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EMPLOYMENT OF IODINE, IN CASES OF CONJUNCTIVAL INFLAMMATION
818
accordingly, about the time the casei sent to THE LANCET for publication, EMPLOYMENT OF removed to Edinburgh, and was there received, and most affectionately attended IODINE, IN CASES OF CONJUNCto, by a medical gentleman, who invited TIVAL INFLAMMATION the professor to his house to see the case. IN CHILDREN WITH SCROFULOUS In a short time he carried the girl to DIATHESIS. Glasgow, and a number of the faculty of that city were gratified with a peep. I saw the case a few hours only after Mr. To the Editor of THE LANCET. Logan’s discovery; and again, at this time, when I was satisfied that a slight SIR,—Ibeg to offer to you, and through enlargement of the animalcule had taken you to the medical world, my feeble but place in the interval (six weeks perhaps), experimental testimony as to the theraand that there was increased opacity of peutical worth of iodine. I am convinced its cyst-like body. The child was again it may be relied upon as a most valuable removed to Edinburgh, and there the ani- remedial agent in scrofula, that Protean malcule was removed from tlae eye! disease, which every practitioner is called Now the case having been fairly before most prominently to contend with in the the public, is it not reasonable to demand course of his professional existence. I " a why and a wherefore " for this pro- have seen it most beneficially used in ceeding ? A case so very remarkable in diseases of the joints connected with a its nature, and standing alone almost in scrofulous diathesis, as also in phthisis the annals of medical history,* ought not arising in a scrofulous constitution. into have been thus cut short, particularly as deed, it is to me a matter for reflection and there was not a single urgent symptom trial, whether or not that passive tubercular state of the lung, which in most demanding immediate operation. Perhaps the foregoing remarks may cases of this kind may be supposed to have arouse the party most interested, and in- existed prior to its symptomatic indica, duce him to complete the history of this tion, may not be so altered by the early truly important case in his own words. application of this medicine as to render If. however, he should fail to do so. I shall it no longer a predisposer to phthisical account of the operation I have- used it lately with as reported to me by a gentleman who very pleasing efficacy in three cases of was present when it was performed. conjunctival inflammation in children, acThe child, it seems, had at times fretted companied by hereditary disposition to when the little animal moved about in the scrofula. The usual remedies, bleeding, eye-and no time was, therefore, to be lost. blisters, issues, alteratives, astringent loA celebrated oculist cut open the cornea. tions, and change of air, had been tried The animal would not issue forth. The without any beneficial result. I gave the operator applied a hook to fish it out, on iodine with the hydriodate of potash inthe approach of which it disappeared for ternally, as in the following formula :ever; but to make up for this failure, out R Iodine gr. vj ; burst the lens through the wound! The H.yd. Potas. ziss; little girl is now totally blind of the eye in Aquœ ziss ; which the operation was performed, from Tinct. Card. Co. zi. M. ft. gutta. A opacity of the humours supervening ! to be taken three times large teaspoonful What would have been the probable result of a simple puncture, or of a succes- a day in cold water. To one of the cases, accompanied by en. sion of punctures into the body of the hydatid ? Might not this child’s eye have largement of the submaxillary gland on been preserved, if such a practice had been either side, of four years growth, I orfollowed? Perhaps, indeed, the creature dered the following ointment ;....,.... might have been pregnant, and what then? R Iodine gr. xv; Why, at the worst, delivery of the progeny Hyd. Pot. 3ij ; with the per:furator and crotchet. Ung. Cetacei, j. M. ft. ung. A 1833. R. August 24th, piece the size of a common nut to be rubbed in night and morning. * A case agreeing with this in every particular is related by Sydenham. In this last case the girl, aetat. 12, took t Mr. Meikle was, we believe, the gen- the drops, and used the ointment, for three tleman who received the little girl under months, without intermission. The enhis roof, and Dr. Robertson was the ope- larged glands at the commencement of the rator. The signature of this letter has treatment were each the size of an orange. was,
I
was
shortly give the
been
authenticated.—ED. L.
development.
