Minor ailments : their medical and surgical treatment / by a medical practitioner.

Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Minor ailments : their medical and surgical treatment / by a medical practitioner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    172/208 (page 160)
    have some resemblance in appearance to the scratches made by a fine-pointed instrument (e.^. a pin) but ex- amined under a lens they are seen to have a dotted appearance while the entrances are commonly worn away by friction. The parasite lies at the inner end of the burrow whence it may be removed by inserting a bristle or the like to which it adheres. By the aid of the lens also, the male insect may sometimes be discovered roam- ing about on the surface of the skin. Treatment.—The routine method of treating scabies consists in the application of sul^^ihur, usually in the form of ointment. The patient is given a hot bath, the skin well scrubbed with soft soap, and then the ointment (1 in 10 or 12) rubbed into every part of the skin except that of the face and scalp, which the insect never attacks (at least in adults). The so-called Vlemingkx's solution is preferred by some practitioners to the ointment. It is practically a IDentasulphide of calcium made by boiling about 2 ozs. of sublimed sulphur with half as much slaked lime in a gallon of water. After cooling and subsidence a clear yellow solution is obtained which is freely sponged over the cutaneous surface, and the clothes put on before the body is dry; the excess of the liquid destroys any of the parasites which may be adhering to the clothing. A few applications are necessary to complete the cure. It is necessary to bear in mind in all cases, that the remedy, if applied in too concentrated a form, is likely to produce as much irritation as w^as set up by the parasites, and thus the mischief perpetuates itself, the condition of the skin brought about by the remedy being taking for a symptom of the persistence of the Sarcoptes calling for still more active measures. For this I'eason, if the oint- ment be used, that of the B.P. should be applied only once, and any following inunctions made with a diluter preparation (1 in 10 or 12). The lotion seems to be more apt to irritate than the ointment. It is recommended to bake the underclothing for a short time, in order to ensure the destruction of any of the parasites Avhich may be adhering to them.