Clinical notes on psoriasis : with especial reference to its prognosis and treatment / by L. Duncan Bulkley.

  • Bulkley, Lucius Duncan, 1845-1928.
Date:
[1895]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Clinical notes on psoriasis : with especial reference to its prognosis and treatment / by L. Duncan Bulkley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    In his recent work upon the treatment of syphilis Professor Fouruier makes the remark, that too little attention is often paid to the real treatment and cure of the disease, and that too many phy- sicians and patients are content with only the removal of the symp- toms as they arise; it thus happens that in relatively few instances is the treatment of syphilis carried out in a patient and thorough manner to a cure. It is within the memory of quite young men when that disease was regarded as incurable, and it is only within the last decade that definite rules have beeu established (largely through the work of Fournier) which, if accurately carried out, will commonly result in the radical cure of syphilis. Much the same may be said in regard to psoriasis; for, thus far, physicians and patients have been far too often satisfied with attempting to remove the eruption as its recurs, again and again, and commonly far too little study and attention have been given to the underlying cause and its removal. And yet I believe that the time has come when the treatment of psoriasis should be placed on a much more certain and definite basis than is now commonly accepted, and the influence of diet and hy- giene in its production recognized, and when, consequently, we can offer to our patients much more encouragement as to the real cure of the trouble. To the end of understanding better the clinical relations of psori- asis, and, therefore, its treatment and prognosis, I have made a study of my recorded notes of 366 cases in private practice, which have been under my personal observation and care. These cases occurred among 9483 miscellaneous cases of skin diseases, making it to form almost 4 per cent.; it thus comes fourth on the list as to frequency,