The mercurial disease. An enquiry into the history and nature of the disease produced in the human constitution by the use of mercury, with observations on its connexion with the lues venerea / [Andrew Mathias].

  • Mathias, Andrew, 1767?-1823.
Date:
1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The mercurial disease. An enquiry into the history and nature of the disease produced in the human constitution by the use of mercury, with observations on its connexion with the lues venerea / [Andrew Mathias]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    mercury Has been given to an excess, and used under improper forms and in an improper manner. The first thing to be done, as we have before ob- served, is to lay aside the use of mercury, and to iremove every cause ol local and of general irrita* tion. If the patient is strong and his constitution iis not much hurt, if his pulse is quick and full, .and if the local ulceration is attended with much pain and inflammation, but without any disposition to gangrene in the part, under these circumstances we ought directly to take six or ten ounces of blood from the arm ; and this is more especially .advisable and proper, if the mercury has been but lately given up. The apparent loss of strength and of flesh in patients afflicted with this disease may induce some practitioners to think, that bleeding is a very ex- traordinary, and perhaps not altogether a very suitable remedy, in these cases. I believe, indeed, it has never been much practised, and therefore it is incumbent upon me say a few words in explana- tion of the advantage to be expected from it; and to endeavour to remove the objections which may be made against it. We are first to remember, that any reduction of vigour in these patients is owing to a foreign irritation, which is constantly harassing their constitutions. If the irritation is removed, we find that the constitution instantly recovers from the effects of the previous disease ; and this debility, while it does last, is not of that dangerous and equivocal kind, which so often