Chapter 12

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Eczema.--Water is likely to make acute cases worse. In order to cleanse the parts use water softened by starch or bran. Use oily preparations to soften the crusts and then they can be removed with water and good soap.

In Chronic Sluggish Cases.--Water and strong soaps may be used. Cloths wrung from hot water and applied, will frequently relieve the itching. Use lotions in moist and salves in dry eczema. For the acute kind the remedy should be soothing, and more or less stimulating for the chronic forms.

Local Treatment for the acute and sub-acute (between acute and chronic) eczema.

In acute cases, with much pouring out of liquid (serum), lotions have a cooling effect. They should be frequently renewed.

1. Black Wash.

Calomel 1 dram Mucilage Tragacanth 1 dram Lime water 10 ounces

Mix. Can be used full strength or diluted. Bathe the affected parts several times daily for fifteen or twenty minutes with this lotion and apply oxide of zinc ointment afterwards.

2. Lead and Laudanum wash.--When the parts discharge moisture with burning feeling, and are very sensitive the following is good:

Laudanum 1/2 ounce Solution of Sugar of lea 7-1/2 ounces

Mix and apply externally with gauze saturated with it.

3. A solution of boric acid is also a good remedy.

4. Apply the following soothing application frequently, allowing the sediment to remain on the skin:

Powdered Calamine 1 dram Oxide of Zinc 1 dram Glycerin 1 dram Lime water 6 ounces

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5. Dusting powders.--Corn, potato or rice starch powders. Mennen's baby powder is also good. Borated kind is the best for this.

6. Oxide of Zinc ointment alone, applied night and morning, is valuable in many cases.

The Black wash should be used twice a day just before the oxide of zinc ointment is applied. In other cases powdered oxide of zinc is dusted over the part if the discharge is watery or profuse.

7. McCall Anderson's Ointment.--

Oxide of Bismuth 1 ounce Pure Oleic Acid 8 ounces White Wax 3 ounces Vaselin 9 ounces Oil of Rose 5 drops

Make an ointment and apply. The proportions of each ingredient call be reduced one-half, for smaller amount.

8. Pastes are often borne better than ointment. The following is a good one. Lassar's paste:

Starch 2 drams Oxide of Zinc 2 drams Vaselin 4 drams

Mix and make a paste, apply to the part and cover with soft gauze.

9. For the Itching.--

Powdered Oxide of Zinc 1/2 ounce Powdered Camphor 1-1/2 dram Powdered Starch 1 ounce

Mix and dust on as needed.

When the disease is not so acute (sub-acute) applications of a mildly stimulating character are needed. For this purpose, resorcinal in the proportion of two to thirty grains to the ounce of lard, according to the severity and amount of hardness existing. Apply to the part. Stimulant and soothing.

External Treatment of Chronic Eczema.--Applications for chronic and lasting sluggish eczema.

1. Tincture of green soap used with hot water until the skin is bared and then dress with oxide of zinc ointment.

2. Tar in the form of the pure Official tar ointment.

3. Salicylic acid thirty to sixty grains to an ounce of lard and applied for stimulating purposes.

4. Dr. Schalek uses the same remedies in part and the following for a fixed dressing, especially on the eyes. They do not need to be changed often.

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Glycogelatin Dressing.--

Gelatin 10 drops Oxide of Zinc 10 drops Glycerin 40 drops Water 40 drops

Mix and apply to the part.

The above may be made in any quantities,--using drops, spoonfuls, etc. Dress the parts in a thin gauze bandage, over which the melted preparation is painted. I have given many different prescriptions, but those who treat skin diseases know that a great many are needed, for they act differently upon different persons.

Special Varieties of Eczema and what to do for them.--

Eczema of Children.--This is generally acute of the vesicular (watery) or vesicular pustular (pus forming) variety. The parts commonly affected are the scalp and the face.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Eczema.--Remove the causes, watch the feeding. Keep the folds of the skin dry and free from friction. To prevent scratching, masks must be applied to the scalp and face, or the hands must be tied in bad cases. The local treatment is the same as above except the strength of the drugs used must be reduced in proper proportion.

Eczema of the Scalp, Milk Crust.--Remove the crusts by soaking the scalp with some bland oil for twelve hours, followed by a shampoo, (the hair should be cut in children) then the lotions and thin ointment (see above) should be applied.

