On the use of the nitrate of silver in the cure of erysipelas / by John Higginbottom.

  • Higginbottom, John, 1788-1876.
Date:
[1847]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the use of the nitrate of silver in the cure of erysipelas / by John Higginbottom. 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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    3 the face, but it was spreading on the remaining part of tlie scalp. I applied the solulion of the nitrate of silver over the remaining part of the scalp. Neither of the ears were in the least affected. The solu- tion of the nitrate of silver had apparently formed a barrier, over which the erysipelas did not spread. On the 10th. the patient was in every respect improving. From this time Miss A. recovered without interruption. Case ii, I visited Miss B., aged 30 years, on the evening of the 18th of December, 1843. She had been indisposed several weeks. There were considerable fever, a quick pulse, and pain of the head, and she had a patch of erysipelas on the upper part of the nose, and a little across the lower part of the forehead. I prescribed an emetic of ipecacuanha, followed by a dose of chloride of mercury and compound e.xtract of colocynth, and the sulphate of magnesia in infusion of senna. On the morning of the 19th, the erysipelas had spread all over the face, and as high as the forehead, close to the scalp, and there was no abatement of the constitutional symptoms. I bled her whilst sitting up in bed until she fainted, and directed the head to be shaved, and 1 then applied the solution of the nitrate of silver all over the face, and one half of the scalp. In the evening I applied the solulion of the nitrate of silver over the remaining part of the scalp; having found that one ear had become inflamed, I applied the solution both upon it dnd around the other ear affected. 20lh. The fever was considerably abated; the pulse was 100. From this day the patient was convalescent. Case hi. I visited Miss C, aged 20 years, on the 14th of September, 1844, She had a sense of coldness and pain of the limbs the day before; she had then a slight degree of erysipelas on the left side of the nose, cheek, and upper lip. I directed an emetic and pill, with the com- pound colocynth powder and chloride of mercury, followed by an active dose of infusion of senna and sulphate of magnesia. In the evening I found the erysipelas increased and spreading to- wards the ear; the lower eyelid was considerably swollen, but the erysipelas had not reached the forehead; pulse 100; no pain of the head. I applied the strong solution of the nitrate of silver all over the inflamed surface and the surrounding healthy skin for several inches, particularly round the ear. A grain and a'half of chloride of mercury, with two grains of antimonial powder, was given every six hours, and a saline effervescing medicine every three hours. 16th. The application had been effectual, and there was no increase of the erysipelas; the pulse was 80. Case iv. Mr. J. S., aged 30 years, had slight febrile symptoms on the 1 Ith of December, 1843, which arose from exposure lo cold. He had taken aperients and saline medicines. Two days afterwards there was