[Chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin / Extracted from his "Commentaries on Diseases of the Skin."].

  • Thomson, Anthony Todd, 1778-1849
Date:
[1839-1840]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin / Extracted from his "Commentaries on Diseases of the Skin."]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    result would necessarily be the communication of the circular form to the inflamed groups of blennogenous glands, and a cir¬ cular deposition of the diseased scales. What change takes place in the components of the blood, to cause the alteration from the normal state of the secretion, I will not venture to conjecture ; but, whatever it is, it must be greatly influenced by the condition of the nerves: consequently, whatever acts upon them, so as to affect their influence in a certain manner, may operate as a predisposing cause of Lepra. We know that depressed nervous power, the effect of certain passions of the mind, alters and renders morbid the cuticular secretion, causing the dry skin which attends many acute diseases: and Ave also know that anxiety, chagrin, and similar mental states, are amongst the most common causes of Lepra. We know, also, that the state of the secreting organs affects the quality of the secretion, and that an impression made upon one tissue changes the action in another: thence, improper and stimulant food, and alcoholic fluids taken into the sto¬ mach, deranging the condition of the mucous membrane, may become causes of Lepra. P. Lepra cannot, generally, be regarded as a dangerous disease; but it is often extremely difficult of cure. Cases of it have come under my management of eight and ten years’ standing; but I have never seen it prove fatal. Richter, nevertheless, mentions its fatality under peculiar circum¬ stances. The patient becomes languid and restless at night, with symptoms closely resembling those of asthma, accom¬ panied with excessive foetid SAveats. His voice is hoarse, his appetite for food voracious, and his temper gloomy. Faintings, convulsions, and local paralysis folloAV, and he dies completely exhausted*. The disease sometimes assumes an intermittent character, spontaneously disappearing, and again returning after a short interval, for several successive times ; but usually it increases Avhen left to itself. T. In the treatment of Lepra, notwithstanding the opinion of Rayer and others that our chief object should be the ex¬ tension of external applications, I am of opinion that our sole * Specielle Therapie, vol. vi. p, 440.