They
are now
scarcely observable.
Her
819 constitution seems to be entirely reno- ters, and cooks, are warrant officers withvated, previously pale and emaciated. She out rank. There are yet many amendments in the is now plump and florid, and apparently in the enjoyment of good health. The condition of naval surgeons requiringto power of iodine to promote the absorp- be made, and I hope the progress of retion of adventitious structure may be re- form in all the institutions of the country lied upon, if the medicine be given in suffi- may yet include our class. I am willing ciently-increased doses. I believe, how- to admit the full force of your correever, that it will not thus act upon healthy spondent’s reflection upon the naval surstructure. I have not seen, nor have I geons as a body, for the supineness and read of, any well-authenticated case in want of co-operation which they evince when efforts are made by individuals .of which it is proved to have done this. To Dr. Elliotson is owing all respect their body to promote the .general inte-
rest. I believe that Sir William Burnett has more than once been impressed with the discreditable absence of an esprit de corps among the naval surgeons in many efforts he has made for their benefit; and I know of some instances in which gentlemen who have -exerted themselves to the same end, have been very unhandsomely left in the lurch by them. I agree then with your correspondent in that part respectfully, A. A. W. CLOSE, M.R.C.S.L. of his observations. I cannot agree with him in thinking the formation of a naval Holmfirth, Sept. 10th, 1833. club in London at all feasible, for the reason I have already given; the naval surgeons are a rope of sand. It cannot, however, answer any.good purNAVAL SURGEONS. pose to represent them as more degraded by the custom of the naval service than To the Editor of THE LANCET. they really are ; and this feeling alone has SIR,—I have read a letter respecting prompted me to address you in answer to Naval Surgeons in your last number, " One of the Aggrieved." 1 am, Sir, your signed " One of the Aggrieved." Admit- most obedient servant, ting that the writer may be one of the A NAVAL SURGEON. aggrieved, I think he has very badly stated the grievances of the naval surgeons, inasmuch as he has put down many THE AYLESBURY INFIRMARY INSULT. which are neither felt nor known as grievances by the class whose interest he To the Editor 0/’ THE LANCET. professes to represent and advocate. I am myself a naval surgeon, and alSIR,—Allow me to correct an unintenthough I have experienced the pressure of tional error in your last number. You state many grievances, some of which have that Mr. Bransby Cooper was appointed lately been removed, thanks to the exer- to the Aylesbury Infirmary. Such is nottions of Sir William Burnett, I never felt the case. The Whig member (a grocer much annoyed by the classification of the and banker) for that enlightened borough, naval surgeons with " boatswains, gun- Mr. Rickford, proposed the notable scheme ners, and carpenters." The fact is, there to the medical men already attached tn is no such classification in the navy. Boat- the institution. Their welcome of the swains, gunners, and carpenters, are notification, however, was such as fire termedWarrant officers;" and it is true accords to a wet blanket."" It was then that naval surgeons, and from the admiral suggested to the committee, who would downwards, are appointed by warrant only entertain the proposal on condition from the Lords Commissioners of the Ad- that Mr. B. Cooper should pay his own miralty, but they are not termed, nor coach-fare at his quarterly visitations. treated, nor classed, either by the Ad- This was thought beneath Mr. Cooper’s miralty or the service, as "Warrant Of- dignity, and thus the intended appointment ficers." It is a distinct designation al- ended, and the medical officers showed the together,-the physicians to the fleet, necessity of spurning -the offices which secretaries, chaplains, masters, surgeons, they had been solicited to accept. pursers, and assistant-surgeons, being ’ While speaking of this job, which ori. in the good intentions of Dr. Lee, warrant officers with comparative rank,
and acknowledgment, for having drawn the attention of his medical brethren to the necessity for a more decided practice in the administration of medicines in combating disease; and to you, Sir, I would render my hearty thanks, for having so faithfully communicated to us the clinical observations of that intelligent and enlightened physician. I am, Sir, yours
chirurgical
ginated
