Cases and observations on the molluscum contagiosum of Bateman : with an account of the minute structure of the tumours / by Robert Paterson.

  • Paterson, Robert, 1814-1889.
Date:
[1840?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases and observations on the molluscum contagiosum of Bateman : with an account of the minute structure of the tumours / by Robert Paterson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    size was very various, but generally slow. In Batemau's case a twelvemonth had elapsed between the period at which the tubercles begun, and that at which the application was made. In Case II. they followed a much more rapid course than in any of the other cases. They may be looked upon as most generally occurring in irregular clusters of 3, 5, and sometimes even 20. This character is distinctly to be noticed in Dr Bateman's plate^ and is beautifully pourtrayed in a delineation of the first of Dr Thom- son's cases, which exists in his magnificent collection. In all the cases we have seen, this fact has been noticed. Although they bear a very chronic character they appear to undergo spontaneous de- struction and cure. When this takes place, either a slow suppuration is established, which soon leads to the shrinking up and death of the tumours and their subsequent falling off; or, as we have seen when they were fre- quently irritated by picking them with the fingers, inflammation was excited, which soon led to the shrinking up and death of the tumours before any suppuration was established. The Molluscum contagiosum appears not to be a disease of a danger- ous nature. The case which Cazenave and Schedel relate on the au- thority of Dr Carswell, proved fatal, but whether from th s disease or any other is not stated. The case which lately occurred in the Royal Infirmary, under the care of Dr Henderson, proved fatal; but we believe that death did not take place from the cutaneous disease. All the other cases which have been recorded were of an extremely mild nature, and, indeed, unless from the irritation of the tumours in the neighbourhood of the eyelids and mouth, giving rise to con- junctivitis and slight irritative fevers; the disease might be said to be one without even uneasiness. Sometimes, however, we find that the conjunctivitis proves very distressing. Professor Thom- son informs me that the farmer's child, which has been previously mentioned in his second series of cases, ran great danger of losing its eye-sight in consequence. Another annoying affection which has been mentioned by Dr Bateman, and occurred to a considerable extent in Professor Thomson's and Dr Carswell's case, was an en- largement of the glands in the neighbourhood of the eruption. This latter is very likely to occur in consequence of the irritation of the eruptive disease on the skin in their immediate neighbour- hood. ^ Treatment.—We have already mentioned the course which nature follows in getting rid of these tumours, and in one case we allowed her to keep the treatment in her own hands till nearly a perfect cure was established. In other cases, however, their progress is slow, troublesome, and they disfigure the person ; it is, therefore, necessary to do something for their removal. Professor Thomson found in his experience the sulphate of copper, both in strong solution, and applied solid, ef- fected the destruction of the tumours with sufficient rapidity. Prcvi- Tl !f ^^^^^ '^^^'^ observations of Professor Thomson, 1 had applied the solid nitrate of silver to the tops of the tumours,' and in one case I used the caustic potass, which certainly proved by