A practical treatise on diseases of the skin

Front matter

...

s

V »

Preface

In preparing this volume it has been my aim to write a concise, practical and useful treatise, one which, while making no pretensions to being exhaustive, should comprise sufficient to afford a clear insight into the elements of Dermatology and a knowledge of all the important tacts in connection with each disease treated of. The primary object being to render the subject simple and intelligible, and to free it from unnecessary encumbrances, it has been deemed best to avoid scrupulously all questions of theory, discussion of unsettled points, and the introduction of useless or obsolete terms. Consideration of these and kindred topics, however interesting, would have carried the volume beyond the limits assigned to it. Xor, for the same reason, has any attempt been made to enter into the literature of Dermatology ; for information of this character I may refer the reader to the comprehensive and sterling work of Hebra and Kaposi, the translation of which is now in course of publication by the Xew Sydenham Society, of London. The subject-matter, indeed, has everywhere been rigorously condensed, in many instances, I am well aware, at the sacrifice of smoothness and elegance of diction.

The nomenclature employed is essentially that now in common use by the prominent writers and teachers of our own country and of Europe.

vii vili PREFACE.

Xh( ification of Hebra, with certain changes and

modifications, has, after long and careful study, been adopted from the conviction that when rightly comprehended it affords the most satisfactory and practically useful method of grouping cutaneous diseases with which we are familiar.

QSlderable attention has been bestowed upon the definition- of the various diseases. They have for the most part beeo made from a clinical stand-point, with a view to their being of practical value, and consist mainly of succinct descriptions of the characteristic lesions and symptoms. In several instances, however, the subject appeared either so complex or so obscure that it was thought advisable not to attempt its definition.

I can but incidentally refer to the fact that disorders of the skin manifest more or less variation in type as they occur in one or in another part of the world. Having had -nine few years ago favorable opportunities for observing a large number of cutaneous affections in the various countries of Europe, and since then of studying these diseases in the United States, I can state that in many instances they differ materially in type as they are seen on the two continents. Without entering into this interesting subject, it may be remarked that the diseases met with here resemble more closely those of Great Britain than those of either France or Germany. A recognition of this fact must, I think, go far in accounting for the discrepancies which exist in the riptions of certain diseases as given by trustworthy observers.

I desire to make special acknowledgment of the assistance derived from the writings of Hebra, Kaposi, Neumann, Wilson, Fox, and Andersou, a list of whose works, as well as the works of other writers to whom occasional reference has been made, may be found at the close of the book.

PREFACE. IX

In the sections devoted, to treatment I have endeavored to make mention briefly of all those methods favorably regarded by dermatologists at large, but in particular to bring forward those remedies and modes of treatment which have proved of greatest benefit in my own experience.

The illustrations of the structure of the normal skin and of the parasites are the work of my friend and co-worker Dr. Arthur Van Harlingen, to whom I cordially acknowledge my indebtedness not only for the admirable original drawings, but also for many favors tendered during the preparation of this volume. My thanks are also due to Mr. J. McCreery, proof-reader, for acceptable suggestions made during the progress of the sheets through the press.

The illustrations have been reproduced by the Photo- Engraving Company of New York.

L. A. D.

Philadelphia, 1416 Spruce St., December, 1876.

Part I. General Considerations

Etiology .

Prognosis

PAGE

17 40 55

80 96