The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-04-23
BEAUTY BUT SKIN DEEP.

BEAUTY BUT SKIN DEEP.
New = Be..t,ry. How to Preserve. and
How - Treat, when Diseased,
the skin and Scalp.
~ II. \ JossELYN. n. D.. OF NEW YORK.
Apart from the suffering caused by skin
diseases, their influence on the happiness of
those to whom q delicate and pearly complex
oo to s y
cutaneous eruptiOns. or loss of hair, will deny
that, to obtain . fair skin and luxuriant
trssses she would 6 siadiy exc exchange the disfs
some face, hands, or hair, for other diseases
Of greater severity-even danger-cOuld their
existence be concealed from the public eye
tered by cutaneous affections. She imagines
that every one sees and comments upon her
looks. She avoids society and public places,
Here the struggle to improve her appearance
Is renewed. No remedy Is too repulsive or
dangerous to be used. Arsenic is devoured in
and applied externally, until the teeth rattle
In their lOOsened sockets, and the system
grcans beneath the load of poisons it is
If such be tie feelings of one afflicted with
slight skin blemishes, what must be the con-
dition of those suffering from salt rheum, tet-
ter, rngworm, Pemp ssa PSORIASIS leprosy:
fully describe the tOrtures they endure.
Deaih in many cases might be considered q
blessing. The burning heat, Inflammation
and itching nearly impel the sufferer to do
violence to himself in order to end his suffer
ilgs. 1 have seen 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 informa-
the skin, scalp. and hair. and the proper treat
ment Of them when diseased, l have here con-
densed to popular form such information a.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SKIN.
The skin is composed Of two layers, which
may be separated from each other by the &C.
ton Of blister The Il thin portion which il
the cuticle, or the epidermis; that which re-
mains in connection with the body is the sensi-
tive skin, the cults, the derma, or the true
The scarf skin IL horny and insensibe, and
serves as sheath 70 protect the more sensi-
tive skin under 1t. Were the scarf skin taken
us. The derma or true skin, and its glands,
oil tubes, etc., are the seat OF all cutaneous
diseases.
THE OIL AND SWEAT GLANDS.
That the skin may be pliable and healthy 1t
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 tubes, whose
surface the proper amount of oil. On some
parts of the body they do not exist, but are
abundant on the face, nose, ears, head. eye
and on the head they open into the sheath Of
the hair, and furnish it with natures own hair
oil or ppmade. When the skin is healthy, these
ly responding to the demands made upon
them. Consequently no person should be
afraid to wash thoroughly every day with soap
and water, lest, as the Boston Medical Jour
NAL once taught, the skin be injured by hav-
ing the oil removed from 1t.
FREQUENT wASHlNGS WITH PURE SOAP
free from caustic alkalies) and lukewarm
water, followed by brisk rubbing with coarse
towel, will do more to preserve the healthy ac-
ton of the oil glands and tubes, upon which
depends q clear and wholesome complexion,
than all the cosmetics in the world So inn
portant IS the free and perfect action Of the
sweat and fat or oil glands in the preservation
of the general health, as well as the special
condition OF the skin, that particular attention
health. They discharge upon the surface of
the body about two and one-half pounds Of
matter per day. and their Importance in the
publication Of the blood and fluids of the body
IL 50 great that. were they closed by an imper-
vious coating. like rubber or oiled silk, death
would soon ensue.
But bad as are minor forms Of skin diseases,
they sink into insigni1cance when compared
with the great skin and scalp diseases with
whole lives. That tho reader may know more
about them, the principal affections are here
named, emitting such as are sym ptoms OF con-
etituticnal disc ,ses. like measles. rash, etc.
The most important are salt rheum or eczema,
letter, ringworm, psoriasis. 1mpetigO, leprosy,
lichen, prurigo, BARRIERS itch, JacksOns itch,
bakers itch, ground itch. scald head and dam
druff.
Towering above all others in extent, in dura-
ton, in suffering, is
ECZEMA,
commonly called salt rheum. Wilson divides
1t into twelve species and others into many
more; but 1t is sufficiently clear to the average
watery blister, about the size of pinbead,
whenever seen. PrurigO. impeti9o, and 50 Il
asis are but little behind salt rheun in the #
fering they cause. scald head is another OBJ
Btinate affection, defyng all remedies, de-
strOying the hair. and producing great misery
and suffering. The scalpe like the skin, is sub
eruptive and scaly diseases, which generally
destroy the hair follicles, and produce per
manent badness.
OF diseases Of the skin or scalp has been for
centuries based upon the mistaken theory
III u they are entirely due to some impurity OF
directed to the important part the sweat and
Eat glands play in the propagation and MAIN
tenance of disease.
1t is no unjust reflection upon the medical
skin diseases have been failure. What with
mistaken theories, poisonous remedies, and
blind adherence to methods and practices
originating in ignorance snd superstition, salt
rheum, scald head. and psoriasis flourish and
increase upon systems shattered by the CO
pious use, both internal and external, Of mer
curry, arsenic. zinc, and lead.
For centuries it has been the popular notion
that diseases of the skin and scalp must be
cured, If cured at all, by purifying the blood.
Admitting that this is partly true. what has
been the method or what the remedies by which
1t was sought to be accomplished?
MERCURY AND ARSENIC.
Putting aside the senseleSs "sarsapar1lla,"
"dock, and "dandeliOn "blood purifiers,