The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-09-25
BARBER'S ITCH.
Nature and Directions for the Cure OF
This Disngreeable AHiirtion.

Nature and Directions for the Cure OF
This Disngreeable Affiintion.
"Barber's itch'' is simply ''ringworm"
that happens to have become implanted
upon the parts covered by the beard.
The disease is extremely contagious,
and is spread most frequently by bar
bers using the same razor in shaving
healthy persons that has been used upon
an infected one. Ringworm is due to
the presence and growth of fungus
(the trichophyton, several varieties of
which are known.) When it appears
upon parts covered by hair it is modi-
fled considerably by its germs entering
the hair sacs, and growing from local
ity more deeply situated than usual.
"Barber's Itch begins with round. red
spots rapidly spreading to the
surrounding skin, forming deep,
soft, boil-like masses which con-
tain much blood and little
squeezed out through the numerous
openings left by the falling out of dis
eased hairs. AS the diseased hairs are
filled with the fungus, they become weak
and break off at the surface. A viscid,
mucous-like substance, mixed with pus,
eXudes from these openings and speedily
dries on the surface, thus giving fig
| Ike appearance to the nodule, whence
was derived its ancient name, sycosis,
from the Greek word for fig. There is
considerable itching and smarting with
this affection. 1t is to be made out
with absolute certainty only by the
microscope, which shows the fungus in
all stages of development. For all
practical purposes, however, the de-
scription above given is sufficient.
Ringworm of the scalp is the same
affection as the barber's itch, only its
location is different. 1t produces round
or oval patches of apparent badness,
for the hairs break off at the surface as
when the beard is affected. The deeper
tissues of the skin are not so readily af-
fected, but sometimes nodules like those
of sycosis form. In the treatment of
both ringworm of the scalp and of the
beard, the first thing to do is to remove
all crusts and secretions and follow
with the usual parasite destroyers, cor
rosive sublimate, carbolic, boracic, sail
OyhS oSiu, VI lAyihoi, OtC' lhC iCuiONdi
of the hairs over the affected por-
tons of the scalp hastens the cure.
Removal of the beard by pulling out the
hairs is not necessary if the treatment is
properly and vigorously conducted.
Shaving the beard every day or every
alternate day is necessary, and every
precaution must be made use of not to
spread the disease. After shaving, the
affected parts are to be bathed in water
rs hot as can be borne, then all points
containing matter are to be opened with
fine needle-the slightest cut into ono
OF these nodules bleeds profusely. Then
the fungus destroyer is to be applied.
This may be one of those already men,
toned or a strong solution of hypo-sul-
phate of soda; this must bo applied for
several minutes by sponging; the parts
should then be dried and covered with
an ointment of sulphur with vaseline-
one part to eight. Next morning the
ointment is washed of, the parasite
eide" is again thoroughly applied, and
some drying powder is Kept upon the
surface all day. At night the process is
TO be repeated, and the treatment should
be kept up for several weeks in success
sion, even after the disease has appar-
emily entirely disappeared. Pulling out
the hairs from every nodule, and for
some distance around each, is painful
procedure, but 1t hastens the cure, and
the results are entirely satisfactory.
81. Louis Globe Democrat.