A treatise on the venereal disease / by John Hunter ; with copious additions, by Philip Ricord ; translated and edited, with notes, by Freeman J. Bumstead.
- John Hunter
- Date:
- 1859
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A treatise on the venereal disease / by John Hunter ; with copious additions, by Philip Ricord ; translated and edited, with notes, by Freeman J. Bumstead. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![the part itself by leeches, for we often find by a vessel giving way in the urethra, and a considerable hemorrhage ensuing, that the patient is greatly relieved. Relief will often be obtained by exposing the penis to the steam of hot water. Poultices have likewise beneficial effects, and both fomentations and poultices will often be assisted in removing inflammation by the addition of camphor. Opium given internally, is of singular service, and if it be joined with camphor the effect will be still greater; but opium in such cases acts rather by lessening the pain than by removing the inflammation, though by pre- venting erections it may be said to obviate the immediate cause of the complaint.1 When the chordee continues after all other symptoms are gone, little, or nothing, in the way of evacuation, seems to be necessary, the inflam- mation being subdued, and a consequence of it only remaining, which will cease gradually by the absorption of the extravasated coagulable lymph. Therefore bleeding in this case can be of no use. Mercurial ointment applied to the parts will promote the absorption of the extra- vasated coagulated lymph, for experience has shown that mercury has considerable powers in exciting absorption. The friction itself also will be of use. In one case considerable benefit seemed to result from giving the cicuta, after the common methods of cure had been tried. Electri- city may be of service. This symptom is indeed often longer in going off than either the running or pain; but no bad consequences arise from it. Its declension is gradual and uniform, as happens in most conse- quences of inflammation. In relieving the chordee, or the remains of it, which appear to arise from spasm, I have known the bark of great service. Evacuations, whether from the part or from the constitution, generally do harm. § 4. Of the Treatment of the Suppuration of the Glands of the Urethra. Suppurations in the glands of the urethra are to be treated as chancres. Therefore mercury ought to be given, as will be explained hereafter. Should suppuration take place in Cowper's glands, it demands more attention. The abscess must be opened freely and early, as the matter, if confined, may pake its way either into the scrotum or urethra, whence would arise bad consequences. Here also mercury must be given, and perhaps as freely as in a bubo. In short, the treatment should be the same as in a venereal ulcer; and in this respect it will differ from the treatment of those abscesses which arise in consequence of stricture.2 1 I am entirely of Hunter's opinion. Camphor is the most powerful sedative in erections, in spite of what some modern theorists have written on the subject. It should be added, that experience, which i3 better than any theories or arguments, teaches that opium is its best adjuvant. But they do not always succeed. Dr. Sistach has lately submitted to the Academy of Medicine a mode of treating erections, by compressing the prepuce in front of the glans. This method is far from succeeding in every case.—Ricord. 2 Experience does not confirm this doctrine. Suppurations in the glands of the ure- thra are not very uncommon in gonorrhoea, yet they heal readily without the use of mercury ; nor are they ever followed by secondary symptoms.—G. G. B. [I am entirely of Mr. Babington's opinion.—Ricord.]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21131521_0128.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
