December 1834

/19r cont'd/ Monday Decr. Ist. We are at last come to a new month-which has been ushered in in Paris by very powerful winds from the W. The weather altogether seems to approach nearly to the NoVr. weather of England. Went down to the Hotel Dieu this morning. Breschet [did] not come, followed Chomel. Went thence to the Hop'. St. Louis. Saw a fine collection of cases, particularly some excellent eczemas & one of an eruption, which Gibert cid. not name, thot. most like Lichen Circumscriptus, but which Biett declared to be psoriasis-another also of pityriasis' Versicolor characterised by a nasty scurfy eruption & yellow color of the part, the front of the chest. Wrote a long letter to the Dr. at Wincanton today. Nothing particular at the "Toucher". Tuesday Decr 2nd. Went to La Pitie. Saw a case of erysipelas faciei2 in Andral's ward-the bowels had not been opened since Saturday-he therefore ordered a Sedlitz powder.3 This requires no comment.4 Afterwards went to the Hotel Dieu with Breschet. The woman with compd. fracture appears perfectly hectic this morning-tongue is moist but red. B: says she has Gastroenterite-this may be the case, but she certainly has hectic fever. Saw a case of fracture ofthe leg just above the Malleoli, with dislocation ofthe foot backwards. I fear Breschet did not treat it properly-this however remains to be proved. Was at Sichel's introductory lecture-rather like him, think, I shall attend regularly. ' Pityriasis: a group of skin diseases marked by irregular patches of a branny or scale-like appearance unaccompanied by redness or inflammation. Pityriasis versicolor chiefly affects the arms, breast and abdomen and can last for years but the itching sensation could be slight. Whilst the condition could be found in individuals of either sex and of any age it was often observed in those who had resided for some time in the tropics. Some cases were attributed to having eaten certain fruits or mushrooms or to wearing flannel next to a sensitive skin. Pityriasis capitis affected very young infants and sometimes the old and the treatment was regular washing with alkaline soap and water. (Hooper, Lexicon, pp. 979-80.) 2Erysipelas faciei: facial erysipelas. This was one of the group of diseases called erysipelas, which involved acute inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissues and was accompanied by fever. Blisters usually appeared. Also known as St. Anthony's Fire, these diseases could appear on …