STRICTURE OF THE URETHRA. 93 



be irregularity in this respect. Periostitis is apt to manifest itself in 

 tlie shins. Secondary symptoms are transmissible from husband to 

 wife, wife to child, child to nurse. 



Treatment.— The object is to assist nature- in the elimination of 

 the poison ; hence we should not suppress the eruption, but act on 

 the skin, kidneys, bowels, and other organs of excretion. The throat 

 should be fomented, and touched with nitrate of silver. Mercury is 

 not to be used if possible, especially in scrofulous, weak temperaments 

 or when the constitution is broken by dissipation, or the previous 

 abuse ot mercury. Small doses of corrosive sublimate, or the protio- 

 dide of mercury, is the best form of administration. But the iodide 

 of potash IS the most effective remedy in this disease. It is ^iven in 

 doses of 4 or 5 grains three times a day. Baths are most impor- 

 tant ; sometimes their value is increased by medicating them. Sul- 

 phur, and weak solutions of mercury seem to exercise^ the best in- 

 fluence upon the local affections of the skin. 



_ 7h-tiary Symptoms.— These seldom occur, except after the worse 

 kinds of sore, unless mercury has been rashly used The perios 

 teum and bones are affected by a chronic inflammatory process 

 Suppuration, caries, and necrosis result; also, stiff joints, tubercular 

 formations of the skm, and condylomatous tumours. Destruction 

 ot the gums, cheeks, deafness, and iritis are also amono- the conse- 

 quences. These symptoms are not transmissible. "^ 



Treatment.— Move dependence is to be placed upon the iodide of 

 potassium than any single remedy. The general remedies will 

 consist of bathing, regimen, and alteratives. Opium and blisters 

 are necessary to relieve the pain in the bones at night. 



DISEASES OF THE UR IN O - G E N IT A L ORGANS. 



STRICTURE OF THE URETHRA. 



Spasmodic Stricture depends on spasm of the muscles connected 

 with the membranous portion of the urethrar It generally occurs in 

 persons with some permanent obstruction; exposure to cold, and 

 indulgence m drink also favour an attack, which usually occurs 

 after dinner. Cantharides absorbed from blisters produce the effect 



Symptoms.— Sudden retention of urine ; great straining and de- 

 sire to urinate ; the bladder becomes distended, the cou^enance 

 anxious, the pulse quick, the skin hot ; at last the bladder bursts, and 

 extravasates into the peritoneum, or perineum. 



The inflammatory stnetme is another variety of the above, eene- 

 rally caused by abuse of injections, exposure, or intemperance during 

 acute gonorrhcea. ° 



Treatment.— A catheter should be introduced at once. This is 

 managed by introducing as large an instrument as the parts will 

 admit of and stretching the penis forward on the catheter, whose 

 point at the same time should be directed towards the upper surface 



8* 



