The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-09
BARBER'S ITCH.
Nature and Directions for the Cure oi
 This Disagreeable Affiiction.

Nature and Directions for the Cure oi
 This Disagreeable AffiictiOn.
 "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 tine same razor in shaving healthy persons that has been used upon an infected one. Ringworm is due to the presence and growth of a 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 a 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 matter (pus), which latter can be 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 deriyed its ancient name, sycosis, from the Greek word for fig. There is considerable itching and smarting with this affection. It 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. It 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, sali- cylic acid, or thymol, etc. The removal of the hairs over the affected DOT tions 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 ,orooou+;or, ,,o,C+ ho ,,,oda rCa Of mt tO spread the disease. After shaving, the affected parts are to be bathed in water as hot as can be borne, then all points containing matter are to be openedwith fine needle-the slightest cut into one 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 be 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 off, the ''paraslti- cide'' 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- ently entirely disappeared. Pulling out the hairs from every nOdule, and for some distance around each, is a painful procedure, but it hastens the cure, and the results are entirely satisfactory. | St. Louis Gtobe-DenOcrat.