Observations on the Causes, Symptoms, and Nature of Scrofula or Kings Evil, Scurvy, and Cancer | Page 4

all
operations for scrofula, because the experience which I have had in
scrofula for the last 26 years, has proved to me that such operations are
worse than useless; I consider them as positively dangerous, inasmuch
as they hasten an event which in all probability might have been
prevented.--Scrofula is not a local disease which may be remedied by
the knife or any other local remedy; but it is a constitutional disease,
which must be treated by constitutional means.
Now scrofula is so insidious in its approach, and so distressing, and
often fatal, in its consequences, that the form of its commencement
ought to be known to all individuals who are liable to its attacks, either
from an hereditary tendency, or other causes. When it commences in
the glands about the neck, behind the ears, in the arm-pits, hams, &c., it
appears as hard and indolent swellings, somewhat moveable under the
skin, the colour of which is little changed; these tumours or swellings
gradually increase in number and size till they form one large hard
tumour, which often continues for a long time without breaking, and
when it does break it only discharges a thin sanies or watery humour
from one or more small apertures. The disease even then maintains its
indolent character; the ulcerated parts become languid and inactive, and
the constitution begins to be affected; the patient complains of
weakness--there is a want of appetite; there are frequently profuse night

sweats, and feeling of languor and lassitude.
When from blows, bruises, sprains, or other causes, the joints of the
elbows, wrists, ankles, knees, fingers or toes, become affected, the
disease proceeds in the same slow manner, frequently destroying the
ligaments or tendons; the matter insinuating itself between the bones
till they become carious, and ultimately destroyed. What is commonly
termed white swelling is of this description; it may continue for a great
length of time, and yet the patient may recover, excepting a stiffness or
contraction of the affected joint. I may also remark that in Scrofulous
constitutions there is frequently a thickness of the upper lip, or swelling
of the lower part of the nose; the eyes are also peculiarly liable to
attacks of scrofula, in which case the light is remarkably offensive to
those organs. The skin and muscles are loose and flabby; and the
mental powers of children so affected are often prematurely displayed.
Having thus described the nature and symptoms of scrofula, I shall now
proceed to make some observations on the treatment of that disease.
The cure of scrofula is generally so difficult that it has become an
opprobrium of surgery. There is not one specific remedy for it; even the
medicines and applications which I am in the habit of employing, will
not be equally efficacious in persons of different constitutions, nor in
the same person at all times; and as such, some little alteration
frequently becomes necessary to adapt the remedies to the present state
of the disease. It is from this difficulty of cure that so many remedies
have been proposed in scrofula; and yet the same difficulty continues,
plainly shewing that the greater part of these nostra are mere
deceptions, imposing upon the sufferer, both in mind and pocket.
Hence the proposers of these fictitious remedies become more bold and
impudent than ever; nothing is too barefaced for them to publish; not
even that they can extract carious bone without any other aid than "the
power of their medicines,"--than which nothing can be more
impudently false. These deceptions, however, find their proper level,
and they then rapidly sink into oblivion. The botanical medicines and
applications which I have had the honour to bring before the public as
remedies for scrofula have stood the test of twenty-six years' experience;

during which period many hundreds of cures have been effected solely
by their agency. They still maintain their unrivalled efficacy; scrofula
has yielded its stubbornness and its malignity to their powers in a vast
variety of instances, and they may be fairly considered as established in
the opinion of the public. Yet, notwithstanding this success, I do not
publish them as specifics; I am not vain enough to challenge the world,
like a mountebank; I am aware that they do, in some constitutions,
sometimes fail of effecting a cure; yet the great majority of instances in
which they have succeeded after every other means had been tried,
fully entitle them to superior consideration; more especially, as in those
cases where they may have failed of complete success, they have
evidently been of essential service in retarding the progress and
alleviating the pain of the disease. I would also remark that they exert a
permanent effect on the constitution; the patient is not cured to-day and
his case published to-morrow; but most of the