The treatment of syphilis / by F.J. Lambkin.

  • Lambkin, F. J.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The treatment of syphilis / by F.J. Lambkin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    over the method which had hitherto existed. This is undoubtedly the sole and real reason, because its therapeutic effects are far inferior to those of the inunction method, which was practically its sole competitor ; besides, it was at least equally liable to all the dangers and accidents which were found in connexion with the other plans. The disadvantages of this method have become very palpable of late years, so much so that it is gradually dropping out from amongst the different plans for carrying out the treatment of syphilis. This of course applies in a special manner to the con- tinents of Europe and America. Its disadvantages are :— First. It is particularly liable to irritate the gums, and to bring about gastro-intestinal disorders of all sorts. This is a serious objection, as it necessitates the treatment being abandoned for a time at least, in which case the disease gets a further hold on the system ; and if persisted in, emaciation, debility, and anaemia are brought on, thus placing the patient in the very worst position to resist the disease. Secondly. Uncertainty as to its being carried out with any- thing like regularity. This, to my mind, is the chief objection to the ingestion method. The uncertainty of regularity is the result either of the patient’s absentmindedness in forgetting to take his medicine, or, on the other hand, to his deliberately giving it up on the first disappearance of the morbid symptoms of the disease. To put the matter concisely, it is easy for the physician or surgeon to sit down and write a prescription for mixtures, pills, or powders, with instructions to his patient to take one of them three or four times a day, for perhaps months at a time ; but it is quite another thing to expect (even if all goes well as regards toleration) that there is any chance of these instructions being carried out with anything approaching to regularity. The conscientious patient, with the best intentions possible of adhering strictly to his instructions, places his medicine each morning in his pocket with the idea of taking it during the day; but I wonder how often, when the end of the week comes, he can look back and say he has done so regularly during every day of that week. Yet to be of any use we know that regularity in
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