Observations on the different kinds of small pox

by Alexander Monro

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1818 ...of chicken pox is, "Synocha. Papulae post brevem jebriculam erumpentes, in pustulas variolae similes, sed vix in suppurationem euntes; post paucos dies in squamulas, nulla cicatrice relicta, desinentes." Dr Heblrden considers the chicken pox as a miJd disorder; and in confirmation of the milder nature of the disorder, has observed, "Until lately the chicken pox was passed over as an indisposition so slight as hardly to require a physician's attention." And he has added, that he never had seen the number of the pustules exceed 200, whereas several instances have lately occurred, in which there were four or five times as many vesicles on the body. The above definition of Dr Cullen applies only to the milder form of the it is by no means descriptive of the more severe form of chicken pox, in which the fever is considerable, the vesicles pass on to suppuration, and pits are left by them, which, in a few instances, have disfigured the face fully as much as those of Inflammatory fever. Pimples breaking out after short and slight fever, which run into pustules like those of the small pox, but seldom suppurate; in a few days ending ia crusts, without leaving any the confluent small pox, and which pit bear a resemblance to those of the small pox. There are three varieties of chicken pox, which have been commonly named chicken pox,. swine pox, and hives. Dr Willan more properly has distinguished these varieties by the form of the he has described these under the names of the colloidal, lenticular and globate. The fever antecedent to the eruption of chicken pox is of longer continuance than that of mild smallpox; for in chicken pox there are successive crops of pimples. Drs Heberden and Willan mention hoarseness and sorenes...

58 pages, Paperback

Published May 19, 2012

About the author

Alexander Monro primus was a Scottish surgeon and anatomist. His father, the surgeon John Monro, had been a prime mover in the foundation of the Edinburgh Medical School and had arranged Alexander's education in the hope that his son might become the first Professor of Anatomy in the new university medical school. After medical studies in Edinburgh, London, Paris and Leiden, Alexander Monro returned to Edinburgh, and pursued a career as a surgeon and anatomy teacher. With the support of his father and the patronage of the Edinburgh Lord Provost George Drummond, Alexander Monro was appointed foundation Professor of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh. His lectures, delivered in English, rather than the conventional Latin, proved popular with students and his qualities as a teacher contributed to the success and reputation of the Edinburgh medical school. He is known as Alexander Monro primus to distinguish him from his son Alexander Monro secundus and his grandson Alexander Monro tertius, who both followed him in the chair of anatomy. These three Monros between them held the Edinburgh University Chair of Anatomy for 126 years.