Thesis on tubercular leprosy, or the elephantiasis græcorum : with some general observations on that disease as it prevails at the Cape of Good Hope : submitted to the Medical Faculty of the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh / by Alex. Abercrombie, M.D.

  • Abercrombie, Alexander.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thesis on tubercular leprosy, or the elephantiasis græcorum : with some general observations on that disease as it prevails at the Cape of Good Hope : submitted to the Medical Faculty of the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh / by Alex. Abercrombie, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    cheeks, the alas nasi, and the lobes of the ears ; and as they increase, are separated from each other by deep furrows. They are sometimes elevated and pointed, as in Bateman's plate of Elephantiasis; but more generally they are soft, round, oval, or irregular, and elevated but little above the level of the surrounding skin. The eyebrows, from the same cause (morbid deposits), become more particularly pro- minent, and the hairs gradually drop off them. The eye- lashes also fall off, and the hair on the other parts of the body, with the exception of the scalp, where it is usually retained; and early in the disease, the countenance alto- gether assumes a peculiarly ugly and hideous appearance. Changes somewhat similar occur also in the fore-arms and hands, and on the legs and feet; and the skin covering these parts becomes harsh, dry, and somewhat insensible, the tubercles on these occasionally suppurating and healing again. The hands posteriorly appear puffed and swelled; and in white persons, the skin covering them is of a reddish colour, whilst the palms are usually dry and shrivelled. The fingers are thickened, impeding to some slight extent their movements ; they are usually partially bent, some- times permanently contracted, and the sense of touch mate- rially blunted. The voice becomes hoarse and nasal; and on inspecting the mouth, small tubercles are also occasion- ally observed on the inside of the cheeks, at the root of the tongue, and on the fauces. The nose becomes large and misshapen ; the lining membrane not unfrequently ulcer- ates ; and at times, by the progress of ulceration, the septum is destroyed, and considerable deformity the conse- quence. From it, as also from the mouth, as the disease progresses, there is usually a most unpleasant feetor. The trunk of the body is seldom affected, even in advanced disease ; the ravages of it, as far as outward observation is concerned, being confined more particularly to the face and extremities. In the mucous membrane of the air-passages, as shown in an early stage of the disease by the hoarse and nasal voice, the morbid deposits produce important changes. These become still more serious: the membranes themselves become destroyed: they soften and ulcerate ; the patient's voice becomes more and more feeble and husky, if it be