Manual of diseases of the skin / from the French of Cazenave ; with notes and additions by Thomas H. Burgess.
- Pierre Louis Alphée Cazenave
- Date:
- 1854
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Manual of diseases of the skin / from the French of Cazenave ; with notes and additions by Thomas H. Burgess. Source: Wellcome Collection.
50/446 page 40
![INTRODUCTION. rarely used, except im cutaneous syphilitic disorders. Dulcamara, saponaria, Rhus radicans, and Daphné mezereon, hâve been highly extolled formerly by some English physicians. Biett has obtained the greatest benefit from the use of tincture of cantharides and the préparations of arsenic. The experiments of Biett prove, in the clearest manner, their efficaey. Tet, notwith- standing this evidence, the remedies now alluded to, hâve been attacked in the most extraordinary manner. They deteriorate, it is said, the health, and give rise to disorders wliich break forth after the lapse of time with great violence. These attacks are completely unfounded, and hâve become futile, in face of the numerous facts which constantly prove their absurdity. The powerful remedies of which we speak may, when carelessly or ignorantly administered, produce certain accidents, but the same remark will apply to many other médicinal substances, as corrosive sublimate, tartar emetic, quinine, &c. Besides, we bave seen them employed in a great number of diseases of the skin with the following résulta in a majority of cases :—lst. Complété and lasting cure of the most obstinate affections. 2nd. Occasionally slight dérangement of the health, requiring the remedy to be suspended for a few days only. 3rd. We hâve never met with those dangerous accidents so much talked of by a set of designing persons, who hâve no facts to support their opinions. We are, therefore, prepared to assert, from expérience, that arsenic, when properly administered, is an heroic remedy in the treatment of cutaneous disease ; and we furthermore can affirm, that we hâve seen patients, months and years after having undergone a course of this medicine, who never experienced the slightest inconvenience from it.* [The relation of cutaneous diseases to general pathology daims our spécial attention. If we assume, and it is not far from the truth, that the great majority of diseases of the skin is the resuit of constitutional debility and disorders of the digestive organs and of the fluids, it is clear that an inquiry into the condition of the functions must be instituted, and their présent State ascertained, [* “ Some poisons are considered cumulative, but this is not. The moment arsenic begius to absorb, its action commences.'’— Dr. Alfred Taylor, at the Trial of Sarah Barber, at Nottingham, Julg 25,1861.—B.]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28049573_0050.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
