A manual of medical diagnosis / by A.W. Barclay.

  • Andrew Whyte Barclay
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of medical diagnosis / by A.W. Barclay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    in their full development, become the basis of distinc-'™ tion between these diseases, as they also separate themt widely from other forms of fever. Their chai’acters^ are, however, occasionally so obscure, that, notwith-^ standing all the aid derived from antecedent and con-/ sequent symptoms, cases do occur which are not free’’ from ambiguity. The principal features are the fol-'^ lowing general j, common 1. Measles.—The eruption consists of a mottled red- ness, which appears in the form of numerous rose- coloured spots, papular, very slightly elevated, and grouped mostly in crescentic patches; the elevation] scarcely perceptible to the touch, and without any sen-j sation of hardness. It is first observed about the back' and loins, and subsequently spreads until it covers the' whole body, in most instances. 2. Scarlatina.—Here we find a diffused redness, of more or less brilliancy, especially affecting the front of the neck, spreading down on the chest, and also appearing at the bend of the elbow and on the legs, where, sometimes, it is more extended and than on the ujoper pai’t of the body. It begins with the neck, and assumes the form of minutej points of redness, which are in no way elevated, andj rapidly coalesce. There is no feeling of hardness or appearance of boundary line, though the eruption beof>! limited extent; it scarcely ever covers the whole sur-, face, like measles. 3. Varioloid Eruptions generally first appear on the face, preceded by patches of redness which have a hard, gritty feeling to the finger; upon these patches minute vesicles, more or less numerous, form; some, or all of them, acquii’e gradually a larger size, become filled with lymph, which passes quickly into pus, and are niai'ked by a distinct deju'ession in the centre. In modified smallpox, after vaccination, the eruption may be very scanty indeed,—may, perhaps, only show itself on the chest,—and few or none of the vesicles ever enlarge to the appearance of variolous pustules. !