An essay on the use of nitric acid, as an escharotic, in certain forms of hemorrhoidal affections; illustrated by cases / by John Houston.
- Houston John, 1802-1845.
- Date:
- 1843
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: An essay on the use of nitric acid, as an escharotic, in certain forms of hemorrhoidal affections; illustrated by cases / by John Houston. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
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![latter afiectlon I considered as second, both in origin and in im- ])ortance to the vascular tumour of the mucous membrane. As this lady was cognizant of an operation which I had per- formed on her husband, at a former period, for fistula in ano,she could never (even although a cure had followed in that instance) have been prevailed upon to submit, jin her own person, to any remedy more severe than an ointment or a wash ; but to any treat- ment of this latter description she had no objection—regardless of pain, provided that a knife or needles had no concern in the production of it. I determined then on an experiment with the nitric acid; and as I could not be certain of the effect of it on such a patient, or in so confirmed a disease, I thought it best to confine the application of it to one tumour first, and then to he guided by the result, as to whether or not I should use it on the other. 19th. I applied the acid to the left tumour. The usual dead- ening of the part touched was the immediate result. The pro- trusion was smeared with oil, and pushed above the sphincter. Twenty drops of the acetum opii was administered on the instant, and a second draught of twelve drops were directed to be given at night, if necessary. 20th. Suffered severe pain, for a short time, after the appli- cation ; but towards evening got relief, and passed the night in ease, without having had occasion for the second opiate. 21st. Complains of a feeling of fulness in the rectum, and a frequency in the call to urinate. The mucous membrane at the margin of the anus is oedematous, and pain is felt on pressure at the left side of the perineum; but there is very little feverish- ness, and the j)atient is perfectly easy when at rest. Ordered—Camphor mixture. Fomentations. Poultice. 22nd. Stranguary quite gone. QLdema continues, but tender- ness relieved. No prolapse. A reddish sero-purulent fluid stains the poultice. Pulse natural ; tongue white. Rested well last night. 23rd. Bowels opened by an oil draught. A free evacuation.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2172782x_0027.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
