Mother's Remedies - Thomas Jefferson Ritter (guided reading books .txt) 📗

hard swellings." Oatmeal poultices are more stimulating and draw more rapidly than those made of linseed meal.

6. Itch, a Mother at Parma, Michigan, Sends the Following.—"Make a salve of sulphur and lard and each night apply it to the whole body; also one tablespoonful internally for three mornings, then skip three and so on. This is the only thing I know of that will cure itch. I have tried it with success."

7. Itch, Kerosene for.—"Apply kerosene oil, undiluted, to the parts several times a day. Apply nitrate of mercury ointment to the body."

8. Itch, Splendid Ointment for Common Itch.—

    "Lac-Sulphur 160 grains
    Napthaline 10 grains
    Oil Bergamot 4 drops
    Cosmoline 1 ounce

Rub lac-sulphur into fine powder. Sift it into the melted cosmoline and stir until nearly cool, then add napthaline and oil bergamot. Stir until cool."

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Itch.—If the skin is much inflamed or irritable, soothing baths and ointments should be used at first. There are three indications to be met in the treatment; first, to destroy the cause, the parasite; second, to cure the result of their work; third, to prevent a return or transmission to others.

First Thing to Do.—Soak the body thoroughly with soap (green soap if you have it) and water, this softens the outer layer (epidermis). This layer covers the female parasite which burrows under it. The male does not burrow and it is therefore easier to kill. Rub the skin thoroughly with a rough towel after the soaking. This rubbing will remove the outer skin scales and with it some of the parasites. The towel should be boiled at once to prevent it from conveying the parasite to others. Then apply the ointment, which, if thoroughly applied, relieves the patient at once. The skin should be well softened and rubbed in order to open every track (burrow) of the parasite. Allow the ointment to remain on all night and use it for three or four nights successively.

Ointments.—1. Simple sulphur ointment alone.

2. Oil of Cale (from Juniper) 1 dram
     Sulphur Ointment 2 drams
     Lanolin 5 drams

3. Flowers of Sulphur 6 ounces
     Oil of Fagi 6 ounces
     White Chalk 4 ounces
     Green Soap 16 ounces
     Lard 16 ounces

Apply at night. This is not so strong.

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4. For children the following can be used:

    Sulphur 1 dram
    Balsam Peru 1 dram
    Lard 1 ounce

Apply as usual.

5. The following for adults:

    Precipitated Sulphur 2 drams
    Carbonate of Potash 1 dram
    Lard Ointment 1-1/2 ounces

Rub well into the skin.

Second:—Heal the resultant sores with soothing applications like vaselin and a little camphor in it.

Third:—Boil and disinfect all underwear and bedding or any article liable to give an abiding place to the parasite. It is easily cured with proper treatment.

DANDRUFF (Seborrhoea).—The scurfs or scales (dandruff) upon the scalp are formed from seborrhoea.

Definition.—The word seborrboea means to flow suet or fatty fluids. Seborrhoea is a functional disorder of the sebaceous gland (fatty, suet matter) and this secretion is somewhat altered in character.

Varieties.—There are three varieties. These depend upon the character of the material excreted.

1. Oily seborrhoea (seborrhoea oleosa).

2. Dry seborrhoea (seborrhoea sicca).

3. Mixed type of both.

Oily seborrhoea.—Symptoms.—This appears most frequently upon the nose and forehead and sometimes upon the scalp. The skin looks oily, glistening, with the appearance of dust adhering to it. Small drops of oil are seen to ooze out of the follicles and when wiped off it reforms at once. The ducts of the follicles appear gaping or they are plugged with black-heads (comedones). The hair is rendered unusually oily, when it appears on the scalp, and it is especially noticeable on bald heads. It is very common in the negro, almost natural or physiological.

Dry Seborrhoea.—This is a more common form and occurs upon the hairy or non-hairy parts, but chiefly upon the scalp (dandruff). The affected parts are covered with grayish, greasy scales, which are easily dislodged, the skin underneath is oily and slate gray in color. This type of the disease forms one type of dandruff. When it is of long standing the hair becomes dry and falls out.

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Mixed type.—This type is common upon the scalp. The surface is covered, more or less, with scales and crusts. If the disease continues long the hair becomes dry, lusterless and falls out. Permanent baldness may result.

Causes.—These may be constitutional and local. "Green sickness" (chlorosis), disorders of the stomach and bowels are often the cause.

Local.—Uncleanness, lack of care of the scalp, heavy and airtight hats may cause it. Some writers claim parasites are the cause.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES.—1. Dandruff, Home Preparation from New York State Mother.—"Into one pint of water drop a lump of fresh quick-lime, the size of a walnut; let it stand all night, pour off the clear liquid, strain, and add one gill of the best vinegar, wash the roots of the hair with the preparation. It is a good remedy and harmless."

2. Dandruff, a Barber's Shampoo for.—"Shampoo with the following:

    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.

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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.

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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