[Illustration: A REGULAR FLESH WORM GREATLY MAGNIFIED.]
This is a minute little creature, scientifically called _Demodex
folliculorum_, hardly visible to the naked eye, with comparatively
large fore body, a more slender hind body and eight little stumpy
processes that do duty as legs. No specialized head is visible,
although of course there is a mouth orifice. These creatures live
on the sweat glands or pores of the human face, and owing to the
appearance that they give to the infested pores, they are usually
known as "black-heads." It is not at all uncommon to see an otherwise
pretty face disfigured by these ugly creatures, although the insects
themselves are nearly transparent white. The black appearance is
really due the accumulation of dirt which gets under the edges of
the skin of the enlarged sweat glands and cannot be removed in the
ordinary way by washing, because the abnormal, hardened secretion of
the gland itself becomes stained. These insects are so lowly organized
that it is almost impossible to satisfactory deal with them and
they sometimes cause the continual festering of the skin which they
inhabit.
REMEDY.--Press them out with a hollow key or with the thumb and
fingers, and apply a mixture of sulphur and cream every evening. Wash
every morning with the best toilet soap, or wash the face with hot
water with a soft flannel at bedtime.
[Illustration: A HEALTHY COMPLEXION.]
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