whilst the boatswains, gunners, carpen- and the love of small consequence, the
accordingly, about the time the casei sent to THE LANCET for publication, EMPLOYMENT OF removed to Edinburgh, and was there received, and most affectionately attended IODINE, IN CASES OF CONJUNCto, by a medical gentleman, who invited TIVAL INFLAMMATION the professor to his house to see the case. IN CHILDREN WITH SCROFULOUS In a short time he carried the girl to DIATHESIS. Glasgow, and a number of the faculty of that city were gratified with a peep. I saw the case a few hours only after Mr. To the Editor of THE LANCET. Logan’s discovery; and again, at this time, when I was satisfied that a slight SIR,—Ibeg to offer to you, and through enlargement of the animalcule had taken you to the medical world, my feeble but place in the interval (six weeks perhaps), experimental testimony as to the theraand that there was increased opacity of peutical worth of iodine. I am convinced its cyst-like body. The child was again it may be relied upon as a most valuable removed to Edinburgh, and there the ani- remedial agent in scrofula, that Protean malcule was removed from tlae eye! disease, which every practitioner is called Now the case having been fairly before most prominently to contend with in the the public, is it not reasonable to demand course of his professional existence. I " a why and a wherefore " for this pro- have seen it most beneficially used in ceeding ? A case so very remarkable in diseases of the joints connected with a its nature, and standing alone almost in scrofulous diathesis, as also in phthisis the annals of medical history,* ought not arising in a scrofulous constitution. into have been thus cut short, particularly as deed, it is to me a matter for reflection and there was not a single urgent symptom trial, whether or not that passive tubercular state of the lung, which in most demanding immediate operation. Perhaps the foregoing remarks may cases of this kind may be supposed to have arouse the party most interested, and in- existed prior to its symptomatic indica, duce him to complete the history of this tion, may not be so altered by the early truly important case in his own words. application of this medicine as to render If. however, he should fail to do so. I shall it no longer a predisposer to phthisical account of the operation I have- used it lately with as reported to me by a gentleman who very pleasing efficacy in three cases of was present when it was performed. conjunctival inflammation in children, acThe child, it seems, had at times fretted companied by hereditary disposition to when the little animal moved about in the scrofula. The usual remedies, bleeding, eye-and no time was, therefore, to be lost. blisters, issues, alteratives, astringent loA celebrated oculist cut open the cornea. tions, and change of air, had been tried The animal would not issue forth. The without any beneficial result. I gave the operator applied a hook to fish it out, on iodine with the hydriodate of potash inthe approach of which it disappeared for ternally, as in the following formula :ever; but to make up for this failure, out R Iodine gr. vj ; burst the lens through the wound! The H.yd. Potas. ziss; little girl is now totally blind of the eye in Aquœ ziss ; which the operation was performed, from Tinct. Card. Co. zi. M. ft. gutta. A opacity of the humours supervening ! to be taken three times large teaspoonful What would have been the probable result of a simple puncture, or of a succes- a day in cold water. To one of the cases, accompanied by en. sion of punctures into the body of the hydatid ? Might not this child’s eye have largement of the submaxillary gland on been preserved, if such a practice had been either side, of four years growth, I orfollowed? Perhaps, indeed, the creature dered the following ointment ;....,.... might have been pregnant, and what then? R Iodine gr. xv; Why, at the worst, delivery of the progeny Hyd. Pot. 3ij ; with the per:furator and crotchet. Ung. Cetacei, j. M. ft. ung. A 1833. R. August 24th, piece the size of a common nut to be rubbed in night and morning. * A case agreeing with this in every particular is related by Sydenham. In this last case the girl, aetat. 12, took t Mr. Meikle was, we believe, the gen- the drops, and used the ointment, for three tleman who received the little girl under months, without intermission. The enhis roof, and Dr. Robertson was the ope- larged glands at the commencement of the rator. The signature of this letter has treatment were each the size of an orange. was,
I
was
shortly give the
been
authenticated.—ED. L.
development.
They
are now
scarcely observable.
