Volume 1

Remarks on some of the opinions of the late Mr. John Hunter respecting the venereal disease; in a letter to Jeseph Adams / [Henry Clutterbuck].

  • Clutterbuck, Henry, 1767-1856
Date:
1799
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on some of the opinions of the late Mr. John Hunter respecting the venereal disease; in a letter to Jeseph Adams / [Henry Clutterbuck]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/74 (page 16)
    I have many times seen a violent affection of the mouth take place suddenly, from a small quantity of mercury *, without a corresponding change being produced on the symptoms of the disease. When mercury runs off by stool, as it is called, or produces any other violent and partial action in the system, the disease generally remains stationary till the remedy be cautiously repeated. Again, it is very common to see both chancres and secondary ulcers under the use of mercury, healing in one direction and spreading in another, so that they come at last to occupy an entirely new seat: and when va¬ rious symptoms exist together, some are found to give way, at the time that others go on in¬ creasing. These circumstances prove the un¬ equal action of mercury in the system, and en¬ able us to understand, why the symptoms re¬ cur at all : why they return repeatedly in the same parts, as I hope to shew hereafter; and why some symptoms now and then resist its influence altogether for a considerable length of * Thiee or four grains of calomel have often produced salivation in women 5 and when this has been the case l have never observed the symptoms of the disease to be materially relieved, till a more gentle and general mer¬ curial a&ion was induced. time.