scrofulous, the disease partaking more of that ten- dency than any other. Parts have also their peculiar tendencies to diseases, which are stronger than those of the constitution at large, and when injured they will of course fall into the diseased action arising from such tendencies; therefore, when parts have had their natural actions destroyed by a venereal irritation, those tendencies will be brought into action; and therefore the diseases arising from the tendencies of such parts are to be kept in view. They will be assisted likewise by local situation and age. In particular countries, and in young people, the tendency to scro- fula will be predominant; therefore buboes in them will more readily become scrofulous. In old people they may form cancers; and when in parts, the body of which have a greater tendency to cancer, that dis- ease will more readily take place. The want of knowledge and attention to this subject has been the cause of many mistakes, for whenever such effects have been produced in consequence of the venereal disease it lias immediately been blamed, and not only as a cause, but it has been supposed to be the disease