A skinny question
I am presently writing a book on Benjamin Franklin's forays into medicine. Toward the end of the book I shall have 3 chapters on the diseases that plagued him late in life: gout, a bladder stone, and a skin disorder he called the scurf (or scurff). Thus far, I have only encounted one comment on what disorder his scurf might really have been --- the editors of Franklin's papers at Yale thought it was probably psoriasis. They base this diagnosis on the signs as well as on how Franklin's diet, which was rich in red meat and wine, might have exacerbated it. Notably, his diet almost certainly contributed to his gout and bladder stone, both of which can be related to inadequate/faulty uric acid metabolism. Now I am at a point where I would like to solicit some expert opinions of my own about his scurf. Would any of you feel competent enough to comment on Franklin's skin disorder? Alternatively, would any of you know someone specializing in dermatology with a love of history who might be able to help me? I'd be happy to e-mail the 15 pages I have thus far written of the skin condition, which includes very detailed diary descriptions by Franklin himself. Thanks, Stan Dr. Stanley Finger Editor: Journal of the History of the Neurosciences Dep't. of Psychology Washington University St. Louis, MO 63130-4899 USA 314 935 6513 (fax = 7588) My website: http://artsci.wustl.edu/˜sfinger JHN Website: http://www.szp.swets.nl/szp/journals/jh.htm To order Minds Behind the Brain or Origins of Neuroscience: 1-800-451-7556