SYPHILITIC LEPRA.
A personaged about 29 years suffered under the above disease, and presented the following appearances and symptoms: He was covered nearly all over with copper-colored spots, the margins of which were both elevated and red. The voice of the patient was rather hoarse, and he complained also of a tenderness on swallowing: the pain extended to the windpipe and tonsils (or almonds) of the ear, as they are called. He experienced pain in his limbs, which he described to be worse at night when in bed. The spots on the skin every now and then desquamated, or peeled, or scurfed off, leaving the cuticle red and shiny underneath, and here and there the cutis was ulcerated. On examining the throat, the swallow appeared very inflamed, and the “pap” very pendulous. He was hot and feverish, and acknowledged that he had had the venereal disease about nine weeks ago, and for which he had taken some medicines that he bought, and which had cured him. When in bed, he complained of a burning, tingling, and itching of the body, wherever it was covered with the eruption.
The treatment was as follows: I bled him to the amount of twelve ounces, and prescribed a strong aperient powder. On the second day there was less irritation, and the spots appeared less red. I advised him forthwith to take a vapor bath, and repeat the same on alternate days for a fortnight. I prescribed the pills as subjoined, and directed one to be taken twice a day, to be succeeded by a dose of the decoction of woods, as directed already.
Occasionally I order the patient to be placed in a mercurial bath, of which there are several kinds, and which can be administered either in the form of the fumigation or in a fluid state.
After taking the bath, he could breathe with freedom and comfort; he could also swallow without difficulty, and he expressed himself much refreshed and invigorated. Many of the eruptive spots on the body had exfoliated; and he said he felt a conviction that he should soon get well.
At the expiration of a week, when he had taken but three baths, the soreness of the throat had left, the pains in his limbs were all gone, and he slept well; the ulcers had healed, and the eruption had nearly died away. I advised a continuation of all the remedies; and after three weeks of such perseverance, he was rewarded by an entire recovery. The only alteration I directed to be made in his diet was an abandonment of stimulants, such as wine, spirits, or porter.