Practical observations on the Harrogate mineral waters : with cases / by Andrew Scott Myrtle.

  • Myrtle, Andrew Scott.
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations on the Harrogate mineral waters : with cases / by Andrew Scott Myrtle. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    90/128 (page 68)
    If Wilscm ia right, it logically follows that psoriasis (or alphos as he now terms it) must have been preceded by an acute attack of eczema, with its constitutional fever, its local heat, swelling, itching and exuding. Now the history of true psora is one per se—a small, tiny spot, dry, slightly raised in centre, is discovered on almost any part of the body, arms, or legs; there is no disturbance of the general health, no sign of local irritation. The spot is visible, that is all. You remove the top, it gives no pain. The removed crust consists of enlarged, thickened epidermic scales, perfectly dry, and the spot exposed by their removal is also dry, of a dull red colour, and exhibiting a few raised papillae; in twenty-four hours it is again covered by scales, but these are not so white as they afterwards become; they are tinged with yellow. This one spot may be the only spot visible for years, especially in a young patient; by-and-bye more spots appear, especially over the elbows, knees, outside of thighs, legs, and arms; many of these join together, forming irregular patches of eruption, covered by thin white scales, which are readily removed by rubbing. In general these patches give no trouble, and seldom affect the face or hands, although they appear on hairy scalp, whiskers, and eyebrows. I would ask where are the symptoms of eczema in the picture I have just drawn, and being destitute of them from first to last, how can this con- dition of skin be spoken of as chronic eczema? Moreover,