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Pemphigus.The outbreak of the eruption is accompanied with a chill, fever, headache and sleeplessness; the skin is the seat of a burning sensation, which is sometimes followed by extreme itchings. There is rarely any considerable pain unless large areas of the skin are attacked at once. Pemphigus occurs with especial frequency in children, and oftenest in children of debilitated constitutions ; yet the disease is sometimes observed in adults also. Several successive groups of blisters are observed on the same patient, one set appears after another has dried up. The duration of the disease varies extremely. Sometimes it runs a rapid course, and is concluded in two to three weeks ; in other cases it may persist for months or years. When the disease becomes chronic, the patient is almost always reduced to a debilitated condition. In this state he is very apt to suffer from other diseases, especially inflammation of the kidneys. Pemphigus is one of the few skin diseases which sometimes results fatally. These fatal cases usually occur in poorly-nourished and scrofulous children. This disease is often observed in new-born children, where it is found in large watery blisters on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Under these circumstances, it is almost without exception an evidence of syphilis ; one or the other of the parents having suffered from this disease. This form of pemphigus will be discussed under the head of syphilis. Treatment.-In many cases it becomes necessary to use constitutional treatment, since the individual's general health requires improvement. For this purpose it will be well to administer the following prescription : Sulphate of quinine, - One drachm. Tincture of the chloride of iron, - Six drachms. Syrup of orange peel, - One ounce. Water, ----- To make four ounces. Mix, and take a teaspoonful before meals. This is the proper dose for an adult, and should be diminished for children. The rash can be in most cases readily relieved by the use of arsenic, which can be given in Fowler's solution, as follows : Fowler's solution, - Two drachms. Water, ------ Four ounces. Mix, and take a teaspoonful four times a day. The comfort of the patient will be much enhanced, in those cases in which the eruption is extensive, by immersion in a warm bath. This bath may consist simply of warm water, or there may be added to it eight ounces of the bicarbonate of sodium. In the skin hospital at Vienna, patients suffering from pemphigus are placed in baths prepared for the purpose, and are allowed to remain, there for days or weeks until the formation of blisters ceases. The water is frequently changed ; the bath is provided with coverings, and with a water pillow ; the patient takes his meals in the bath, and, in fact, does not leave it until the cure is complete. Not the least of the advantages of this permanent bath is the complete relief from the itching which otherwise torments the patient extremely. If it be impossible to employ such a bath, the patient should be wrapped in wet sheets, and the sore spots on the skin may be dressed with the diachylon ointment. Sometimes the sores are extensive and foul, and emit an offensive odor; in this case, there may be applied to them cottonwool which has been soaked in a five per cent, solution of carbolic acid in water. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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