Gout and rheumatic gout : a new method of cure / by John W. Foakes.

  • Foakes, John Weston.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Gout and rheumatic gout : a new method of cure / by John W. Foakes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    her general health improved, but the smaller joints of the extremities continued to stiffen, her knees to contract more and more, and gradually she became quite helpless. At the end of five years, the joints of her knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, and fingers, were all more or less stiffened and useless. She could neither stand upon her feet nor use her hands; and in this state she remained for some years afterwards. Then by treatment some improvement was made in the state of her arms and hands; she was rendered to a great extent free from pain, and was able to discontinue the use of narcotics entirely; but the joint action of the knees and ankles had been completely destroyed, and it was not possible to recover it. Aow, what could have produced this terrible change ? My experience replies, that it was caused by the continued action of the Mercury in the blue pill, which induced fever and disease about the joints, while the constitution was enfeebled by low diet and want of fresh air and exercise; and by the narcotics, which were given in the latter portion of the treatment to allay jiain and procure sleep, 'wliicli prevented the dissemina-