The treatment of venereal disease and scabies in the army : report.

  • Great Britain. Army Medical Department. Advisory Board for Army Medical Services.
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The treatment of venereal disease and scabies in the army : report. 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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    Uesume.—In 100 calomel injections the authors had the follovring complications : two mild cases of stomatitis and one very severe one. One case had slight diarrhoea and vomiting. .No albuminuria. No embolism. Fain.—Of the 100 injections, pain in 20 was absent, in 20 was bearable, and in 60 was extremely bad. Ten of these 60 suffered such sewere pain that they could neither sleep nor walk about, and were obliged to remain in bed for two to three days ; the pain begins during the first night and usually lasts five to six days. Local reaction.—Of the 100 injections 25 left no induration at all, 67 were followed by nodes of various sizes. In eight there was extensive swelling of the buttock, four of which suppurated. In three of these Neisser’s formula was used, in the fourth the gum emulsion. The pus was sterile. According to Jullien the dose should be regulated by the patient’s weight. A weekly injection of 5 cgrms. is suitable for a person not exceeding 50 kilo- grammes (110 lbs.) in weight, while a strong man weighing 80 kilogrammes (175 lbs.) will tolerate 10 cgrms. The course is from five to six weeks. The first injections may be made at intervals of eight days ; the later ones at intervals of 10, 12, or 15 days, to prevent the accumulation of mercury. The injection is extremely painful, is liable to be followed by intense inflammatory reaction, large swellings, indurations, and, in spite of all precautions, by abscess. This method is to be looked on as an exceptional one, and reserved for particular cases in which a rapid or very energetic action is desired. The authors mention the following conditions as suitable for calomel injections:— {a.) Glossitis. (&.) Palmar psoriasis. (c.) Rupia. [d.) Phagedamic chancres. (e.) Malignant syphilis. (/•) Syphilis of ifie central nervous system. {g.) Uncertain diagnosis. (Ji.) Where abortive treatment is desired. This method, though very effective, is not infallible. (2.) Grey Oil, Oleum ciaereum, Lambkin s cream. Levy Bing gives six formulae introduced by Lang, Neisser, Balzer, Brousse et Gay, Jullien and le Pileur, but recommends Lafay’s. Lambkin’s formula: — Mei'cmy. 2 parts 1 Lanolin anhydrous, 2 parts J ° To be well rubbed up till the mercury disappears, then add 2 per cent. Carbolized Paroleine (Burroughs & Wellcome’s) 4 parts by measure. 3*225 minims contain one grain of metallic mercury (one grain is equal to 7 centigrammes, nearly). Lafay’s formula :— Purified mercury, 40 grammes. Lanolin anhydrous, sterilized, 12 grammes. White vaseline, sterilized, 13 grammes. Medicinal vaseline oil, sterilized, 35 grammes. This contains 40 per cent, of mercury by weight. Preparaiion.-~L}iQ mortar and pestle to be be carefully flamed. While still hot, put in the sterilized lanoline, then the mercury. Rub together till the mercury has disappeared, add the vaseline, and when intimately mixed, the oil of vaseline. The consistence should be slightly varied according to the season, to prevent the mercury separating out. One c.c. of grey oil (Lafay’s formula) weighs 1 * 25 grm. and contains 50 centigrms. of metallic mercury. Grey oil should be stored in small sterile flasks holding about 2 c.c. each. Before use, slightly warm the flask and shake it well. Syringes.—