A clinical lecture / by Cornelius R. Agnew.

  • Agnew, Cornelius Rea, 1830-1888.
Date:
[1880?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A clinical lecture / by Cornelius R. Agnew. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3 77 several circular cicatrices upon the legs, especially upon the left leg. Some of them have a dusky color. There are scars on the left arm, the results of quite large sores which, he says, ‘‘first begun from rubbing the skin against a tree.” He has never had sore throat, nor any kind of in¬ flammation about the eyes. For the “ breaking out ” on his skin he has been taking medicine a number of years, but does not know what kind of medicine it was. He sleeps well, and does not suffer from headache nor pains in the bones. There is a suspicious element in this history. I think the probability is that this man acquired syphilis when sixteen or seventeen years old, and that in this eruption on the forehead and in this paralysis of the third nerve we have two of the sequelae. I should treat him upon that pre¬ sumption, and should begin with mercurial inunction. For that purpose either the “ blue ointment,” or the oleate of of mercury may be used. I commonly resort to the officinal Unguentum Hydrargyrum, perhaps from force of habit. The method is, to have the ointment rubbed on the skin of both arms from shoulder to elbow, and in the axillae and groins, night and morning. At each application about a drachm of the ointment should be used. The anointed arms may be protected by drawing over them a pair of old stocking legs, or wrapping around them a piece of old linen or muslin, and the patient should be instructed not to change his undershirt, or wash off the ointment so long as it is necessary to continue its use. While doing this, I should also put the patient upon some salt of iron, see that he has a nutritious diet, diminish the amount of physical labor if he is engaged in active mechanical employment, care for his general condition, and, so far as possible, keep him in the open air. He should not take any form of alcoholic stimulant, but should have plenty of milk, beef, mutton, eggs, good bread, and fruit. The inunction should be continued to the point just short of producing ptyalism. The stomach should be reserved for food, and such tonics as quinine and iron. The muriated tincture of iron is a good preparation, and it may be associated with