An Essay on the Application of the Lunar Caustic in the Cure of Certain Wounds and Ulcers — John Shaqi
An Essay on the Application of the Lunar Caustic in the Cure of Certain Wounds and UlcersHigginbottom, John
Science
An Essay on the Application of the Lunar Caustic in the Cure of Certain Wounds and Ulcers
Higginbottom, John
Antiseptics; Silver nitrate; Wound healing
Mrs. Butcher, aged 52, has two ulcers a little above the outer ankle,
one the size of half-a-crown, the other, of a shilling, of four months
duration, which are now in a healing state by the application of
cerate and poultice; the healing process is going on very slowly.
These ulcers were caused by a fall which bruised the part but made no
wound at the time; two small spots, which she compared to the pustules
of small-pox, formed, broke, and gave rise to the ulcers. I applied
the lunar caustic to form eschars.
At this time I had not begun to defend the eschar by the gold-beater's
skin, and in consequence both these eschars were torn by the patient's
stocking having adhered to them, and there was an oozing of fluid from
the centre of each eschar on examination on the following day. I again
applied the lunar caustic.
On the succeeding day, I found that the large eschar had again been
disturbed, the patient having applied a little linen, instead of
leaving it exposed. I reapplied the lunar caustic.
On the next day both eschars were complete, but there was a little
fluid under the centre of each, which required to be evacuated by an
incision. There was little inflammation or pain.
On the following day, my patient expressed herself as astonished at
the rapid amendment. A little fluid was again evacuated from beneath
the centre of the eschar.
On the next day the smaller eschar was quite adherent; under the large
one, there was still a very little fluid.
About the ninth day, both the eschars were perfectly adherent. In two
days afterwards the eschars began to separate round the edges, and in
a few days more, it was necessary to remove the separating portion by
the scissors.--In the course of time the eschar separated completely,
leaving the ulcers healed.
Mrs. Butcher had no pain after the first four days from the
application of the caustic, and in a week was able to attend to her
household affairs.
CASE XXII.
J. Copeland, blacksmith, aged 38, came to me with many deep
ulcerations, from the size of a horse bean to that of a pea, attended
with great pain, heat, itching and excoriations of the surrounding
skin, obliging him to rest at different times, for several days
together. These ulcers came without any apparent cause, have continued
for many weeks, and have only been a little benefitted by rest,
although he has applied many kinds of ointment, the last consisting of
equal parts of mercurial and of the tar ointment. I applied the lunar
caustic upon each ulcer, but not over the excoriation, and I enjoined
the patient to leave the whole exposed to dry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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