IMPETIGINES. G43 



chordee, it has been found useful to apply to the whole of the 

 penis a poultice of crumb of bread moistened with a strong so- 

 lution of sugar of lead. I have, however, been often disap- 

 pointed in this practice, perhaps by the poultice keeping the 

 penis too warm., and thereby exciting the very symptoms I 

 wished to prevent. Whether lotions of the external urethra 

 with a solution of the sugar of lead, might be useful in this case, 

 I have not properly tried. 



MDCCLXXVI. With respect to the use of injections, so 

 frequently employed in gonorrhoea, I am persuaded, that the 

 early use of astringent injections is pernicious, not by occasion- 

 ing a syphilis, as has been commonly imagined ; but by increas- 

 ing and giving occasion to all the consequences of the inflam- 

 mation, particularly to the very troublesome symptoms of swelled 

 testicles. When, however, the disease has continued for some 

 time, and the inflammatory symptoms have very much abated, 

 I am of opinion, that by injections of moderate astringency, or 

 at least of this gradually increased, an end may be sooner put 

 to the disease than would otherwise have happened ; and that a 

 gleet, so readily occurring, may be generally prevented. 



MDCCLXXVII. Besides the use of astringent injections, 

 it has been common enough to employ those of a mercurial kind. 

 With respect to these, although I am convinced that the infec- 

 tion producing gonorrhoea, and that producing chancres and 

 syphilis, are one and the same ; yet I apprehend that in gonorr- 

 hoea, mercury cannot be of use by correcting the virulence of 

 the infection ; and, therefore, that it is not universally necessary 

 in this disease. I am persuaded, however, that mercury applied 

 to the internal surface of the urethra, may be of use in promot- 

 ing the more full and free discharge of virulent matter from the 

 mucous glands of it. Upon this supposition, I have frequently 

 employed mercurial injections ; and, as I judge, with advantage; 

 those injections often bringing on such a state of the consistence 

 and colour of the matter discharged, as we know usually to pre- 

 cede its spontaneous ceasing. I avoid these injections, however, 

 in recent cases, or while much inflammation is still present ; 

 but when that inflammation has somewhat abated, and the dis- 

 charge notwithstanding still continues in a virulent form, I em- 

 ploy mercurial injections freely. I employ those only that con- 



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