Eczema of the Face.--A mask of soft linen with holes cut out for the eyes, mouth and nostrils may be used.

Eczema of the Scrotum.--A well fitting suspensory should be worn, sponge the parts with very hot water and follow with the anti-itching lotion and dusting powders for the itching.

Eczema of the Hands in Adults.--Keep the hands out of water as much as possible. Dry them thoroughly and then anoint. Greatly thickened patches may be softened by soap plasters or bathe the parts in ten or twenty per cent solutions of caustic potash and followed by a salve application. The internal treatment must be given for the cause.

Diet in Eczema.--Avoid salty foods, such as salted fish or pork and corned beef; greasy foods such as bacon and fried dishes; pastry and cheese.

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MOTHERS' REMEDIES for Salt Rheum. 1. Alum Wash and Cathartic for.--"Use an astringent wash as alum, tablespoonful in pint of water, and keep bowels opened by cooling medicines, as cream tartar, rochelle salts, etc." The alum solution will be found very cooling and by keeping the bowels open you will carry off all the impurities thus cleansing the blood, which is one of the essential things to do in salt rheum.

2. Salt Rheum, Ammonia and Camphor for.--"Apply ammonia and camphor to the cracks. Have used this successfully when everything else failed." Care should be taken not to have the ammonia too strong, as it may irritate the skin more. If used properly, it is a good remedy.

3. Salt Rheum, Cactus Leaf Cure for.--"From one large cactus leaf take out the thorns, add one tablespoon of salt, three tablespoons lard, stew out slowly, and grease with this at night. Remarks:--This cured my hand that had been in an awful condition for years."

4. Salt Rheum, Pine Tar for.--"Apply pine tar as a paste." This is an excellent remedy but care should be taken in using it, as pine tar is very irritating to some people, and should be used very cautiously.

BOIL. (Furunculus, Furuncle). Causes.--Boils may appear in a healthy person, but they are often the result of a low condition of the system; they are frequently seen in persons suffering from sugar diabetes.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Boil, My Mother's Poultice for.--"Poppy leaves pounded up and bound on are good. My mother has used this recipe and found it to be good." This remedy not only makes a good poultice, but is very soothing, as poppies contain opium. The leaves may be purchased at any drug store.

2. Boil, Soap and Sugar Poultice for.--"Poultice made of yellow or soft soap and brown sugar, equal parts. Spread on cloth and apply faithfully." This makes a good strong poultice, and has great drawing powers and would be apt to create a good deal of pain, but would draw the boil to a head. The above remedy was sent in by a number of mothers, all of whom said they had tried it with success when other remedies failed.

3. Boil, Vinegar or Camphor for.--"May be cured by bathing in strong vinegar frequently when they first start. When it stops smarting from the vinegar cover with vaseline or oil." Bathing the boil in vinegar seems to check the growth and does not allow them to become as large as they would ordinarily. If you do not have vinegar in the house, camphor will answer the same purpose.

4. Boil, Bean Leaf Poultice for.--"Apply snap bean leaves, beat up fine." Bruise the leaves so that they are real fine, and apply to the boil. This acts the same as a poultice.

5. Boil, Another Vinegar Remedy for.--"If taken at first a boil can be cured by dipping the finger in strong vinegar and holding on the boil until it stops smarting. Repeat three or four times then apply a little oil to the head of boil."

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PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Boils.--Tonics such as iron, quinine, and strychnine are good. Elixir, iron, quinine and strychnine from a half to one teaspoonful three times a day is a good tonic for an adult. Sulphide of calcium one-tenth grain four times a day is good. Paint the inflamed spot when it first begins, with a solution of gun cotton (collodion) and renew it every hour until a heavy contractile coating is formed. Poultices, if used, should contain sweet oil and laudanum. Alcohol and camphor applied over the skin in the early stages is recommended by Ringer. This I know is good. Another, wipe the skin and use camphorated oil. When boils occur in the external ear, the canal should be washed out with hot water. If it is ripe it should be opened. The following is good for the pain of a boil:

Iodoform 4 grains Menthol 2 grains Vaselin 1 dram

Mix and smear a cotton plug and insert in the ear two or three times a day.

