DEP/DUA/1/21/24 (Transcript version)

Ann Black

(1779-1780)

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Ann Black.

In this patient, without any affect of gener syst., disease consists entirely in cutan erupt.

With regard however to nature not altogeth without doubt.

Of diffic of disting cutan affect, & confus with regard to them in pract syst, have already had occas to make some remarks.

And partic with respect to confus between affect of Lepr. & Herpet kind.

Here however nothing of that app. gener consid as charact [Lepra]

And doubt here whether to consider it as an inst of Herpes or of an affect in nature & treatm essent diff. Psora.

Is indeed true that where pustules constit latter left in distinct state, diagnos at once afforded by app.

But after from scratching or other causes pustules broke, from app alone no judgem can be formd

And this very much case with that of our patient when came under care.

Left therfore to form conject as to nature from other circum.

And here suppos entert with [respec] to cause, gave some presumpt of Psora.

For while Herpes not contag this highly so

But on other hand to be observd that vulgar [freq] inclind to attrib diseas of cutan kind to infect, when in reality no foundat for it.

And if supp cause in favour of Psora appear accord to descript given us, as much against it.

For here pustules occurr repres as of much larger size than ever observd in Psora.

And although itching yet not to same degree as gener occurrs in that affect.

Here then was upon the whole rather inclind to consider it as an example of Herpes.

But whether one or other still to be viewd as without danger.

And even as what might hope to overcome in no long time.

At least if regular in part of pat.

And probab. had this been case might have been already in good meas if not entirely freed from affect.

In this inst have proceeded in treatm on suppos that affect of herpet kind.

And with this view have had recourse to a remedy from which have had exper of good effects in sever other inst of Herpet. kind.

That is the Antim in crude state.

That in this condit active powers very much restraind by the sulph cannot be matter of doubt.

Still however can be no means agree with those who consider it as in state perfectly inert.

Or at least who look upon it as acting in no other way than as equal quantity of sulphur.

In some inst effects of antimon even obv. from action in stom.

For in this way observd to excite observd to excite nausea even to high degree.

But if has thus sometimes effect, influ on syst surface still more consid.

And whether from action on stomach or from entering syst. & [exert.] action on extreme vessels, has often remark affect.

Probab. princip from influ as giving free & regul disch by surface.

Effect of antim as exhib in crude state, upon surface nowhere so remark than in case of herpes.

Well known to be freq. exhib by farriers, not only against cutan disease but even to give skin more soft & smoth feel than would otherwise be the case.

In this affect from prop. use very rarely disappointed.

Would therefore even from analog alone be led to expect good conseq from it with human body.

But besides this [affec] with them as well as other anim conf by exper.

And from trial in pres case addit example of effic seemd to be afforded.

For from use for space of eight days erupt seemd to be much dimin.

From this allev, patient seemd to consider it as no farther necess, & omited use.

But conseq was a return of former affect.

Now therefore has again returnd to use of med.

And hope will again be attended with same effect as before.

If this howevr should not be case many other meas to which may here have recourse with prosp. of success.

And perhaps more immed effect to be lookd for from extern applic than from intern remed.

Hitherto have done nothing farther extern, than advised that parts should be carefully washd.

But if necess. mean to conj with pres. course an applic from which entert very high opin.

That is Vitriol acid united with axunge.

From this hopeful that affect [wheth] Psora or Herpes may soon be overcom

Partic as comb. with a med, prev. any bad effects from repuls, by [givin] free disch.

And from expect. that these will be success. reckon it unnecess to suggest any other pract.