Diseases of the skin : a handbook for students and practitioners.
- Walsh, David
- Date:
- 1913
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Diseases of the skin : a handbook for students and practitioners. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Gerstein Science Information Centre at the University of Toronto, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Gerstein Science Information Centre, University of Toronto.
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![r standing pathological feature in premature baldness. Even in old age it is by no means a necessary or essential change, for some individuals preserve a good head of hair and a well-nourished, movable scalp at an extremely advanced age. If my conclusions be correct, the dermatologist of the future will deal with many diseases of the skin by a carefully t supervised course of treatment of the heart condition. There is no logical escape from that position in cases where the symptomatic relation of the skin to the circulation is recog- nized. Internal Treatment.—Certain drugs are given for their action on the skin, and some few of them doubtless exercise a direct topical action in that way. At the best, however, such action is variable. Clearly, the local effect might be aided by hot-air or water baths, by sudorifics, by Bier's suction cups, or by irritant applications. Arsenic was formerly the sheet-anchor of dermatologists, but some of them nowadays use it either not at all or only on rare occasions. Considering the injury to kidneys and other organs that is produced by this drug experimentally in the lower animals, its use in large or prolonged doses is likely to lead to similar organic mischief in man. Various thickened, scaly, and papular eruptions have been ascribed to arsenic, and even epithelioma (Hutchinson). In the right place, and rightly used, arsenic is a valuable drug, especially in some chronic scaly eruptions. It is best given in the form of Fowler's solution, n]^iii.-v. thrice daily, increased to it|,x. until the disease yields or symptoms of arsenical irritation show themselves. It should always be freely diluted, and taken invariably after meals. The danger-signals are conjunctivitis, coated tongue, and abdom- ;' inal pains. Arsenic should never be given unless the tongue is clean and the digestion in good order. It may also be prescribed in the form of Asiatic pill, each containing ^^ grain of arsenious acid, one to be taken thrice daily and increased to six or eight. Arsenic is useful in psoriasis, lichen planus, chronic](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b20995921_0039.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
