Leprosy : $b in its clinical & pathological aspects — John Shaqi
Leprosy : $b in its clinical & pathological aspectsHansen, G. Armauer (Gerhard Armauer)
Science
Leprosy : $b in its clinical & pathological aspects
Hansen, G. Armauer (Gerhard Armauer)
Leprosy
We regard the pemphigoid bullæ as a trophic symptom; they may appear at
the very commencement of the disease, along with the macular eruption;
but they usually appear late when the anæsthesia has become extensive;
in this we agree with Danielssen. Neisser and Leloir give prominence to
the early appearance of pemphigoid bullæ, Neisser believing that the
irritation of the commencing interstitial neuritis causes this trophic
symptom. Our reason for regarding them as trophic symptoms is that we
have never been able to find bacilli in the bullæ we have examined,
not even in those which appeared at the same time as the maculæ, and
their marked symmetry is also in favour of their nervous origin. The
bullous eruptions usually appear suddenly. The patients will discover
on awaking, one or more blisters which may be already burst; some have
pain and fever for hours or days before their appearance; (Leloir).
They vary in size--they may be small, from the size of a pea to that of
a bean, or as large as the palm of the hand.
Their contents are serous, but if the bullæ persist, they become
purulent. They usually rupture early and heal, leaving behind them
violet-coloured scars, which after some time become pale. If irritant
factors are added, if the bullæ last long and become purulent, there
develops after rupture deep ulceration, most frequent on the hands and
feet.
Bullous eruptions of the mucous membranes, which Leloir has noted, we
have never been fortunate enough to see.
We regard also as tropho-neurotic vaso-motor symptoms the acute
rheumatoid affections of the joints, which are not infrequent in our
hospital. The joints, especially the small ones of the fingers and
hands, and also those of the knee and ankle, become painful and tender,
and on palpation, a collection of fluid can usually be recognised. The
affection is always symmetrical.
These affections of the joints, which belong to the earlier stages of
the disease, usually appear simultaneously with the macular eruption,
and disappear with it, but they may appear later; and after one, or it
may be only after several attacks, thickening of the ends of the bones
and ligaments, with stiffening of the limbs, is developed. Leprous
affections of the tendon sheaths, which Wolff refers to, we have never
seen. The contracture of the fingers and toes is not tendogenous, so
far as we can decide from clinical and anatomical investigation; it is
myogenous, the leprous paralyses, which we shall immediately describe,
being the cause.
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