Sleep in its relations to diseases of the skin / by L. Duncan Bulkley.

  • Lucius Duncan Bulkley
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sleep in its relations to diseases of the skin / by L. Duncan Bulkley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    should always be atteiidecl to, and special metliods will sug- gest themselves to all. The paiu from S)'philitic lesions will generally yield more or less promptly to very actively pushed specific medication suitable to the special stage of the disease or character of the lesion present ; but opium or morphia may occasionally be needed. I have also repeatedly found the very greatest, indeed perfect relief to osteccopic and neuralgic pains in syphilis, from antifebrin, in about iive-graiii doses, given every hour or two, with hot water, and a little whiskey if there seems to be any depression. In the distressing pain often accompanying or following herpes zoster, especially in elderly 'persons, galvanism will prove very valuable, and I recall a patient who, having pre- viously had distressing nights from ophthalmic zoster, would drop off to sleep while galvanism was being a])plied. Anti- febrin is also extremely serviceable, and will secure sleep even when the pain has previously pi'oduced great wakeful- ness; it must be used freely, however, to be of great service, and needs to be watched. Itching as a cause of sleep disturbance is unfortunately toa well known to everyone, and all are familiar with the diffi- culties often attending its relief. Proper internal and local treatment, of course, play the most important part in securing sleep under these conditions; but I will not attempt to de- velop this subject, which could alone occupy our entire time. A few words, however, may not be out of place in regard to some of the details connected with the latter, which are sometimes overlooked. Patients generally understand very little in regard to modes of making applications to the skin, and very explicit directions are often necessary to secure the desired result. The same application used in a right and a wrong way may produce very different results. This is strikingly illustrated in connection with eczema of the scrotum. With the ex- actly proper application of hot water, followed immediately by the perfect adjustment of an ointment of tar and zinc, spread on lint, closely applied and kept firmly in p tsition, •^e may often get perfect rest at night, when a previo is ap- plication, wrongly made, has been followed by great insom- nia. I have frequently seen sound sleep secured in infants^ with tlie most severe and general eczema, by a proper dress- ing, firmly bound on only to the parts which were most li-