Goulstonian lectures on modern views upon the significance of skin eruptions : delivered before the Royal College of Physicians of London / by H.G. Adamson.

  • Adamson, H. G. (Horatio George), 1865-1955.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Goulstonian lectures on modern views upon the significance of skin eruptions : delivered before the Royal College of Physicians of London / by H.G. Adamson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    names—often long explanatory names; but this is perhaps not surprising if we remember that the skin is, from its position, not only exposed to all sorts of hurtful agencies from without and to numerous attacks or influences from within, but that this exposed position also makes possible the observation and description of details of the con- ditions resulting from these influences and assaults, which would be hidden from view if occurring in internal organs. My purpose in these lectures is to inquire into the significance of some of these eruptions as interpreted by the light of our present-day knowledge, and _ to consider the reasons for their many differences in character and in distribution. We now no longer regard them as natural objects, as did Willan, nor as pathological states, as did Hebra, but as the result of various hurtful agencies or abnormal influences affecting the skin. This is not to say that the accurate clinical and microscopical study of skin affections was not, and is not, essential, but that these studies are preliminary to that which we aim at—namely, the under- standing of the real meaning of these eruptions. This changed point of view is seen in the different manner of naming skin diseases formerly and now. The earlier names of skin diseases, such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, described the appearance or some clinical character of the eruption. Now, if we name a new disease, we try to indicate its origin and nature —as sporotrichosis, blastomycosis, toxi-tuberculide. But sometimes we are not able to go farther back than the pathological anatomy, as in parakeratosis, and some- times, even now, we can only describe a clinical feature, s in sranulosis rubrasasi-