Volume 1

The science and practice of medicine / By William Aitken ... From the 4th London ed., with additions, by Meredith Clymer.

William Aitken

Date:: 1866

Credit: The science and practice of medicine / By William Aitken ... From the 4th London ed., with additions, by Meredith Clymer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

936/972 page 926

$Treatment.—Local applications constitute the principal part of the treatment. A solution of bichloride of mercury, in the proportion of two grains to an ounce of water, applied over the affected parts once or twice daily, is generally effectual in destroying the progress of the fungus. Mercurial or sulphur baths have a similar effect, either singly or combined, care being taken to avoid salivation. The use of black soap night and morning is recommended by Dr. Anderson, or the use of the following mixture : R. Bichloridi Hydrarg. 9j; Aleoholis, ^ss; Saponis Viridis, et Aquas destillatae, aa |iiss; 01. Lavandulae 9j ; misce. To be used night and morning, 'in the same way as the black soap; but if the gums get ten- der, its use must be suspended. Great attention must be paid to cleanliness, and the patient should change flannel clothes very often, and should not sleep in them, or at least not in the same flannels that are worn during the day. THE FUNGUS FOOT OF INDIA—Chionyphe Carteri. {Mycetoma.^ Definition—A disease due to the presence of a mucedinous fungus, which eats its ivay into the bones of the tarsus, metatarsus, and lower ends of the tibia and fibula. In process of time it tends to cause death from exhaustion (Carter, Berkeley). Pathology and Historical Notice.—Dr. H. V. Carter, the Professor of Anatomy and Physiology at the Grand Medical College of Bom- bay, made a report in March, 1860, on this formidable fungus dis- ease. It occurs in many parts of India and the northeastern shores of the Persian Gulf. In the Bombay Presidency it has been seen at Kutch, Kattiawar, Guzerat, Scinde, the Deccan, and Lower Kon- can. On the Madras side it has been seen at Gumtoor, Bellary, Madura, Cuddapak, some parts of Mysore, and at Trichinopoly. In the Bengal Presidency it prevails to a limited extent round Sirsa; but patients come from Bicaneer, Bhawalpore, and Hissar. It is known amongst Indian medical men as the fungus foot, or fungus disease of India; or under the scientific names of Podel- coma or Mycetoma, and by several characteristic native names. It is a disease which has hitherto occurred among natives only [who alone go barefooted, and seldom wash their feet thoroughly], and is undoubtedly due to the presence of a mucedinous fungus, which eats its way into the bones of the foot and lower ends of the tibia and fibula, penetrating or tunnelling through the tissues of the entire foot by numerous fistulous canals, tending to cause death by exhaus- tion, unless a timely amputation is made above the diseased part.$