ABSCESS.--An accumulation of pus (matter) in any part of the body.

External Abscess.--Boil the knife, wash your hands in clean, hot, soapy water. Wash the abscess and surrounding parts in hot water and good soap, and rinse off with alcohol, a salt solution, or listerine, etc. Then make a good deep clean cut and scrape out if necessary. Dress with a clean linen gauze or absorbent cotton, Poultices may be used if you are careful. Such an abscess should be dressed twice a day. The inner dressing should be soft and thick enough to absorb all the secretion given out between dressings.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Abscess, Beech Bark Poultice for.--"Poultice made of red beech bark and wheat bran," A poultice made of the bark will cause a drawing feeling, and the wheat bran will retain the heat. The proportions for making the poultice should be about half and half.

2. Abscess, Milk and Salt Poultice for.--"Make a poultice of one cup of hot milk and common salt three teaspoonfuls; salt added gradually so it will not curdle. Cook until smooth and creamy, then add enough flour so it will spread but not be dry. Divide this into four poultices and apply in succession every half hour. This will remove the soreness and it should be kept oiled until healed."

3. Abscess, More Good Poultices for.--"Take equal parts of rosin and sugar, mix well and apply for several days until the abscess is broken. If this does not cause the abscess to break, poultice hourly with flaxseed meal."

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FELON. (Whitlow).--An inflammation of the deeper structures and frequently it is under the covering of the bone, (periosteum). If under the latter it must be opened soon or the resulting pus will burrow and destroy bone, joints, etc. The pain is intense, and after the patient has passed one sleepless night walking the floor and holding his finger it should be opened.

How? Place the hand with the fingers extended with the palm up (it is usually under the finger or in the palm of the hand) upon the table; stand by the side of the arm. Attract the patient to something else; have a curved two-edge knife ready and put the point, one-half inch, toward the palm, away from the felon part, press hard and the patient will jerk his hand and the cut will be made down to the bone, the membrane and tissues all opened freely, a vent given for the pus and in ten minutes very little pain. Dress as for an abscess. If opened this way, it need not be reopened.

If in the Palm.--This needs a doctor, and must be opened with care. There are too many blood vessels to be careless there and one who understands it must do it. Open a true felon early before it has time to destroy the bone.

SUPERFICIAL FELONS. Mothers' Remedies. 1. A Cure if Taken in Time.--"If taken in time a felon may be cured without lancing, but if poultice or liniment is used it is important that they should be bound on tightly as the mechanical compression is more essential than the application. A good remedy is finely pulverized salt, wet with spirits of turpentine bound tightly and left two or three days, wetting with the turpentine when dry without removing the cloth."

2. Felon, Treatment until time to Lance.--"If the felon has succeeded in getting a good start and pains considerably, it is well to paint it with iodine; in a few days it will become very painful, the pain being so intense that you cannot sleep. See a physician at once then, and have it lanced as the sac of pus on the bone must be opened. Then apply flaxseed poultices. Care should be taken not to have it lanced too early, as this is dangerous.

3. Felon, Strong Remedy for.--"Turpentine, yellow of egg and salt, equal parts, bind on." This is very strong and should only be allowed to remain on the finger a short time.

4. Felon, Lemon to draw inflammation from.--"Take a lemon, make a little hole, put finger in it and hold there a number of hours." Lemons have a great many healing qualities in them, and seem to be very good for felons. The acid in the lemon seems to help draw out the inflammation and serves as a poultice.

5. Felon, Hot Water Cure for.--"When you first feel it coming put the finger in a cup of hot water, just so it does not blister, keep adding more hot water as it cools for one hour. This has been tried several times and it has always stopped them."

6. Felon, Soap and Cornmeal Poultice for.--"Poultice with soft soap and cornmeal. This never fails if taken in time."

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7. Felon, Smartweed Poultice for.--"Apply the bruised leaves of smartweed and bind on tight as can be borne." This makes a very good poultice applied in this way.

8. Felon, Hot Application for.--"When a felon first starts, soak the finger in equal parts of alcohol and hot water; keep it as hot as the finger will bear it."

