Observations on the symptoms and specific distinctions of venereal diseases; interspersed with hints for the more effectual prosecution of the present inquiry into the uses and abouses of mercury in their treatment / By Richard Carmichael.

  • Carmichael, Richard, 1779-1849.
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the symptoms and specific distinctions of venereal diseases; interspersed with hints for the more effectual prosecution of the present inquiry into the uses and abouses of mercury in their treatment / By Richard Carmichael. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to, that syphilis is now comparatively seldom to be found in this country, although the very form ot venereal disease, which there is reason to believe, was most predominant in the time of Hunter.—A few years back, and particularly in 1812 & 1813, that malignant attendant of the phagedenic disease, the sloughing ulcer, was extremely prevalent in Dublin ; but I have not seen it in a single case, either in private or public practice, during the last two years.*—It may therefore be considered as far from improbable, that there are prevailing forms of venereal affections, like prevailing epi¬ demics, at different times and in different coun¬ tries—a circumstance that may possibly depend on the importation of fresh infections ; although these arrivals are seldom recorded with the same notoriety, as that of syphilis from St. Domingo. This hitherto unnoticed phenomenon may serve to explain the universal adoption of mercury for every form of venereal disorder ; for when syphi¬ lis became the prevalent malady, the reputation of mercury must have greatly increased, and its utility at once been acknowledged and exaggera¬ ted. But we have seen that although this medi¬ cine is injurious in the commencement of the pa¬ pular, pustular and phagedenic diseases, yet when they are on the decline, and their eruptions have become scaly, and bear some resemblance to the syphilitic eruption, its exhibition in this stage of the disorder often operates like magic, in bringing a lingering disease to a qtiick and favourable ter¬ mination ; and when all these diseases were treat-