Sassafras 5 cents worth
Salts of Tartar 10 cents worth
Ether 10 cents worth
Castile Soap 5 cents worth
Dissolve the above in one gallon of soft water. Rinse the hair thoroughly
and repeat as often as necessary. This recipe was given me by a barber and
I find it very good,"
3. Dandruff, Lemon Juice for.--"Cut a lemon in two, loosen the hair and
rub the lemon into the scalp. Do this in the evening before retiring, for
about a week, then stop for a few nights, then use for another week, and
so on until cured."
4. Falling Hair, a Brook, Ontario, Lady Prevents.--"Garden sage, make a
quart sage tea, add equal parts (a teaspoonful) of salt, borax and
rosewater, and one-half pint of bay rum. Wet the head with this every
night."
5. Hair Restoratives, Simple and Harmless.--"A simple and harmless
"invigorator" is as follows:
Cologne Water 2 ounces
Tincture of Cantharides 2 drams
Oil of Lavender 10 drops
Oil of Rosemary 10 drops
Use twice daily. If it makes the scalp a tittle sore, discontinue for a
short time."
6. Dandruff, Talcum Powder an Excellent Remedy for.--"Take talcum powder
and sprinkle in the hair thoroughly, then brush," This is a very good
remedy.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Dandruff.--If there are general diseases, they
should be treated.
[SKIN DISEASES 85]
Local--In mild cases, shampooing with hot water and a good soap may be
sufficient when the scales and crusts are thick and abundant; first soften
them with olive oil and then remove them with hot water and green soap.
After the scalp has been cleaned, the remedies should be applied. The
remedies should be thoroughly rubbed in and applied in the form of
ointments or lotions and used once daily. Cutting the hair may be
necessary. The odor of sulphur may be overcome by the use of perfume. If
the scalp becomes too dry after shampooing some oil should first be
applied, whatever application is used afterwards.
Remedies.--Resorcin, sulphur, salicylic acid, in combination with other
ingredients. Some favorite prescriptions are now given:
1. Resorcin 1 to 2 drams
Pure Castor Oil 1 dram
Alcohol 2 ounces
Mix and rub well into the scalp.
2. Precipitated Sulphur 1 dram
Salicylic Acid 15 grains
Ointment Petrolatum 1 ounce
3. Washed Sulphur 4 drams
Castor Oil 10 drams
Oil of Cocoa 1 ounces
Balsam of Peru 1/2 ounce
Apply twice daily.
4. Carbolic Acid 20 drops to 1 dram
Oil of Almonds 4 drams
Oil of Lemon 1 dram
Distilled Water, enough to make 2 ounces
Apply after washing.
The oily type is best treated with lotions and powders. The disease is
very obstinate, but generally gets well.
WEN (Sebaceous Cyst. Steatoma).--A wen varies in size from a millet seed
to an egg, and it is due to the distention of a sebaceous gland by its
retained secretions. They occur most commonly on the scalp, face and back.
They cause no pain, grow slowly, and after they have grown to a certain
size remain stationary for an indefinite time. Sometimes they become
inflamed and ulcerate.
Treatment.--Make a free cut and take the mass out. Its covering (capsule)
or sac must be removed at the same time, for if any of this membrane
(capsule) is left it will fill up again. Equal parts of fine salt and the
yolk of an egg beaten together and applied continuously will eat the skin
open and the mass can then be taken out. This is quite painful and takes
several days, while with the knife there is little pain if cocaine is
injected and it will all be over in a few minutes.
[86 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
RINGWORM (Tinea Trichophytina).--Ringworm is a contagious disease of the
skin, produced by the presence of a vegetable parasite. The disease
affects the hair follicles of the scalp and the beard, and also of the
portions of the body that, seemingly at least, have no hair.
Varieties.--Ringworm affecting the body called Tinea Circinata. Ringworm
affecting the scalp called Tinea Tonsurans. Ringworm affecting the beard,
etc., Tinea Barbae (barbers' itch).
Ringworm of the Body.--This type of ringworm usually begins as one or
several round, somewhat raised and very small, defined congested spots and
these are covered with a few branny scales. The disease extends from the
circumference and, while healing in the center, assumes a shape like a
ring and these rings may become as large as a silver dollar and remain the
same size for months or years, or they may go together (coalesce) to form
circle (gyrate) patches. Vesicle and pimples frequently crop out at the
circumference.
Mothers' Remedies for Ringworm.--1. Gunpowder and Vinegar for.--"Make a
paste of gunpowder and vinegar and apply. Sometimes one application will
be sufficient; if not, repeat."
2. Ringworm, Cigar Ashes for.--"Wet the sore and cover with cigar ashes.
Repeat frequently. This will cure if taken in time." This is a very simple
and effective remedy. Cigar ashes are always easy to obtain and if applied
to the ringworm at the very beginning, the nicotine in the tobacco will
draw out the soreness and relieve the inflammation.
3. Ringworm, Kerosene for.--"Apply kerosene with the finger or a cloth
several times a day."
4. Ringworm, Ontario Mother Cured Boy of.--"Wash head with vinegar and
paint with iodine to kill germ. Cured a neighbor's boy."
5. Ringworm, Another from a Mother at Valdosta, Georgia.--"Burdock root
and vinegar." Take the dock root and steep it the same as any ordinary
herb tea, then add your vinegar, making the proportions about half and
half. Apply this to the affected part.
6. Ringworm, Egg Skin Remedy for.--"Take the inner skin of an egg and wrap
around it, and cover with a piece of cloth."
7. Ringworm, from a Mother at Owosso. Michigan.--"Take gunpowder and wet
it and put it on the sores," This remedy has been tried a great many times
and always gives relief when taken right at the beginning. So many people
will wait, thinking the ringworm will disappear of its own accord, instead
of giving some simple home remedy like the above a trial.
[SKIN DISEASES 87]
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Ringworm.--1. For infants and children simpler
remedies should be used at first. Scrub each patch with tincture of green
soap, or merely good soap and water may be employed. Then apply tincture
of iodine to the patches, once or twice a day, enough to irritate the
patches. Dilute acetic acid, or dilute carbolic acid will do the same
work. A ten per cent solution of sodium hyposulphite is a good remedy
also.
2. Corrosive sublimate, one to four grains to the ounce of water, is very
good to put on the patches. For children the strength should be about
one-half grain to the ounce.
3. Ammoniated mercury is also very good to put on. Sometimes a combination
of remedies will do better, as follows:
Milk of Sulphur 2-1/2 drams
Spirits of Green Soap 6 drams
Tincture of Lavender 6 drams
Glycerin 1/2 dram
4. Pure Iodine 2 ounces
Oil of Tar 1 ounce
Mix with care gradually.
5. Creasote 20 drops
Oil of Cadini 3 drams
Precipitated Sulphur 3 drams
Bicarbonate Potash 1 dram
Lard 1 ounce
Mix, to be used in obstinate cases in adults.
Ringworm of the Scalp.--Cautions and Treatment.--Be careful that others do
not catch it from you. Separate the child affected. Cleanse the diseased
parts from time to time by shampooing with a strong soap. The hair over
the whole scalp should be clipped short and the affected parts shaved, or
if allowed, the hairs in the affected parts pulled out. The remedies are
then applied if possible in the shape of ointments, which are thoroughly
rubbed in. Vaselin and lanolin are better as a base for the medicine, as
they penetrate deeper. Following remedies are the most valuable: