A manual of the practice of medicine / by Frederick Taylor.

  • Taylor, Frederick, Sir.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of the practice of medicine / by Frederick Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    917/990 (page 895)
    ONYCHOMYCOSIS. The nails may be attacked botli by the trichophyton and by the achorion, either of which is probably conveyed by scratching other affected parts. The nail tends to become elongated and curved over the end of the finger, with a thick edge, rough uneven surface, and dirty yellow colour; it is also brittle and readily splits. In favus sometimes a distinct cup forms under the nail. If fragments or scrapings are soaked with potash, and examined under the microscope, chains of spores of one or other fungus are seen. Treatment.—The nails should be scraped thin, softened with alkaline solutions, and soaked in lotions of sulphurous acid, or hyposulphite of sodium. The alternate application to the scraped nail of liquor potassae, diluted with an equal part of water, for fifteen minutes, and of a lotion of perchloride of mercury (4 grains to half an ounce each of rectified spirit and water), for twenty- four hours, is recommended by Dr. Harrison. Neumann also recommends corrosive sublimate (L^ grains to the ounce). Com- plete removal of the nail may be desiralilc, the lotions then being applied to the matrix. TINEA VEKSICOLOR. This is a not uncommon affection of the skin, no doubt produced by contagion, and fostered by warmth and moisture. It is more frequent in men, and especially in those who wear flannel under- clothing. It is not often conveyed directly by contact—for instance, from husband to wife. The disease begins as a small circular spot, of a yellowish-brown colour, which is slightly raised above the skin, and from which a few whitish scales can easily be detached by scraping with the finger-nail or a scalpel. The patches extend, and fresh ones form, so that soon a large part of the chest, where it is commonly seen first, is covered with a brown, or brownish-yelloAv, irregular patch, with a convex or scalloped margin ; and on the healthy skin adjacent are numerous small isolated patches from a quarter to half an inch in diameter. The disease occurs only on covered parts, and is most abundant on the front and back of the chest and the abdomen. The scrapings examined in potash under the microscope show epithelial plates with the characteristic fungus —Microsj^oron furfur—forming a network of branching mycelium threads, with little groups of the relatively large conidia, like bunches of grapes. The affection does not cause much trouble beyond some itching, and is frequently ignored by the patient: but the great extent which the discoloration may sometimes