9. Felon, an Old, Tried Remedy for.--"Put wood ashes, covered with warm water in a dish on the stove, hold the affected part in this, allowing it to get as hot as can be borne."

10. Felon, Turpentine Cure for.--"Soak the finger for one hour in turpentine. This has been known to cure a great many cases of felon."

11. Felon, Weak Lye Application for.--"Stick your finger in weak lye (can lye). Have water just as hot as you can stand your finger in. Hold it in as long as possible."

12. Felon, Rock Salt and Turpentine for.--"Rock salt dry and pounded fine. Mix equal portions with turpentine. When dry change. This cured a felon on my father." As much of our Canadian salt is rock salt, it is the most common salt to use.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Superficial Felons.--Such may be averted perhaps. I have heard of that but have never seen it done. They are not the genuine, true blue, terrible felons, but even these can give much pain. They do not need such a deep opening, and they are not so dangerous to the structures. They are superficial and abscesses, perhaps, might be the better term. For these many applications have been made.

1. Some hold the finger in hot lye. That is a good poultice.

2. Yolk of an egg and salt (equal parts) make a salve as a drawer.

3. The membrane within the shell of an egg is another good drawing remedy.

Dr. Chase gives this definition of a felon in his first edition: "This is on one of the fingers, thumb or hand and is very painful. It is often situated at the root of the nail." The latter is the kind, and also that of the structures above the covering of the bone that are eased by local treatment. Especially the superficial, about the nail, etc. Steaming with herbs will do such good, or any hot poultice will do good. Dr. Chase says in another place, "Whitlow resembles a felon, but it is not so deeply seated. It is often found around the nail. Immerse the finger in strong lye as long and as hot as can be borne several times a day." Such felons are curable by local treatment. I prefer the salt and yolk of the egg to the lye. If you cannot stand this all the time, steam in the intervals with strong herbs or use hot poultices, and then open when it points.

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ULCERS. An Eating Away of the Parts, Causes.--Diseases like syphilis, tuberculosis, leprosy. Disturbances of nutrition, constitutional ulcers, local conditions. Ulcers are acute and chronic. An acute ulcer is a spreading ulcer, in and about which acute destructive inflammation exists.

Treatment.--Keep them thoroughly clean (aseptic) and use soothing applications, mild lotions and salve.

Chronic Ulcer.--This is one which does not tend to heal, or heals very slowly. Sometimes such ulcers need to be stimulated like the application of nitrate of silver and then healing applications. Carbolated oxide of zinc ointment is a good healing ointment.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Sores and Ulcers, the Potato Lotion for.--"Take the water you boil potatoes in and in one quart of it boil one ounce of foxglove leaves for ten minutes, then add one ounce tincture of myrrh to the lotion, bathe the affected parts with the lotion warm, then keep a cloth wet with it on the sore, if possible, until cured."

2. Sores and Ulcers, Chickweed Ointment for.--"Chop chickweed and boil in lard, strain and bottle for use." This makes a fine green cooling ointment, It is surprising to see the relief obtained by this simple ointment.

3. Old Sores and Wounds, Healing Ointment for.--

"Honey 4 ounces Spirits of Turpentine 1/2 ounce Beeswax 4 ounces Oil of Wintergreen 1/2 ounce Tincture of Opium 1 ounce Fluid Extract Lobelia 1/4 ounce Lard 3/4 pound

Mix by the aid of gentle heat, stirring well at the same time. This is a very useful ointment for healing wounds and old sores."

4. Sores and Ulcers, Excellent Salve for.--"One tablespoon of melted mutton or even beef tallow while warm; add some spirits of turpentine and one teaspoonful of laudanum, stir well."

5. Ill-Conditioned Sores, an Old German Remedy for.--"Wash or syringe the sore with weak saleratus water, and while wet fill with common black pepper. Remarks:--This is a highly recommended German remedy, and has been tried by my mother with good, results."

6. Sores, Cuts, Antiseptic Wash for; Also Tooth Wash.--"Peroxide of hydrogen. Should always be kept in the house." If you are cut by anything that might cause infection or if scratched by a cat, in fact wherever there is chance for infection and blood poison, peroxide of hydrogen may be used by moistening well the wound with it as soon as you can. As a mouth wash put a little in a glass of water. Directions usually on the bottle.