Her
819 constitution seems to be entirely reno- ters, and cooks, are warrant officers withvated, previously pale and emaciated. She out rank. There are yet many amendments in the is now plump and florid, and apparently in the enjoyment of good health. The condition of naval surgeons requiringto power of iodine to promote the absorp- be made, and I hope the progress of retion of adventitious structure may be re- form in all the institutions of the country lied upon, if the medicine be given in suffi- may yet include our class. I am willing ciently-increased doses. I believe, how- to admit the full force of your correever, that it will not thus act upon healthy spondent’s reflection upon the naval surstructure. I have not seen, nor have I geons as a body, for the supineness and read of, any well-authenticated case in want of co-operation which they evince when efforts are made by individuals .of which it is proved to have done this. To Dr. Elliotson is owing all respect their body to promote the .general inte-
rest. I believe that Sir William Burnett has more than once been impressed with the discreditable absence of an esprit de corps among the naval surgeons in many efforts he has made for their benefit; and I know of some instances in which gentlemen who have -exerted themselves to the same end, have been very unhandsomely left in the lurch by them. I agree then with your correspondent in that part respectfully, A. A. W. CLOSE, M.R.C.S.L. of his observations. I cannot agree with him in thinking the formation of a naval Holmfirth, Sept. 10th, 1833. club in London at all feasible, for the reason I have already given; the naval surgeons are a rope of sand. It cannot, however, answer any.good purNAVAL SURGEONS. pose to represent them as more degraded by the custom of the naval service than To the Editor of THE LANCET. they really are ; and this feeling alone has SIR,—I have read a letter respecting prompted me to address you in answer to Naval Surgeons in your last number, " One of the Aggrieved." 1 am, Sir, your signed " One of the Aggrieved." Admit- most obedient servant, ting that the writer may be one of the A NAVAL SURGEON. aggrieved, I think he has very badly stated the grievances of the naval surgeons, inasmuch as he has put down many THE AYLESBURY INFIRMARY INSULT. which are neither felt nor known as grievances by the class whose interest he To the Editor 0/’ THE LANCET. professes to represent and advocate. I am myself a naval surgeon, and alSIR,—Allow me to correct an unintenthough I have experienced the pressure of tional error in your last number. You state many grievances, some of which have that Mr. Bransby Cooper was appointed lately been removed, thanks to the exer- to the Aylesbury Infirmary. Such is nottions of Sir William Burnett, I never felt the case. The Whig member (a grocer much annoyed by the classification of the and banker) for that enlightened borough, naval surgeons with " boatswains, gun- Mr. Rickford, proposed the notable scheme ners, and carpenters." The fact is, there to the medical men already attached tn is no such classification in the navy. Boat- the institution. Their welcome of the swains, gunners, and carpenters, are notification, however, was such as fire termedWarrant officers;" and it is true accords to a wet blanket."" It was then that naval surgeons, and from the admiral suggested to the committee, who would downwards, are appointed by warrant only entertain the proposal on condition from the Lords Commissioners of the Ad- that Mr. B. Cooper should pay his own miralty, but they are not termed, nor coach-fare at his quarterly visitations. treated, nor classed, either by the Ad- This was thought beneath Mr. Cooper’s miralty or the service, as "Warrant Of- dignity, and thus the intended appointment ficers." It is a distinct designation al- ended, and the medical officers showed the together,-the physicians to the fleet, necessity of spurning -the offices which secretaries, chaplains, masters, surgeons, they had been solicited to accept. pursers, and assistant-surgeons, being ’ While speaking of this job, which ori. in the good intentions of Dr. Lee, warrant officers with comparative rank,
and acknowledgment, for having drawn the attention of his medical brethren to the necessity for a more decided practice in the administration of medicines in combating disease; and to you, Sir, I would render my hearty thanks, for having so faithfully communicated to us the clinical observations of that intelligent and enlightened physician. I am, Sir, yours
chirurgical
ginated
whilst the boatswains, gunners, carpen- and the love of small consequence, the