Tattooing as a means of communicating syphilis : an investigation of twenty-two cases exposed to inoculation with the virus of mucous patches, in fifteen of which syphilis followed / by F.F. Maury and C.W. Dulles.

  • F. F. Maury
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Tattooing as a means of communicating syphilis : an investigation of twenty-two cases exposed to inoculation with the virus of mucous patches, in fifteen of which syphilis followed / by F.F. Maury and C.W. Dulles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    At our exam in ation we find on his body traces of a maculai flamed; his tongue swollen and fissured ; a mucous patch inside the lef t angle of his mouth and one inside the lower lip. His eyes are inflamed, and seem to threaten iritis. He has post-cervical adenitis. Case XVII Daniel H., set. 21, Am., labourer; examined m the Philadelphia Hospital September 2G ; gives a family history of phthisis, himself has always been healthy and of steady habits, though an occasional drinker ; has never had any venereal disease. A year ago he was tattooed on the right forearm. No evil results followed. In the latter part of May of this year he was tattooed by Kelly on the dorsal aspect of the right forearm. The figure was a goddess of liberty upon an eagle; the pigments, India ink and vermilion, mixed with Kelly’s saliva. He was at the same time tattooed in the same way, on the left arm, with the figure of a little girl holding a bouquet in her left hand. Both these figures were followed by great local pain and swelling, and involve- ment of the axillary glands. The latter, however, subsided in a few days. In about three weeks there appeared on the figure on his right arm, and later on the other, a number of papules, which multiplied until on the former there were seventeen and on the latter twenty-four. In the latter case the papules appeared wherever the vermilion had been used. The first appear- ance of these papules the patient compares to mosquito bites. They were indurated and elevated, and had an areola ; they itched, were scratched, became purulent, and formed crusts. A number of them were cauterized by a physician, an ointment applied, and they healed up in about a fortnight. The rest healed spontaneously. No axillary bubo followed. About the middle of July, about six weeks after the tattooing and three after the first syphilitic manifestation, a papular eruption appeared on his scalp, penis, scrotum, palms, and soles, and in his nasal cavity and external auditory canals. Later, on his forehead and lips was developed syphilitic impetigo. In three months from the time of tattooing mucous patches appeared in his mouth. Since the early cauterization he has been treated with “roots” by a snake doctor. At our examination we find many desquamating papules in his scalp, a few large papules on his abdomen, three smaller ones around his corona glandis penis, one on the frenum, four on the scrotum, nine on his thighs, one in the left popliteal space, and the traces of very many on his palms and soles. On his forehead are four beautiful crescentic patches of impetiginous pustules, and on his lips several more. His lips and mouth are covered with mucous patches, and about his anus he has immense condylomata. Case XVIII—John G., mt. 1G, Am., machinist; examined in the Philadelphia Hospital September 29 ; his family and personal history is excellent. About the end of May, when in perfect health, he was tattooed in Reading by Kelly, on the flexor aspect of his right forearm. The figure was that of a dancing girl; the pigments, India ink, mixed with water, and vermilion, mixed with Kelly’s saliva. After pricking in the colors, Kelly spit on the patient’s arm and rubbed it well. Slight and transient local inflammation followed, for which cold water was applied, but there was no glandular swelling. In four weeks there appeared on the left shoulder of the figure a papule, indurated, itching, and having an areola,
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