76 Dr. Hancock on Sarsaparilla. 



iodine was suggested, by the presence of those glandular lumps 

 or tubercles, which, in all advanced cases, might be felt under the 

 skin, especially in the legs and thighs of lepers, and withal greatly 

 disfiguring the face. This remedy was exhibited in small doses, 

 cautiously augmented, in the form of tincture, in the manner 

 advised by Coindet, in somewhat analogous disorders of the 

 glandular system ; and also, as a deobstruent tonic, in cachexia or 

 anasarcous habits, depending on glandular visceral obstructions. 



The advantages gained by these remedies were often very 

 great ; they seemed to impart to the system a susceptibility to 

 the action of Sarsaparilla, and the bark of guaiacum. In one 

 case of chronic hepatitis, the symptoms were quite removed by 

 the use of iodine and Sarsa, or on their use, for it is not always 

 easy, when a recovery takes place, to decide how imich is re- 

 spectively due to nature, and how much to the remedy admi- 

 nistered. Another instance may be adduced, in which an in- 

 veterate cough attended, and which gave reason to suspect the 

 existence of tubercles in the lungs : the patient recovered after 

 a six weeks' course of iodine and Sarsa. In some other cases 

 of this kind also, the result seemed to afford a hope, that the 

 action of iodine, may equally contribute towards resolving the 

 pulmonary tubercle, as well as those seated more superficially- 



The genuine Sarsa of the Rio Negro proves also a very po- 



sary. I may possibly labour under some erroneous impression, but I have long 

 regarded that as one of the most preposterous of pathological dogmas which 

 proscribes the timely opening of these tumours. It has probably arisen from se- 

 veral different tumours of the knee joint being confounded under the same name 

 or names. Instead of discharging their contents by one of the simplest and safest 

 operations, it is usually enjoined, that they be allowed to break of themselves : 

 the consequence is, that the matter or fluid being pent up for a long time makes 

 its way in different directions under the muscular expansions, forming sinuses, 

 corroding the capsular jigamont and the ends of the bones, and, at the least, 

 leaving the patient with an incurable anchylosis It is, in general, only necessary 

 to let out the fluid and bind the knee moderately tight with an elastic bandage. In 

 cuses where adhesion has not followed, and the collection and swelling has re- 

 turned, I have injected into the sac a very dilute mixture of honey and water, and 

 again pressed it out as soon as a little pain was excited, and which, with the in- 

 ♦crnal remedies justmcntioDed, havceffected the cure. 





