Another one which, long continued, he has found to be followed by a cure in a number of cases, without the help of any other remedy, is a combination of soap collodion, as in the following formula:— R Collodion, 5 drachms.
Sap. virid., to 1 drachm.—M.
The same clinician frequently employs medicated collodion painted over the af fected area from two to four times a day. The collodion used for the preparation must have a neutral, not an acid, reac tion.
4 Saponis viridis, 2 to 4 parts.
Collodii flex., 20 parts.—M.
Saponis viridis, Ac. salicylici, of each, 2 parts.
Collodii flex., 20 parts.—M, To be used if the skin shows much irritation: 4 Ichthyol, 5 parts.
Collodii flex., 20 parts.—M.
In two patients with erythematons lupus who have been treated with alco hol there is a distinct retrogression of the disease. Where the disease was slight, as upon the ear and the check, it has completely disappeared; at the inner canthus, which is less accessible to treat ment, the retrogression is less marked. Hebra (Arehiv f. Derm. u. Syph., B. 4S, H. 1, '99).
Case of lupus erythematosus in which lotions of sulphate of zinc, sulphide of potassium, and sulphur were used with out improvement. Iodoform was then given in the form of pills containing 1 grain, after meals, the lotion being continued.
At first the eruption got worse, but by the end of the third week the itch ing and the inflammation began to sub side, and in three months the disease had completely disappeared. White house (N. Y. Med. Jour., Feb., '99).
Case of lupus erythematosus cured by x-rays. The lesion, of five years' dura tion. was cured after five exposures of ten minutes. The patient was a woman of 32. and there was no history of tuber cle. The growth was on the cheek, and the size of half a dollar. The follicular orifices were enlarged, and filled with hardened, sebaceous matter. The rest of the face was protected with a sheet of lead. A current of eleven volts was used. The distance from the tube was seven inches. After the second exposure the erythema was fading, and the raised margins level with the skin. After five exposures the patch was covered with a healthy cicatrix. Woods (Amer. Jour. Med. Sleienees. Dee., 1901).
Case of epithelionnt complicating lupus erythematosus. Under nitrous oxide the g rowtli was scraped, and when bleeding had ceased the x-rays were applied. The rest of the face was covered with a lead mask. Ten-minute exposures were given daily for about five weeks, when the heal ing process stopped and the new epi thelium disappeared. After this shorter exposures of five minutes were given. The nose was quite healed in about three months from the beginning of treatment. Salicylic ointment was also used (10 1 grains to 1 ounce). Microscopical exam illation confirmed the diagnosis of epi thelioma. Stopford Taylor (Brit. Med. Jour., May 3, 1902).
Case of lupus erythematosus showing excellent results from the use of Finsen light. In all, fourteen applications were given, the sittings having taken place every third day. Of 4 cases under oh- ' serration, 3 are doing well. Oottheil (Phila. Med. Jour., Dec. 6. 1002).
TUMORS.—The word "tumor" liter ally means a swelling, but in this article it is employed in its more restricted sense: a neoplasm or new growth. As so used, it may be defined as a non inflammatory mass of autonomous tissue, having an atypical structure and in definite growth, and being useless for any known purposes of the human economy.
The term "tumor" does not then in clude the infective granulomata, which are due to specific organisms, parasitic cysts, inflammatory aggregations of cells, and hypertrophied tissues. Pure reten tion cysts do not properly belong here either, unless they are associated with proliferation of their frame-work. If it should be definitely shown that any variety of cancer were due to a specific agent, it should then be no longer clas sified among the tumors.
In speaking of tumors certain terms are used which should be clearly understood. Neoplasms are said to be heterotopic when they are formed of tissues different from those in which they occur; heterochronic when the tissue composing the tumor oc curs at a period of life when such tissue should not exist in the body; and auton omous when tumors are governed by their own laws, without reference to other parts of the body, and thus possess in dependent functions.