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
The pain from the caustic was severe for several hours. An eschar had
formed round the edges, but in the middle part it was quite wanting;
the inflammation surrounding the ulcer had abated, and the green hue
of its surface had disappeared. I reapplied the caustic in the central
part.
On the following day the eschar appeared tolerably complete in the
centre but had separated at one part of the circumference. I again
applied the caustic to the defective part.
On the following day the eschar was defective in several parts, but
the inflammation was quite removed, there was no pain, and there had
been less smarting after each successive application of the caustic. I
again applied the caustic.
On the succeeding day, I learnt that my patient had been intoxicated,
and I found the ulcer attended by inflammation. The eschar was by no
means complete; some part of it was in a detached state. I removed
the loose portions and repeated the application of the caustic.
This sort of treatment was continued for a fortnight without my being
able to effect the formation of a complete eschar. I therefore
relinquished the idea of healing the ulcer by the adherent eschar; I
eventually succeeded in doing so by applying the caustic every third
day and the poultice continually, and I had hopes that the cure might
be permanent, but he made application to me in two years afterwards
with a similar ulcer on the same part.
In another similar case, I removed the elevated hard edges of the
ulcer by the lancet, and then tried the caustic, without better
success.
CASE XXXVI.
The last case I have to give is one of great interest, as it clearly
shows the influence of the lunar caustic in subduing the inflammation
surrounding ulcerations, and in promoting the healing process, even in
cases of phagedenic ulcer. In such cases its influence eminently
deserves a still further trial.
Mrs. H. aged 56, has had very extensive phagedenic ulcerations on the
legs and thighs during three years, which began in little red spots
and then spread rapidly, destroying the integuments. One of these
ulcers, on the thigh, was twelve inches in length and five in breadth,
and exhibited the appearance of a deep corroding furrow; it was
surrounded by a fiery redness and was attended by extreme pain. There
were many other ulcers of the same kind, several nearly of the same
magnitude; and the poor patient was compelled to take large doses of
laudanum several times in the day. She had formerly been treated for
syphilis, and had afterwards taken the sarsaparilla freely; amongst a
great variety of local applications, the white bread poultice had
afforded most relief.
I applied the lunar caustic to two of the smaller ulcers.
On the following day the eschars were complete. I applied the caustic
to the large sore above described to the extent of three inches
square, avoiding its application on the inflamed skin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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