LUES VENEREA. 



ahforbents, which «Tife from about the groin, lower part of 

 the bellv and pubes, pafs throui^h the bubo. When the 

 bubo is far forward, the abforbents of the penis and (kin 

 about the pubes paf;> through the fwelling. Mr. Hvinter 

 contends, that the knowledge of thefe circumftances is very 

 necefTary, in order to apply mercury in the moil advantageous 

 fituations. 



The utility of nibbing the mercury into furfaces, the ab- 

 forbentsof which lead through tiie bubo, mull be obvious, 

 v.'hcn it is confulered, that the medicine cannot pafs to the 

 common circulation without going tlirough the difeafed 

 pans ; that it mull promote the cure, as it pafies through 

 them ; and that it alfo prevents tlie matter, whieh has already 

 palled, and is IHII continuing to pafs into the conltitution, 

 from ading there. Thus the bubo is cured, and the con- 

 ftitution, at the fame time, preferved. 



Mircnry alone, however, is not always capable of ef- 

 feilinc; the cure of buboes. 



When the inflainmation rifes very high, bleeding;, purging, 

 and fomenting, are generally recommended. When the in- 

 flammation was eryfipelatous, Mr. Hunter had a high opi- 

 nion of bark ; and when it was fcrofulous, he ufed to re- 

 commend hemlock, and poultices made with fea-water. 



The fame eminent writer alfo takes notice of the fa£l of 

 emetics fomecimes orcafioning the abforption of buboes, even 

 after they contain matter. 



1 . Refolution of the Infammahcn of the Ahf»hents on the 

 Penis. — Though there is not furface enough beyond the 

 bubo, for rubbing-in a fufScicnt quantity of mercury, to 

 prevent the effefts of abforption, Mr. Hunter ilill advifes 

 this furface to be kept conftantly covered with mercurial 

 ointment. In confcquence of the turface in queihon being 

 fo fmall, more mercury muft alfo be conveyed into the fyilem 

 by the mouth, or fritlions on fome other part. Mr. Hunter 

 obferves, that this is neceifary, both in order to prevent a 

 lues venerea, and to cure the parts themfelves. The quantity 

 of mercury raufl be regulated by the appearances of the ori- 

 ginal complaint, and the readinefs with which the difcafe 

 gives way. The fame method, he adds, is to be followed 

 m women, and the ointment fhonld be kept continually ap- 

 plied to the infide and outiide of the labia. 



2. RrfrAution of Buboes in the Groin. — The inflammation 

 of the abforbent glands is to be treated on the fame principle 

 as that of the velfels. In the firll cafe, however, we are 

 able to make a larfjer quantity of mercury pafs through the 

 difeafed parts. When the bubo is in the groin, the mer- 

 curial ointment is to be rubbed on the thigh. This furface, 

 as Mr. Hunter remarks, will in general ahforb as much 

 mercury as will be fufficient to relolve the bubo, and pre- 

 ferve the conllitution irom being contaminated ; but when 

 refolution does not readily take place, the fame author ad- 

 vifes us to increafe the furface ot friction, by rubbing tiie 

 omtment upon the leg. 



When the bubo is on the lower part of tlie belly, the oint- 

 ment ihould be rubbed alio oi) the penis, fcrocum, and belly. 

 The fame plan fhould be followed when the bubo i» Hill more 

 forvsrard. 



Mr. Hunter ftates, that when the bubo gives way, the 

 mercurial friftions mull be continued, till it has entirely fub- 

 Ijdcd, and, perhaps, lunger, on acconot of the chancre, 

 which may not yield fo fcon as the bubo. After the bubo 

 has fuppurated, Mr. Hunter is doubtful, whether rubbing- 

 in m.ercury is ufeful, or not. 



7,. Refolution of Buboes in IVomen. — When the fwellingsare 

 ftuated between the labia and thigh, Mr. Hunter recom- 

 jiier.ds the mercurial ointment to be rubbed-in all about the 

 anus and buttock, trom which parts the abforbcnts jirobably 



Vol. XXI. 



run through the feat of the difeafes. 'WTien tlic buboes are 

 in the round ligaments, the furface for abforption will not 

 be large enough, and more mercury muft be internalh given, 

 or rubbed into other furfaces. 



