DEP/DUA/1/47/35 (Transcript version)

Alison Wallace

(1789-1790)

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N^o22 Alison Wallace at 14.

Formerly obs. & need hardly again repeat that only disease of this pat. consists in a cutan affect.

From app. better entit to name of Lepra.

And Although extended over whole surface, yet all funct whether vital natur or animal, cont in health. stat

Hence may concl, that does not, as is prob sometimes the case, depen on any morb. condit, of common mass of fluids.

But that prob. solely depends on state of subcut vessels.

And in these, prob perhaps from retent of perspir matter, a morb. state of action is induced.

This then my idea of pathol of pres affect.

And on this idea cure must dep. on counteract morbid state of action in affected vessels.

And on restor due circulat & natur disch by surface.

Was with these intent that had recourse to pract here empl.

Directed to parts most affected the applic of Ungt. Citrin [mol].

That is Ungt Citrin of Ednr Pharm united to an equal quant of Hogs Lard.

By this in first place obt. such consist that rend much fitter for applic.

For in condit which obt as directed to be prep in Pharm obt its consist even harder than most plasters.

But besides change in consist, still anoth effect from this.

Dimin viz of activ.

For to be obs. that Ungt Citrin a mercur ointm in very active state.

Merc. being here reduced to saline form by means of nitr acid.

And this next to [Merc.] acid at least, forms one of most active salts with this metal subst.

Consid it then, as in activ, appro at least to corros. [subl].

In many inst then may [readily] conceive that stim power too great.

And although activ very much dimin from diffus in unct subst yet still farther diffus often proper.

Mercur even as exern applied may have effect in two ways.

May exert either topic influ on part to which immed appl. or may be abs into circul. syst.

Nay with this latter intent, often more conv introd by Lymph of surface, than by those of alim canal.

For in this way, less chance at least, of being carried off by stool, or of indu uneas. from influ on stom & intest.

And mercur introd into syst, often useful in cutan affect.

For can be no doubt, that as reaching extreme vessels, one of most powerful means of remov obst [there]

This however, the effect only of those mercur, which enter the syst.

And is not every mercur, applied extern, which can thus be introd.

Chiefly if not only happens, with the mild mercur.

Partic those as common mercur ointm, prep by triture.

Remark that in this way, the saline mercur, though readily enter. syst as taken by mouth, have very little influ.

This partic app. in case of Corros sublim.

In state of watery solut, daily emp. under form of lotion, without any infl. on habit.

At least, for my own part, never saw any ex of this.

And have known some inst, as for example in morbus pedicul; where whole body bathed in it.

That is, in tepid bath, with consid proport of Corros diff in it.

In same manner also, in diff cut affections, have directed Ungt Citrin to be extens applied.

But have never for my own part met with any inst of its thus affect Gums or Mouth.

Here then, only affect expected from it, was in way of topic action.

In this way, no doubt that operates as a pecul stimul.

And that thus, a diff state of action induced from that morbid action, which had formerly taken place.

As then acts merely on inorgan & insensib matter

But when crusts fall off case [extrem] differ.

For then even cutic mat be consid as removed, parts below, as in case of our patient being left in raw state

This at least, ground on which would expl benef, which think I have seen derivd from it.

But whatever prin of action, am much deceived, if have not, in some inst, seen it attended with best affects.

Not indeed as prod radic cure of disease, where erupt extended over every part of body, & fresh spots daily appear.

But as prev renewal of incrust, on these parts to which app; after had once fallen off.

For till crust removed, will in gener have very little influ.

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Then however act on extrem of extrem of those vessels from which exudat to be formd into future crust would take place.

And these vessels in place of yield such secret, afterw give out merely proper persp. matter.

Thus cuticle obt natural & prop appear.

From this however, these effects are not to be expected unless proper circulat & due disch supported also from other superf. vessels.

And was with this intent as formerly remarked that had recourse to other med here empl. the Antim.

Antim, need hardly remarkd, has been long & justly consid, as one of the means, of augm cutic disch.

And for obt affects in this way given in diff. forms.

Partic however in saline state as Vin Antim. Tart. Antimon &e

And these not unfreq attended with desired effect.

Accord with some a very comm remedy in cutan diseases.

For my own part however, in such cases am in gener disp. to give prefer to prep crude antim.

That is where, [regular] part, has activ dimin, in conseq of combin with sulph.

For most part, suff. pres. of acid in stom, to rend it active as thus introd.

And by this means, has in gener consid effect, as induc & prom free perspir.

While at same time by no means so apt to induce either vomit or sweating, as the saline antim.

And both these affects from the med to be avoided.

For by first, while very distress to patient, are disapp of oper wanted.

And by last, though more cop. disch induced for short time, yet afterw even more dimin.

For mere encr of perspir then, hold Antim in crude state, to be an easier & more effect remed, than any of saline prepar.

This prefer howevr, in such cases have been inclind to give antim [prefer] not from reason, only but from exp. also.

For in such inst have often I think used it with success.

And that too after both Emet Tart & Antim wine either tried in vain, or could not be born by patient

Indeed crude antim not only a common remed for cutan affect of human species, but also with doms anim.

Thus in common use with Farrier, to improve skins of horses.

And with them also said to be in this way attended with best effects.

Is not however, in short space of time, that much benef. to be expected.

Advant only to be looked for from due contin.

Pres. pat, has now persisted in use, with tolerab regul, for space of about two months.

Cannot say that hitherto any great progr made in cure.

But affect at least has not encr. during use.

And this an event which in spring season in partic, very freq. happens.

When therefore in this situat some dimin has taken place may at least consider are at least encouraged to persist in empl.

And if contin to be born with tolerab. ease, should be inclind to do so.

But if this not the case, & of late pat has had consid sickn at stom other pract such for ex as a mercur course intern may be tried.

Or may make trial of Dect [illegible ] Vitriol acid or like.

But of these can hardly expect to see effects during course of pres. winter session.