A slight degree of scurvy may be carried off by frequently sucking a little of the juice of a bitter orange, or a lemon. When the disease affects the gums only, this practice, if continued for some time, will generally carry it off. We would however recommend the bitter orange as greatly preferable to lemon; it seems to be as good a medicine, and is not near so hurtful to the stomach. Perhaps our own sorrel may be little inferior to either of them.
All kinds of sallad are good in the scurvy, and ought to be eaten very plentifully, as spinage, lettuce, parsley, celery, endive, radish, dandelion, &c. It is amazing to see how soon fresh vegetables in the spring cure the brute animals of any scab or foulness which is upon their skins. It is reasonable to suppose that their effects would be as great upon the human species, were they used in proper quantity for a sufficient length of time.
I have sometimes seen good effects in scorbutic complaints of very long standing, from the use of a decoction of the roots of water-dock. It is usually made by boiling a pound of the fresh root in six English pints of water, till about one-third of it be consumed. The dose is from half a pint to a whole pint of the decoction every day. But in all the cases where I have seen it prove beneficial, it was made much stronger, and drank in larger quantities. The safest way, however, is for the patient to begin with small doses, and increase them both in strength and quantity as he finds his stomach will bear it. It must be used for a considerable time. I have known some take it for many months, and have been told of others who had used it for several years, before they were sensible of any benefit, but who nevertheless were cured by it at length.
The leprosy, which was so common in this country long ago, seems to have been near-akin to the scurvy. Perhaps its appearing so seldom now, may be owing to the inhabitants of Britain eating more vegetable food than formerly, living more upon tea and other diluting diet, using less salted meat, being more cleanly, better lodged and clothed, &c.—For the cure of this disease we would recommend the same course of diet and medicine as in the scurvy.
OF THE SCROPHULA, OR KING’S EVIL.
This disease chiefly affects the glands, especially those of the neck. Children and young persons of a sedentary life are very subject to it. It is one of those diseases which may be removed by proper regimen, but seldom yields to medicine. The inhabitants of cold, damp, marshy countries are most liable to the scrophula.
CAUSES.——This disease may proceed from a hereditary taint, from a scrophulous nurse, &c. Children who have the misfortune to be born of sickly parents, whose constitutions have been greatly injured by the pox, or other chronic diseases, are apt to be affected with the scrophula. It may likewise proceed from such diseases as weaken the habit or vitiate the humours, as the small-pox, measles, &c. External injuries, as blows, bruises, and the like, sometimes produce scrophulous ulcers; but we have reason to believe, when this happens, that there has been a predisposition in the habit to this disease. In short, whatever tends to vitiate the humours or relax the solids, paves the way to the scrophula; as the want of proper exercise, too much heat or cold, confined air, unwholesome food, bad water, the long use of poor, weak, watery aliments, the neglect of cleanliness, &c. Nothing tends more to induce this disease in children than allowing them to continue long wet[[141]].
SYMPTOMS.——At first small knots appear under the chin or behind the ears, which gradually increase in number and size, till they form one large hard tumour. This often continues for a long time without breaking, and when it does break, it only discharges a thin sanies, or watery humour. Other parts of the body are likewise liable to its attack, as the armpits, groins, feet, hands, eyes, breasts, &c. Nor are the internal parts exempt from it. It often affects the lungs, liver, or spleen; and I have frequently seen the glands of the mesentery greatly enlarged by it.
Those obstinate ulcers which break out upon the feet and hands with swelling, and little or no redness, are of the scrophulous kind. They seldom discharge good matter, and are exceedingly difficult to cure. The white swellings of the joints seem likewise to be of this kind. They are with difficulty brought to a suppuration, and when opened they only discharge a thin ichor. There is not a more general symptom of the scrophula than a swelling of the upper lip and nose.
REGIMEN.——As this disease proceeds, in a great measure, from relaxation, the diet ought to be generous and nourishing, but at the same time light and of easy digestion; as well-fermented bread, made of sound grain, the flesh and broth of young animals, with now and then a glass of generous wine, or good ale. The air ought to be open, dry, and not too cold, and the patient should take as much exercise as he can bear. This is of the utmost importance. Children who have sufficient exercise are seldom troubled with the scrophula.