The borax powder will be found good to cover the parts and muriate of
morphia relieves the pain. The rose water is simply put in to dissolve the
other ingredients.
3. Prickly Heat, a Hamilton, Ontario, Mother Found Burnt Cornstarch good
for.--"Dust with browned cornstarch. This acts like talcum powder and is
not so expensive."
[SKIN DISEASES. 77]
4. Rash, Soothing Ointment for. l.--"Make an ointment of one dram of boric
acid powder to one ounce of vaseline. First wash the affected parts with a
strong solution of saleratus, then apply the ointment and dust talcum
powder over this." The washing with saleratus is very important as this is
a good antiseptic and thoroughly cleanses the parts.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Prickly Heat.--It disappears usually in a few
days. Tonics for the weak, light clothing, a light nourishing diet and
frequent cold bathing. Alcoholic drinks are prohibited. White oak bark tea
as a wash for the sweating, followed by dusting powders of starch,
oatmeal, and zinc oxide, etc.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Chafing, Fuller's Earth Eases.--"Wash parts well
with boracic acid water, then dust with fuller's earth," The boracic water
is cleansing and fuller's earth is very healing. This is a very simple but
effective remedy.
2. Chafing, Good Home Remedy for.--"Usually all that is required is
washing the parts well with castile soap and cold water, and anointing
with plain vaselin," This remedy is always at hand, and is one to be
relied upon. Vaselin, as we all know, is very healing.
3. Chafing, Borax and Zinc Stops.--"Wash parts frequently with cold water
and use the following solution:
Pure Water 2 gills
Powdered Borax 1 teaspoonful
Sulphate of Zinc 1/2 teaspoonful
Apply by means of a soft rag several times daily. After drying the parts
well, dust with wheat flour, corn starch or powdered magnesia;"
The above combination is excellent as the water cleanses the parts and the
borax and zinc are very soothing and healing.
4. Chafing, Common Flour good to stop.--"Burn common wheat flour until
brown. Tie in rag and dust chafed parts."
MOLE. (Naevus).--Mole is a congenital condition of the skin where there is
too much pigment in a circumscribed place. It varies in size from a
pin-head to a pea or larger. The face, neck and back are their usual
abiding place.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Moles.--They should be removed by knife or by
electricity. The last is the best, especially for the hairy variety.
Causes.--If they are subject to too much irritation they develop into
malignant growth.
ENLARGED NAIL. (Onychauxis).--The nail may become too long, thick or wide.
Treatment.--Remove the cause. Trim away the excessive nail tissue with a
knife or scissors. In paronychia, inflammation around the nail, pieces of
lint or cotton should be inserted between the edge of the nail and the
inflamed parts, and wet solution of antiseptics, like listerine or salt
water, applied with cloths.
[78 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
INFLAMMATION OF THE NAIL. (Onychia). Treatment.--Cut into the back part if
it needs it. That will relieve the tension and pain. Sometimes the nail
must be removed. The inflammation is at the base (matrix) of the nail.
LOUSE, Disease of the Skin Produced by.--This is a disease of the skin
produced by an animal parasite, the pediculus or louse. There are the head
louse, pediculus capitis; the body louse, pediculus corporis; the pubis,
(about the genitals) pediculus pubis. The color of lice is white or gray.
They multiply very fast, the young being hatched out in about six days and
within eighteen days are capable of propagating their same species. The
nits are glued to the hair with a substance which is secreted by the
female louse.
HEAD LOUSE or Pediculus Capitis. Treatment.--The symptoms are very
apparent. Apply pure kerosene, rub it into the hair thoroughly. It can be
mixed with an equal part of balsam of peru. It should be left on the scalp
for twelve to twenty-four hours and then removed by a shampoo. Other
remedies that can be used are, tincture of staphisagria (stavesacre), this
can be made into an ointment; or ointment of ammoniated mercury. The dead
nits are removed from the hair by dilute acetic acid or vinegar. Cutting
the hair is not usually required. An infusion of quassia is good as a
wash.
