A manual of the diseases of the skin / by Balmanno Squire.

  • Squire, Balmanno (Alexander John Balmanno), -1908.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of the diseases of the skin / by Balmanno Squire. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    facilitated by a preliminary poulticing so as to tho- roughly soften the crusts. But the application of lint soaked in dilute acetic acid, and covered over with oil- silk to retard the evaporation of the volatile acetic acid, answers the same purpose more readily. The acetic acid permeates the epidermic tissue in which the favus-matter is imbedded, and by softening and swelling up the epithelial cells, makes the whole mass soft and easy of removal. The aromatic smell of the acetic acid, by neutralizing the offensive smell of the favus-matter, makes its use preferable to the poulticing of the favus-crusts, which is, practically, a very dis- gusting process. After as much of the softened crust as possible has been scraped off, the head should be well washed, first with dilute acetic acid, and afterwards with soap and water, and it is then ready for epilation. Epilation, or the pulling out of the hairs from the scalp, is a comparatively easy process in cases of Favus, since the hairs are much less firmly implanted in the skin than they are in the healthy state. They have not that extreme brittleness which renders epila- tion impracticable at first in the treatment of tinea tonsurans. The head of the patient may be conveniently rested in the lap of the epilator, or the patient may be seated while the epilator stands behind him. A common dressing forceps, furnished with a broad straight- edged bill, is the most convenient instrument to use. The sensibility of the part about to be operated on