Cases and observations on the molluscum contagiosum of Bateman : with an account of the minute structure of the tumours / by Robert Paterson.
- R.H. Paterson
- Date:
- [1840?]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Cases and observations on the molluscum contagiosum of Bateman : with an account of the minute structure of the tumours / by Robert Paterson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![This child communicated the disease to the breast of the mother, and it appeared entirely confined to the sebaceous glands around the nipple of that breast, which the child continued to suck. The tumours on the breast are of various sizes, from that of a pea to a hazelnut, three of the larger ones being clustered together, all exude a thick whitish matter when pressed between the fingers, and they seem to be equally insensible to the touch as those on the child. They first appeared on the breast about a month and a half after those on the face of the child. The largest of these tumours latterly became inflamed and ex- tremely troublesome, from the irritation of the rubbing of the clothes against them. Particular inquiry was made as to any other members of the fa- mily being affected with a similar eruption ; but no trace of it could be discovered, and an attempt to find out the source of contagion to the child proved equally unsuccessful; indeed, from the inquiries made, had any similar case existed in the village, it must have been dis- covered. This series of cases was seen by my friends. Professor Simpson, Dr W. Thomson, Dr Mercer, and Dr Lund, all of whom looked upon them as very characteristic of the disease in question. Trealment.—Mrs C, the mother, was anxious that something should be done for the tumours, as they aflbrded her considerable inconvenience from rubbing against her dress, and, at the suggestion of Professor Simpson, the tops of them were touched with caustic potass. The application afforded little uneasiness to the patient; the escharotic destroyed a portion of the tumours, and the remain- der soon sloughed off by tlieir bases, leaving a healthy granulating surface, which healed kiiuUy, and no return of them took place. As the child's health was not in the slightest affected, no treat- ment whatever was had recourse to. The tumours as they enlarged generally suppurated, scabbed, and then fell off by their base, and as this happened to more of them than was generated, a decided di- minution soon took ])lace, and at the present time there are only a very few remaining. Case II. presented itself attheLeith Dispensary for consultation on the 2d of Aj)ril last. The child, Ann M'Queen, 2 years old, strong and healthy, has been affected with the disease for the last two months. The mother ascribes it to her having been carried about by a girl who had some similar lumps u])on lier body, while they resided at Dundee, and immediately before ihey came to Leith. The eruption at present occupies the left side of the neck and shoul- der, and a few are scattered here and there upon the same side of the face and trunk of the body. The disease resembles very much in appi arance the case last described. The small tumours have the siime pearly appearance, and the larger ones, being slightly redder than the skin, and exuding a milky fluid from the orifice at their apex. I'he tubercles at present apj)ear in groups, and irregularly scattered over the surface of the skin ; their number may be from thirty to forty on the present patient. The mother states that the girl, who was primarily affected at Dundee, used to carry this child chiefly against that side of her neck. But neither the mother nor liny other of the children in the family have any appearance what-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21469908_0006.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