Body Louse or Clothes Louse (Pediculus Corporis).--This parasite lives in
the clothes. It is apt to be found in the folds or seams, especially where
the clothes come in close contact with the skin, as about the neck,
shoulders and waist. This creature visits the body for its meal. They may
produce different kinds of skin troubles like eczema, boils, etc.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Lice.--Destroy the lice and their eggs (ova) by
thoroughly baking or boiling the clothing. The irritated skin can be
healed by soothing applications like vaselin, and oxide of zinc.
(Pediculus Pubis).--Lice on the hair of the pubis or about the genitals.
This is the smallest parasite of the three varieties, and it attaches
itself firmly to the hair with its head buried in the follicular openings,
and it is removed with great difficulty.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Lice.--1. Ointment of mercury, blue ointment.
This is to be used frequently. It is rather unclean and may create a
severe inflammation so be careful of it.
2. Solution of corrosive sublimate, from one to four grains to one ounce
of water. This is good and can be used once or twice a day; rub thoroughly
into the parts. It will cause redness and inflammation may follow if too
much is used. It is very effective. Kerosene with an equal quantity of
balsam of peru is a good remedy.
[SKIN DISEASES 79]
BLISTER DISEASE, (Pemphigus).--This is an acute or chronic skin disease in
which there are blisters of various sizes and shapes, and these usually
occur in crops.
Symptoms.--The disease may attack any part of the body. The blisters range
from the size of a pea to a large egg. They contain at first a clear
fluid, which soon becomes cloudy and looks more or less like pus. They
last several days and then dry up. They do not rupture of themselves very
often. It is not catching.
Causes.--These are obscure and not understood. A low state of the system
is usually found.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Blister Disease.--General treatment should be
given. Arsenic is the best remedy and can be given in the form of Fowler's
solution, five drops after meals at the beginning far an adult. This
should be increased until some poisonous symptoms, such as bloating in
the face is produced.
Elixir Quinine, Iron and Strychnine is good as a tonic, one teaspoonful
after meals. Regulate the diet, give nourishing and easily digested food.
Local Treatment.--Puncture the blisters. Then put on a mild ointment like
vaselin; bran and starch baths can be given in some cases. The length of
the time of the disease is uncertain.
THE ITCH DISEASE. (Psoriasis) (not Common Itch). Definition.--This is a
chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, in which there appear upon the
skin thick, adherent, overlapping, scales of a shiny, whitish color, and
these are situated upon a reddish, slightly raised and sharply outlined
(defined) base.
Symptoms.--They begin as small reddish spots, sharply defined against the
healthy skin. They may be elevated slightly and soon became covered with
whitish pearl colored scales. If the scales are picked off, there is left
a smooth red surface, and from this, small drops of blood ooze out. No
watery or pus-like discharge escapes at any period of this disease. These
spots extend at the circumference (periphery), reaching the size of the
drops, or of the coins, or they may run together and form ring-shaped, or
crooked wavy lines of patches, with a center that is healing up. A few
scattered spots may be present, or large areas may be involved. In rare
cases the whole skin is affected. These spots or patches may occur an any
part of the body, but involve the extending part of the limbs, especially
the elbows and knees. There may be slight itching present at times.
Course of the Disease.--It is chronic; patches may continue indefinitely
or they may disappear in one place, while new crops appear elsewhere. This
disease usually appears far the first time between the ages of ten and
fifteen; it may then return at various intervals during a lifetime. It is
usually worse during the winter.
[80 MOTHERS' REMEDIES.]
Causes.--Are usually unknown, it may occur in all classes and kinds of
people.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Itch Disease.--Remedies for the general symptoms
are demanded. The general health must be looked after. Stimulating foods
and drinks and the use of tobacco are forbidden.
Arsenic in the form of Fowler's solution from three to ten drops three
times a day; or the arsenious acid in pills of 1/50 of a grain three times
a day. This medicine must not be used in the acute form, but only in
chronic cases.
Local Treatment.--1. Remove the scales first and follow this by
stimulating applications unless there is much inflammation. In such cases
soothing lotions should be applied. Dr. Schalek of New York, recommends
the following: