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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    quinine. I also advise that he expose the eye to light and air by holding open the lids for some minutes at least a dozen times a day. ( Two weeks later.) This man was before the class two weeks ago to-day. The mercurial ointment has been used according to the directions then given ; at first, night and morning until a slight soreness of his gums was produced, and then, under the advice of his family physician, continued every other day until now. There are, as you see, physical evidences of quite rapid and decided improvement. His eye is now partially open, and the eruption on the forehead, above the eye, has made a remarkable change, in appearance, for the better. It is obvious from the general appearance of his face that something has been removed, that some burthen has been taken from the tissue-building power ; for he looks better and brighter than when you saw him a fort¬ night ago, and he has evidently gained flesh. Of course, in these cases of constitutional syphilis, the general condition of the patient sometimes comes up with an elasticity which is astonishing under the influence of mercury when it is properly used ; and in the light of that fact I think the remedy is not entitled to the criticism which it has received. The patient is not so much annoyed by double sight, and it is evident that he can lift the upper eyelid a little more freely than before. He is not well, but I think he is in a fair way to get well, and the question now is, what shall be done in the way of further treatment ? His teeth and gums are a trifle sensitive, but the edges of his tongue are not impressed with the forms of his teeth. There is no spongi¬ ness about the gums. There is no congestion of the mucous membrane in the immediate vicinity of the teeth, and I think, instead of abandoning the use of the ointment, or even diminishing the frequency of its application, we should give him another week of the application twice a day. The ointment will, therefore, be resumed, and con¬ tinued twice daily until we see him again, unless the local physician should see unmistakable evidence of the undue