erysipelas, erisipely

[Lat., from Gr. erysipelas a redne on the skin; Fr. érysipèle.] Med.: A peculiar inflammation of the skin, spreading with great rapidity: the parts affected are of a deep red color, with a diffused swelling of the underlying cutaneous ti ue and cellular membrane, and an indisposition to take on healthy action. It is called by John Hunter the adhesive inflammation. Erysipelas is divided into: (1) Simple, where the skin only is affected; (2) Phlegmonous, where the cutaneous and areolar ti ue are both attacked at the same time, going on to vesication, then yellowne , and death of the skin; death of the areolar ti ue may follow, constituting ma lignant or gangrenous erysipelas; (3) Œdem a to us, or sub-cutaneous, of a yellowish, dark brown, or red color, occurring about the eyelids, scrotum. or legs, usually in broken-down dropsical constitutions. The first is superficial and sthenic, the other forms more deep-seated and asthenic, and require IMG:content-1130.png:[blocks in formation] erythrin vigorously active treatment by free incisions before the formation of pus, as it is too late to wait till pus has actually formed. Some physicians speak highly of poultices of phytol acc a leaves, while others recommend topical applications of some form of iron in tincture. The constitutional treatment is mainly restorative: the more asthenic the case the sooner should perchloride of iron be given, fasm 20 to 30 minims of the tincture every two or three hours, and continued during convalescence to insure a cure.