On the unity of poison in diseases heretofore usually considered to be separate and entirely distinct, or the evolution of one from another, apparently quite different, and of many diseases, seemingly all different, from one unity or common origin / by G. de Gorrequer Griffith.

  • Griffith, G. de Gorrequer.
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the unity of poison in diseases heretofore usually considered to be separate and entirely distinct, or the evolution of one from another, apparently quite different, and of many diseases, seemingly all different, from one unity or common origin / by G. de Gorrequer Griffith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    ON THE Unity of Poisons in Diseases. In the brief space necessarily allotted each member, it would not be possible for me to do more than give a very short summary of this subject. In the year 1875, I first called attention to the fact, that what is termed scarlatina occurring in the puerperal is frequently not scarlatina at all. But, before I proceed further, I must explain what I mean. I hold that there are two forms of scarlatina: the orthodox—viz., that con- tracted from a previously affected person, or something infected thereby—and the septicaimic, or toxaemic—viz., that which is evoluted or generated de novo, as a result of autogenetic blood-poisoning, such as occurs in puerperal cases, or is evolved as a consequence of hetero-genetic blood-poisoning, such as arises (where no scarlatina had existed before) from drains, sewers, imbibition or ingestion of deleterious articles of drink—water, milk, cream, &c.— or of food ; and from decomposing animal or vegetable substances. This toxaemic or septicaemic scarlatina, which is evoluted from the above causes, is identical with the surgical scarlatina of Paget: and will, on strict investi- gation, be found to be the form of scarlatina which more usually prevails among puerperals. In saying, It is not scarlatina at all, I mean it is not the orthodox—namely, Read at the British Medical Association Annual Meeting, August, 1883, Public Medicine Section. Reprinted from the British Medical Journal.