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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    I 2 General Observations on But in order to preserve our faith unshaken, ingenious devices were sagaciously resorted to. By one of these we learned, that not only the new symptoms which arose under the most severe courses of mercury, but even the old ones which resisted its influence were attributable to the re¬ medy, and not to the disease. Hence we have descriptions of mercurial chancres, mercurial ulcers, pains, nodes, and swellings of the lymphatic glands of the neck. But in ascrib¬ ing those symptoms to mercury, we have entirely overlooked this obvious circumstance, that that mediciri^, when exhibited even to profusion for liver or any disease which is not venereal, has never in any one instance produced those effects. With respect to the deteriorating influence of mercury, I am perfectly willing to allow, that when it does not altogether supersede the actions of a morbid poison, it may so far alter or modify its symptoms as to change, in a great measure, the appearance and natural progress of the disease; but this is essentially different from an admission, that the remedy will produce symptoms, which can scarcely be distinguished from those of the poison itself. Another device common to many arts and sci¬ ences, besides Surgery, is an endeavour to con¬ ceal our ignorance by the adoption of plausible and delusive epithets and appellations. The term syphiloidal I cannot but regard in this point of view. It is usually applied to those symptoms/