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7. Indolent Ulcers and Boils, Chickweed and Wood Sage Poultice for.--"Equal parts of chickweed and wood sage pounded together make a good poultice for all kinds of indolent ulcers and boils."

8. Ulcers, Proud Flesh, Venereal Sores and all Fungus Swellings, Blood Root and Sweet Nitre for.--"Two ounces pulverized blood root; one pint of sweet nitre; macerate for ten days, shake once or twice a day."

9. Rosin 1 ounce Beeswax 1 ounce Mutton Tallow 4 ounces Verdigris 1 dram

Melt the rosin, tallow and wax together, then add the verdigris. Stir until cool and apply.

Add a few drops of carbolic acid to the above and you will have the carbolated salve which is quite expensive when bought prepared and under the manufacturer's label.

10. Sores and Chapped Hands, Sour Cream Salve for.--"Tie thick sour cream in a cloth and bury in the ground over night. In the morning it will be a nice salve. Excellent for chapped hands or anything that requires a soft salve."

11. Old Sores, A Four-Ingredient Remedy for.--"Soften one-half pound of vaselin, stir into it one-half ounce each of wormwood, spearmint and smartweed. This is good for old and new sores. My people near Woodstock, Canada, used this and found it very good."

12. Ulcers and Sores, Carrots will heal.--"Boil carrots until soft and mash them to a pulp, add lard or sweet oil sufficient to keep it from getting hard. Spread and apply; excellent for offensive sores. Onion poultice made the same way is good for slow boils and indolent sores." This makes a very soothing poultice and has great healing properties.

13. Ulcers and Sores, a Remedy that Cures.--"To one-fourth pound of tallow add one-fourth pound each of turpentine and bayberry and two ounces of olive oil. Good application for scrofulous sores and ulcers." This makes a good ointment, but should not be continued too long at a time as the turpentine might have a bad action on the kidneys.

14. Ulcers and Old Sores, Bread and Indian meal for.--"Take bread and milk or Indian meal, make to consistency of poultice with water, stir in one-half cup of pulverized charcoal. Good to clean ulcers and foul sores." The bread and Indian meal make a good poultice while the charcoal is purifying and a good antiseptic.

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PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Ulcers.--Keep them thoroughly cleaned. A mild, weak, hot solution of salt water is good in chronic, slow healing, indolent ulcers. Carbolated salve applied afterwards is healing. Sometimes a stimulating poultice is necessary, like salt pork followed by soothing salves. If an ulcer looks red and angry, it needs soothing. If there is any "proud flesh" powdered burnt alum applied directly upon it and left on for an hour or two is good. Then soothing salves.

Balsam of Peru is good for chronic ulcers. It stimulates them to a little activity.

A salve made by boiling the inner bark of the common elder, the strained juice mixed with cream or vaselin is a good healing application for ulcers.

Poultice an irritable, tender, painful ulcer with slippery elm bark. Repeat when necessary.

Indolent Sluggish Ulcer.--This kind needs stimulating, salt solution, or salt pork applied.

Poultice made of sweet clover is well recommended for ulcers. As before stated, the active kind should have soothing treatment. The chronic indolent kind, should be stimulated occasionally and then soothing applications applied.

SHINGLES (Herpes Zoster). Definition.--This is an acute inflammatory disease of the skin, characterized by groups of vesicles upon the inflamed base, distributed along the course of one or more cutaneous (skin) nerves.

Symptoms.--The eruption is preceded by a great deal of neuralgic pain and is almost always one-sided. They first appear as red patches and upon these patches vesicles soon develop (skin elevations with liquid in them); these are separate, size of a pin-head to a coffee bean, swollen with a clear fluid, and clustered in groups of two to a dozen. They may dry up in this stage, or they may fill with pus or run together, forming larger patches; new crops may appear, while the others fade. The vesicles rarely rupture of themselves, but dry into brownish crusts, which drop off leaving a temporary colored skin. It follows the course of a nerve. The most common seat of this disease is over one or more intercostal (between the rib) nerves, extending from the backbone to the breastbone. It also occurs along the side of the face and temple.

Causes.--It is a self-limited disease, runs its course in a few weeks, of nervous origin and may be produced by exposure to weather changes, blows and certain poisons.