The history and therapeutical value of arsenic in skin diseases / by Malcolm Morris.
- Morris, Malcolm Alexander, 1849-1924.
- Date:
- [1880]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The history and therapeutical value of arsenic in skin diseases / by Malcolm Morris. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
19/26 page 17
![Therapeutical Effect. Having considered the physiological action of arsenic on the system, and the modes by which it is eliminated, especially by the skin, I shall now pass to the more practical part of my paper and mention the various diseases of the skin in which it is recom- mended, and the results of my own experience. Psoriasis is the disease of all others that arsenic has been prescribed for, from the time that Girdlestone gave it first up to our own day. It must be acknowledged that it would be absurd to doubt the curative effects of arsenic in this disease, for all writers on dermatology agree in praising it, but at the same time there are cases in which not only arsenic does no good, but really does great harm. Why. this is the case it is difficult to explain. It seems as if the drug in these cases acted more on the vessels themselves through the medium of the vaso-motor nerves than on the blood. The following case is an illustration :— Case I.—H. M., a female, aged 34, who appeared in good health, applied at St. Mary’s Hospital on July 3rd, 1879. She had several well-marked patches of common psoriasis both on her arms and legs, also a few on the trunk. This was the fourth attack. The patches were not markedly hypersemic, but there was an abundant formation of scales. She was ordered 4 rr]_. of Fowler’s solution in water, three times daily, and no local application. July 10tli.—A few fresh patches have appeared during the week ; the old patches about the same. Ordered not to wash, but to continue the medicine for fourteen days. July-2ith.—The patches were much worse, more intensely hypersemic and very painful. She was then ordered local applications and the arsenic was discontinued. In this case arsenic was fairly tried alone and undoubtedly did harm. I could mention other cases that have come under my observation in which a similiar result took place, but it is sufficient to have noticed the fact.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22379034_0021.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
