American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-22
Salt Rheum.

THE term salt rheum has been applied
to so many different skin eruptions and
diseases, that it is hardly used in medical
literature at all. If person has any skin
disease on any part of the body for any
considerable time, and especially If it be
on the hands, it is sure to be characterized
as salt rheum, whatever may be the cause
or nature.
The name is applied more often, how
ever to malady known to science as
eczema; ; this occurs in a variety of forms,
so that if salt rheum be taken to mean
this, it might be properly applied to a
number of quite different appearances.
Eczema is caused by many things. Any
irritation of the skin may induce it, as
irritating chemicals, hot air too long APP
piled, the direct rays of the sun, hot or
cold water too long kept in contact with
the body, as we see in the hands of wash
women and on the bodies of those who
battle too long or too often; or any irritat-
ing substance in contact with the body,
whatever its nature, may bring it on
Catching cold, slight fever for day or
two, a fit of indigestion have frequently
induced the disorder. The eruption on
the legs and thighs is usually due to both
the heat and irritation of the clothing.
Some people seem to be constitutionally
pre-disposed to it, and it will appear on a
state for weeks and years, despite most of
the treatment that may be brought against
it, Yet in many of these cases, there is
kept up continuous irritation of the
diseased spot, the eruption vanishing as
soon as the irritation is removed.
Infants often have eczema on the head
and face, and are covered with scabs and
running sores; this is often called, vul-
carly, scald head. Eczema may attack
10 Of. I, Alto off of
the young and middleaged than the old
The rule is, that it appears as an eruption
of fine vesicles-that is, fine blisters filled
with clear fluid, the vesicles seldom being
larger than a pin head. These blisters
dry up with or without redness, burning,
and pain in the skin round about, and
form scabs and crusts, which after time
fall off, the redness slowly disappears. and
recovery takes place. Frequently, how
ever, when the scabs and scales fall of
there is left a raw, suppurating and bleed
ing surface, which again becomes covered
with scabs, and the cases becomes
chronic. Sometimes the whole skin will
seem to peel off and leave very red, disa-
greeable surface; again the skin will
crack deeply, and bleed on every motion
or disturbance of the part.
As it is seen in its different stages,
eczema presents a great variety OF APP
ana some WTlleTS are Ieauy W
call dozen skin diseases, as described
heretofore, by this name.
As to treatment the only thing neces-
sary or proper to say here is, that
measures for the cure of acute diseases
of eczema, are to be directed to improving
the general health of the patient, and re-
moving all sources of irritation from the
affected part. Get the system into
healthy state otherwise, and this disease
IL J,n to,
all that might be said on the subject of
the hygenic management of the body, of
course this article would be well nigh in
terminablc. If case of eczema be
chronic, it should be sent to competent
physician, as no rules we could give here
would, i'll the hands of the unprofessional
be adequate Prairie Farmer.