The Rectum : its diseases and developmental defects / by Sir Charles B. Ball.

  • Ball, Charles B. (Charles Bent), Sir, 1851-1916.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Rectum : its diseases and developmental defects / by Sir Charles B. Ball. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    persons suffering from oxyuricles. This shows what an important item in both treatment and prophylaxis absolute cleanliness is. Heller considers free purgation the best form of treatment, and in aggravated cases the washing out of the entire large intestine by means of Hegar's monster clysters. Tumours of the rectum have been described as the result of irritation J)reduced by the ova of thread-worms (see p. 217). Pediculi and scabies may possibly be the cause of pruritus ani, and if so their presence should be easily determined. Eczema marginatum and intertrigo which have their natural habitat in the groins may spread along the perineum to the anus and give rise to pruritus, the treatment being attention to personal cleanliness and the use of an efficient parasiticide, probably the most efficient being a solution of mercuric iodide in alcohol (1-1000). Dermatitis. In the second group are included cases classed under that protean generic term eczema. As in other parts of the body, great variety is to be observed in the intensity of the inflammation, the character of the local appearances, and the efficacy of treatment adopted ; some cases yield to the simplest remedies, while others prove intractable to all usual therapeutic methods. It will generally be found that the most suitable applications to eczema of the anal region when acute and of the moist variety are those which are emollient and unirritating, while in the more chronic and in the dry variety highly stimulating applications, such as nitrate of silver, &c., are indicated. I have frequently found the best application to be an ammonia soap, which may easily be prepared by diluting linimentum ammoniac B.P. with olive oil as much as may be necessary; but no general treatment is invariably suitable, what cures one will make another, which as far as appearances go is identical, much worse, so that it is sometimes necessary to change the treatment very frequently until the necessities of the individual case are at last met. In the treatment of these cases it must always be remembered that the local trouble may be due to some more general disease, notably gout or diabetes. Although the majority of cases of pruritus ani due to chronic dermatitis are curable, if sufficient care and time is devoted to their treatment, a few appear to defy all the usual forms of therapeutics, and may justly be termed inveterate. Nerve lesions. The third group consists of those cases in which chronic intolei-able itching is present, without obvious evidence of BALL Y