Observations on the Causes, Symptoms, and Nature of Scrofula or Kings Evil, Scurvy, and Cancer | Page 3

feelings of a more questionable description.
JOHN KENT Stanton, Aug. 10, 1833.

ON STRUMA, SCROFULA, OR KING'S EVIL.
Scrofula, at every time of life, is the most formidable enemy of the human race, and, under various shapes, it occasions more deaths than all other chronic diseases whatever.--M. POILROUX.
This disease is extremely prevalent in this country; so much so that scarcely any family can claim an exemption from its attacks. It is technically called Struma, or Scrofula, which are synonymous terms; but in common language it is called the King's Evil. The latter appellation is derived from the circumstance of Edward the Confessor, touching persons afflicted with it; and it is said they were miraculously cured thereby. This practice was continued down to the reign of Charles the Second, who touched 92,000 persons afflicted with the disease; and it appears that Queen Anne was the last Sovereign who practised such a ridiculous and superstitious imposition. Having thus disposed of the origin of the name of the disease, I may observe that it is more particularly prevalent in those countries where there are great vicissitudes of weather; hence it prevails in Scotland, and the northern parts of Germany and France, as well as in Great Britain; in fact, a cold atmosphere, in almost any country, powerfully predisposes to, or excites an attack of scrofula. It is on this well-known principle that we are enabled to explain the frequent occurrence of the disease in this country during the changeable state of the Spring and Autumn seasons; for it is perfectly true, that it frequently makes its first appearance at one or other of those periods; or where it may be already in existence it becomes excessively aggravated. This disease cannot be propagated by contact or contagion; it exists in individuals in whom there is a peculiarity of constitution which predisposes them to its attacks; and this brings me to the consideration of one of the most important causes of the disease, namely, an hereditary taint. It is a well ascertained fact that 99 cases out of 100 arise from this cause, and the result of my practice corroborates it. It is, however, very remarkable that it may appear in one generation, pass over the second, and appear again in the third. The other causes of this disease are bad and unwholesome diet, insufficient clothing, neglect of exercise, and want of proper cleanliness. I may also observe, that it frequently makes its first appearance after an attack of measles, small-pox, rheumatic fever, or other debilitating affections; and it is often excited into obvious existence by blows, sprains, bruises, or other accidents.
This disease may attack any part of the human body; but in general commences in the glandular structures, such as the glands in the arm-pits, in the neck, &c.; it often also attacks the joints, as the knee, the elbow, the hip, the wrist, the ankle, and likewise the fingers and toes. Too often it does not confine its ravages to the external parts, but it attacks the vital parts; when it affects the lungs it is called consumption, and I wish this to be particularly understood, that consumption is neither more nor less than scrofula of the lungs. When it attacks the glands of the mesentery, the belly becomes large and hard, while the legs and arms waste; the patient is voracious, yet his food fails in affording sufficient nourishment, and he gradually loses his strength and dies. Then the liver, the heart, the spleen, and even the brain itself, may become the seats of this dreadful disease. Lastly, we may mention that the bones are very commonly affected, and even destroyed, from the attacks and long continuance of the disease. Hence it will be seen, that both internal and external parts of the human body are equally liable to the ravages of scrofula; and it is proper to remark, that it often commences externally, and after an uncertain time, it leaves the surface and attacks the internal parts, in which case it almost invariably terminates fatally. Many times have I seen the disease commence in the joints, or in the glandular parts, and go on for a considerable length of time; it has then left these parts, and the unhappy patient has been carried off by consumption, or scrofula of the lungs. In the same manner have I often remarked, that after limbs have been amputated for scrofula, the operation has evidently hastened the death of the patient, by the disease immediately attacking the more important parts. It is for this reason that I have a decided objection to 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