_Take mercurial ointment, two drachmes; calomel_ (N), _two
scruples; precipitate_ (O), _ten grains. Mix it into an
ointment._
By the dressing with this, all the shankers will speedily heal up.
If warts sprout out, they should immediately be cut off, with a pair of
good sharp scissars, and then dressed with the above ointment.
Shankers, when they appear, without a previous gonorrhœa or clap, ought
always to be taken as a forerunner of the pox itself; and the patient
must have immediately recourse to the _mercurial pills_, No. X. one to
be taken night and morning, in order to prevent the threatening evil
consequences.
_Of the Bubo._
A Bubo is a swelling that appears on a venereal infection, sometimes in
one, sometimes in both groins. This swelling proceeds either from a
transposed virus, or comes as the first messenger of a venereal
infection.
A bubo appears with symptoms of a heavy dull pain in the groin, which on
examination discovers itself with a little kernel that is painful to the
touch: If left to itself it gradually encreases both in bulk as well as
in pain, and at length forms a collection of matter.
The moment a bubo appears, take a purge, No. IX. rub the part in the
groin with _mercurial ointment_, and spread a _mercurial plaister_ the
bigness of a crown-piece, which, (the hair being removed,) lay on the
part; let it remain on, till it separates from the skin, and the
swelling is dispersed; the patient should be kept warm, and not have
much exercise; at the same time the body should be kept open.
By this means the bubo will soon disperse, and the virus be destroyed in
its first bud. But if it has already gained too much head to be
dispersed, and matter is formed, it becomes larger and soft, and a
fluctuation of matter is felt, then suppuration must be promoted; and
when ripe be opened as soon as possible, for an outlet of the matter.
When it is come to its maturity, (that is the matter plainly perceived,)
open it and dress it like an ulcer, first with the ointment, No. I. and
when it discharges pretty well, dress it with the ointment, No. XXII.
By this management, though easy, you will not fail of success.
_Of Swelled Testicles._
The venereal virus is liable to attack the testicles, which makes one of
the most disagreeable circumstances of all venereal diseases; sometimes
one, and sometimes both will be the seat of this complaint.
It begins with a heavy dull pain, attended with a disagreeable tightness
in the spermatic vessels, leading from the testicle into the bowels.
Gradually the testicle swells, becomes hard and grows very painful, and
if not timely remedied, a suppuration, or a scirrhus, or even a gangrene
and sphacelus, may be the consequences.
The moment the pain in the testicles is perceived, remove the hair all
round the scrotum, and apply a mercurial plaister spread upon leather;
over which put a suspensorium, and tie it up to the body as tight as it
can be borne; which together with a purge, No. IX. will not fail of
giving immediate relief.
The patient should be kept as quiet as possible; for hard labour not
only retards the cure, but becomes very painful. Should this not be
sufficient, apply the poultice, No. II. with the mercurial addition as
warm as sufferable, and repeat it as often as it is necessary for
keeping it warm to the part. By this method it will not fail of
dispersing.
Should it however against all expectation come to a suppuration, it must
be opened the same as another aposthume, and treated accordingly. But
should a scirrhus, or a mortification ensue, extirpation is the only
recourse. For which see my treatise.
_Of Venereal Excrescences._
Besides all these disorders before mentioned that are the consequence of
impure coition, there is one more to be mentioned, and that is a variety
of disagreeable excrescences, which sometimes arise about the penis, the
scrotum perinæum, and about the fundament.
When these appear, I generally take it for granted, that the pox is in
the blood, and the patient ought to be treated accordingly.
If there is a possibility of extirpating them, either by a bistoury, or
a pair of good sharp scissars, it ought to be done, and dressed with the
following ointment.