92 Remarkable Cases of Venereal Infection.. 



at the time of her delivery, the accoucheur conveying the 

 infection by his hand. He added, he suspected her dis- 

 ease to be venereal, and had mentioned that suspicion to 

 his wife frequently. I vvas introduced to the lady ; and after 

 examinin;T her, I became mere confident in my opinion (as 

 there were buboes in her groins). I advised Mr. M. to have 

 a conversation with ihe accoucheur, as to the nature of the 

 disease. In consequence of tliis, he (Mr.M.) called a 

 consultation of the same medical gentlemen, with the ac- 

 coucheur, who met on the IQth. The surgeon before the 

 consultation called me out of the room, and communicated 

 what the accoucheur had informed him of tbat morning; 

 namely, that he had contracted the venereal disease in his 

 fino-er in the course of his practice, and had conveyed this 

 disease in that manner. It was deemed advisable, and even 

 indispensable, ior the accoucheur to confess that he was the 

 cause of this severe ailment to those ladies; which he com- 

 plied with by letter, not only to these ladies, but to others 

 who had been diseased in like manner. Meaning to view 

 the subject merelv as an instructive medical report, suf- 

 fice it to say, that upon a full and legal investigation, it was 

 deposed on oath by a medical gentleman, in behalf of the 

 accoucheur, that he had contracted the disease in the course 

 of his practice, about two years previous to the preceding 

 unfortunate event ; that he had undergone a complete course 

 of mercury, and used even a larger quantity than is usual, 

 and that he conceived himself incapable of communicating 

 the disease ; that previous to that gentleman's attending 

 my patient, a window sash had fallen on his finger, which 

 produced a sore ; that this sore became a venereal one, and 

 infected the ladies before he was aware of its real nature. 

 The child of the first lady was weaned on the 15th; after- 

 wards spoon fed, and continued healthy. The other child 

 was transfer! ed aiiout the 19th to a sound healthy nurse. 

 In a month a rash appeared on the head o\ the child, which 

 in a little time spread over the body, and remained ano- 

 malous for a month, but afterwards became distmctly sy- 

 philitic, and which yielded to the influence of mercury. 

 Since the occurrence of the above, I was called lo attend a 

 lady, who after exposure to cold complained of acute pain 

 of the right side, bhooting to the scapula, causing difficult 

 and impeded respiration ; cough and thirst urgent, want of 

 appetite, tongue foul and blackish, pulse quick. She never 

 was contined by sickness, or stood in need of medicine. 

 Married four months. These febrile pulmonary symptoms 

 yielded in a week. After three weeks, I was again requested 



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