The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-29
Beauty, That Much Coveted Prize, Is
Only Skin Deep.
Some of the Tortures Inflicted by Skin
and Scalp Diseases.
a Valuable Treatise on Cutaneous Dis
eases, by DIR. George Beard.

Win cutaneOuS eruptiOnS or loss Oh nalr Will
deny that, TO obtain a fair skin and luxuri-
ant tresses, she would gladly exchange
the designations that now mar
her otherwise handsome face, hands
or hair, for other diseases of greater severity
even danger-could their existence be
concealed from the public eye. There is
something repuIsive about face covered
with humor; anG all the grace of manner
and brilliant powers OF conversation can
scarcely remove the impression produced on
one who witnesses il. 1t is remembered
when more important and worthy subjects
are forgotten. Many an estimeble lady's life
has been embittered By cutaneous affections.
She imagines that every one sees and COM
ments upon her looks. She avoids society
and public places, and endeavors to hide
her misery in seclusion. Here the struggle
remedy is too repulsive or dangerous to be
used Arsenic is devoured by the pound,
mercury is taken internally and applied ex-
ternally. until the teeth rattle IN their loos-
ened sockets, and the system groans beneath
the load of poisons it is obliged to carry.
If such be the feelings of one afflicted
with slight skin blemishes what must be
the condition OF those suffering from salt
rheum, letter, ringwoTm, pemphigus, psori-
asis, ieprosy, lIchen, prurigo and Scald mead?
No pen can fully describe the fortunes they
endure. Death in many cases might be con-
sidersd blessing. The burning heat, in
Summation and itching nearly impeis the
sufferer to do violence TO himself in order TO
end his sufferings- | have ssen patients tear
their flesh with their nails until the blood
flowed in streams. Others have told me that
they could cut the flesh from their limbs, so
great was the agony they endured.
With view to impart some useful in
formation on the construction and pressrva-
ton OF the skin, scalp and hair, and the
proper treatment OF them when diseased,
have here condensed to popular form my
previous articles on this subject.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SKIN.
The skin is composed of two LAYERS, which
may be separated from each otner by the
action of blister. The thin portion, which
is raised up by the blister, is called the scarf
skin, the cuticle or the epidermis: that
which remains in connection with the body
is the sensitive skin, the cults. the derma or
the true skin. Each has separate duties to
perform. The scarf skin is horny and in
sensible, and serves as sheath TO protect the
more sensitive skin under it. Were the
scarf skin taken OFF, we could not bear to
have anything touch us. The derma or true
skin and its glands oil tubes, ETC., are the
seat of all cutaneous diseases These may be
separated into four great divisions, viz: dis
eases of the true skin, diseases of the sweat
glands and tubes, diseases of the oil glands
and tubes, and diseases of the hair ana hair
glands.
THE OIL GLANDS AND TUBES.
That the skin may be Timber and healthy
it is necessary to have it oiled every day and
for this the Creator has wisely provided by
placing in the true skin small glands and
hos xr-.,n off 10 tn
out upon the surface the proper amount OF
oil. On some parts of the body they do not
exist, but ere abundant on the face, nose,
ears head, eyelids, etc. They produce the
wax of the ears, and on the head they open
into the sheath of the hair, and furnish it
with natures own hair oil or pomade When
the skin is healthy these little vessels ara
always at work, and constantly responding
to the demands made upon them. Conse-
Quently no person should be afraid 70 wash
thoroughly every day with sosp and water
lest, as the Boston Medical Journal once
taught, the skin be injured by having the
oil removed from it. Frequent washings
with pure soap-and / have something &C
say further on about soap that will be of In
tarest to ali who desire to preserve the skin
and scalp in health or to properly treat them
when diseased-and lukewarm water follow
ed by brisk rubbing with a coarse towel will
do more to preserve the healthy action o.
the oil glands and tubes, upon which de
ponds clear and wholesome mplexion
than all the cosmetics in the world. But
unfortunately, the skin is not well taker
care of. ITS actions, instead of being regular
and complete, are sluggish and imperfect
and the contents of the oil cells and tubes
instead of flowing easily, become hard ant
impacted. and the vessels are not emptied.
Sometimes the action of the gland is to,
great and oil is poured out so profusely tina
the surface shines with it. At other time
there is so little that the skin is dry and
hard In the hardened oily matter tha
constitutes grubs are found small animals
which Erasmus Wilson. the great authority
calls 1.-THE animal CT the oily product of th
skim
But grubs and worms sink into insigni6
canoe when compared with the great ski
and scalp diseases with which thousands ar
afflicted during their whole lives. That tn
reader may know more about them, to
principal affections are here named, omittin
such as are symptoms OF constitutional di:
eases, like measles, rash, etc. The most in
portant are salt rheum, or eczema, tetsel
rIngworm, psoriasis, impetigo, leprosJ
lichen, prurigo. BARRIERS itch, Jacssons ltcf
bakers itch, ground itch, scald head an
dandruff
Towering above all others in extent, i
duration. in suffering, is
SALT RHEUM,
or, technically, eczema. Wilson divides
into twelve species, and others into man
more, but it is sufficiently clear to the ave-
age reader, and will be recognized by i
small watery blister, about the size of pi
head. wherever seen. Prurigo. impetig
and psoriasis are but little behind salt rheui
in the suffering they cause. Scald head
another obstinate affection, defying all ren
edies, destroying the hair, and producir
great misery and suffering. The scalp, lii
the skin, is subject to salt rheum, tette
dandruff and other eruptlve and scaly dl
eases. which generally destroy the hair fol
cles and produce permanent badness.
THE TREATMENT
OF diseases of the skin and scalp has been
centuries based upon the mistaken theo
that they are caused by some isnpurity
the blood. It is no unjust reflection upt
the medical profession to say that its effol
in the cure of skin diseases have been
failure What with mistaken theorie
poisonous remedies, and blind adherence
methods and practices originating In jgnt