Anatomical and physiological description of the late Signor Sarti's new anatomical model, : together with the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the diseases of the principal organs. / By W. Mawhinney, surgeon.

  • Mawhinney, W.
Date:
[between 1849 and 1854?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Anatomical and physiological description of the late Signor Sarti's new anatomical model, : together with the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the diseases of the principal organs. / By W. Mawhinney, surgeon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    DISEASE OF THE SKIN. ERYSIPELAS. the cuticle is in reality a dead part, and merely remains for a time as a protection for the aelicate nerves which arise in the true skin. In the healthy condition, the cuticle passes off imperceptibly ; and, when regularly washed and rubbed, gives to the surface of the body a beautiful, healthy appearance. By keeping the surface perfectly clean, the pores through which .he perspiration passes off are kept open, so that the impurities are separated from the blood and the different glands relieved of their secretions, w ich, it not allowed to pass away, may be received back again into the system, and become the source of various diseases. diseases of the skin. In regard to the diseases of the skin, they are too numerous to require any distinctive remarks as to their symptoms or treatment; but as a general rule, they are best treated on general principles. If the patient is of a full habit, the ordinary antiphlogistic, lowering treatment will be found bene¬ ficial. 1 his consists of bleeding, rest, low diet, mild aperients, &c. and in many cases the local application of sulphur and the warm bath may be used with great benefit; and, as often as the health will permit, exercise in the open air, with a mild but generous diet. This must be evident to any one who remembers that the solid parts of the body are formed from the blood : and as the blood is formed from the atmospheric air and the food, proper attention to these must be of vital importance. ERYSIPELAS. • In this disease there is redness of the skin, preceded by feverishness which generally ceases when the rash has fully appeared. If there be simp y redness of the skin, the disease is called Erythema: if the redness be of a rose colour, it is named Roseola ; but when accompanied with vesicies like blisters, it is designated Erysipelas. This disease may be confined to one particular locality of the skin, or it may wander from place to place over the whole surface, receding from the part first affected, or it may even affect the mouth, throat, or internal organs. It may affect the cellular membrane below the skin ; then there is great swelling: or it may become gangrenous, which is the worst form of the disease. If there be any part of the body in which there is more danger than another, when a iecLed, it is the head, owiug chiefly to the important organs contained mere, and their liability to acute and violent inflammation. 1 know of no class of individuals exempt from this disease ; but of all others, those whose constitutions are broken down by intemperance are most subject to it, and especially after the receipt of any local injury. TREATMENT. Ihis will depend in a great measure on the constitution of the patient f it occur in a strong, healthy individual, the system must be lowered by rest, low diet, purgatives, and every other means of depletion which we have m our power. But when it occurs in a broken-down constitution the owering system must not be pushed to any great extent, and sometimes it may be necessary to give stimulants. In the gangrenous form, it is neees- sary to give. wme, bark, and opium. In regard to the local treatment, the application of cold to the part by means of wet rags, so long as it is comfortable to the patient, and the application of calamine powder to dry up the discharge that may ooze out of the (blebs) or blisters, will be found serviceable; drawing a piece of caustic round the inflamed part will retard its progress. 1