When the bubo is in one of the inguinal glands, the fatne 

 plan is to be adopted as in the fame cafe in men. 



4. Buboes in unufual Situations. — When buboes form in the 

 arm, or arm-pit, in confequence of tliu abforption of vcnr- 

 real matter from wounds on the hands, or fingers, mercurial 

 ointment Hiould be rubbed on the arm and fore-arm. Mr. 

 Hunter adds, however, that this furface may not be fiiir!- 

 cient, fo that it may be proper to convey more mercury in;o 

 the fyftem in other ways. He ftates, that lie has fcen a trut- 

 vencreal chancre on the middle of the lovver hp, attended 

 with a bubo, on each fide of the neck, under tlie lovi'cr jaw, 

 clofe to the maxillary gland. The fwellings were refoiveJ 

 by appl)ing m.ercurial ointment to them, and the chin and 

 lower lip. 



5 . Quantity of Mercury necrjfaryfor the Refolution of a Bubo. 

 — Mr. Hunter obferves, that the quantity of mercury ne- 

 ceffary for the refolution of a bubo, mud be proportioned 

 to the obftinacy of the complaint ; but that care muft be 

 taken not to extend the employment of the medicine fo far 

 as to produce certain efiedls on the conllitution. "When the 

 bnbo is in a htuation which admits of a large quantity of 

 mercury being rubbed in, fo as to pafs through the fwelling, 

 and when the complaint readily yields to the ufe of half a 

 dram of mercurial ointment every night, the moiith not 

 becoming fore, or at moft only tender, ihe above author 

 thinks it fufficient to purfue this courfe, till the gland is re- 

 duced to Its natural hzc. In this manner, the conftitution 

 will probably be fafe, provided the chancre, which may have 

 caufed the bubo, heals at the fame time. When the mouth 

 is not affeded in fix or eight days, and the gland docs not 

 readily refolve, then two fcruplcs, or a dram, may be ap- 

 plied every night ; and, continues Mr. Hunter, if tliere 

 fhould Hill be no amendment, even more mull be rubbed in. 

 In fhort (fays he) if the redudlion is obftinate, the mercury 

 muft ^e pufiied as far as can be done without a falivation. 



When there is a bubo on each fide, fo much mercury can- 

 not be made to pafs through each, as the conliitutiou in gc- 

 neral will not bear tliis method. However, Mr. Hunter 

 fanftions the plan of minding the forencfs of the mouth lefs 

 in this kind of cafe ; though, he adds, that it is better to let 

 the buboes proceed to fujipuration, than to load the fyftem 

 with too much mercury. 



When the filuation of buboes will not allow an adequate 

 quantity of abiorbcd mercury to pafs through tl.iem, the 

 fridions mutt be continued in order to affed the cor.ftiMilion ; 

 but, according to Mr. Hunter, more riiercury in this ca.'e 

 will be rcquifite, tlian when the remedy can be made to pafs 

 dircdly through the difeafed gland. 



Many buboes remain fwoilen, without either comino- to 

 refolution, or fippuration ; and, notwithftanding every at- 

 tempt to promote thefe changes, the glards become hard 

 and fcirrhous. Mr. Hunter conctivcd, that cafes of this 

 fort are either fcrofulous at firft, oi- became fo as foon as 

 the venereal difpofition is removed. He advifes the ufe of 

 hemlock, fea-water poultices, and fea-bathing. 



6. Treatmtnt of Buboes which fiippurate The fuppuralion 



of buboes frequently cannot be prevented by any known 

 means. They are then to be treated, in fome refpeds, like 

 any other abfcefs. Before opening buboes, Mr. Hunter 

 conceived it was advantageous 10 let the ll.in become as thin 

 as pofFiblc, as a large opening would then become unnercf- 

 fary, and no me.-.fures would be rec^uifite for keeping the ikin 

 from clofing, bcfcre ilie bottom of the fore hadhealttd. 



4 G Mr. 



