An account of some diseases of the toes and fingers with observations on their treatment / James Wardrop.

  • Wardrop, James.
Date:
1814
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of some diseases of the toes and fingers with observations on their treatment / James Wardrop. 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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    parts, permanent relief might be obtained. Ac- cordingly the nail was allowed to grow, iind the swollen soft parts were touched with the lunar caustic. The beneficial effects of this treatment were soon manifest. The caustic had the effect of producing an absorption of the thickened soft parts, the nail soon recovered its natural shape and smooth edge, and the patient has never since had any uneasiness, except when from inattention he has accidentally cut the nail too short. Soon after I had seen this case, an example of the disease in a much more advanced stage came under my observation. In this instance, the soft parts on the edge of one side of the toe- nail, which was of its natural shape, were greatly swollen, suppuration had taken place where the nail was imbedded in them, and a painful fungus had arisen; so that the person was unable to rest the weight of the body on the affected foot. After one application of the caustic the irritable state of the ulcer was removed. In two days the fungus and swelling of the soft parts were greatly diminished; and by a second application of the caustic these completely subsided. The nail was left untouched, and in a few days the patient was enabled to walk about, and he afterwards continued perfectly well. In a third case the good effects of this mode of treatment were strikingly illustrated. A gentleman for several years suffered great distress from in- flammation and swelling of the soft parts at the edge of the nail of the great-toe, and had during