Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-11

ease characterized by the eruption ol q great number of small hlister-headee looking little pimple clustered together in patches, usually {, fined to one part of the body at a tin-e-the pimpleS are accompanied by intense itching, and the result of scratching is to tear the thin, inf1amed cutele, and so irritate it that 1t suppurates and dries, leaving, after the crust has fallen, little red mark upon the skin, which is either dry, or in some cases wet, with a thin, milky-looking dis charge, which exudes from tiny open ing in the center of the pimple. This discharge often ceases in a few days, but it frequently runs on for months one patch healing as another reappears. Chronic or acute eczema is eczema sim ply in it's most aggravated form, and if not checked results in hideous running sores and abcesseS and excessive suffer- ing. The causes of eczema are frequently very obscure-it is often inherited, and when this is the case it is seldom possi- ble to do more than polliate it or hold it in check. It frequently attacks the face, but usually first appears on the hands the itching is so severe at times as to throw the patient almost into convul- sions. Children suffer lluently from eczema of the face, and objects of this malady of all ages are apt to be attacked with it in the eyelids or in the ears.
 once knew very beautiful and high bred woman, now peacefully resting in the tomb of her Knickerbocker ancestors, who was obliged to dress her hair so that her ears was covered, because they were absolutely offensive from inherited ecze- ma. I have often thought of her since have learned to know that all forms Of skin disease, if not actually curable, may be greatly ameliorated, and of the agony she suffered in the knowledge that she was, to use her own words to me, "A liv- ing ulcer with a long line of intermarried dead ulcers back of her"
 Hideous, indeed, is the legacy of scroll ula and memorable the law of transmits sion, but even inherited skin diseases may be greatly palliated, and the exter- nal signs kept in subjuga ton.
 Simple Remedies.
 Eczema sometimes appears in girls be- tween the ages of IA and 16-and is most annoying to sensitive children. It can even when usually inherited, be ntrollei by attention to the general principles of health-cleanliness, exercise, proper diet, clothing and ventilation. Eczema pa tients old and young, should never use stimuiants in any form-they should take daily baths and be most particular as to the regularity of all the important bodily functions.
 Occasionally doses of mild saline ape rients, such as cream tartar, phosphate of soda, or the old-fashioned remedy of lac sulphur and cream tartar mixed in equal quantities, with enough molasses to form creamy paste, and taken three times a day for ten days runnfng-then omitted until again required, will be found of wonderful benefit. Let the pa tient drink freely of lemonade, and avoid salt meats, pork in any form, and live upon diet of fruts-red meats and anti scorbulc vegetables. Many people are particularly susceptible to shell fish, and I 1,nx oco nf fn1I Inxxr fl1a eating of lobster in several repeated in- stances. Strawberries will produce this effect frequently. Of course, when there is an idiosyncracy of this kind, the cause should be avoided Vigorous exercise will often, by inducing excessive perspir- ation, act as a curative for eczema, par tcularlv w,rr o~-7 hined v-'''' t-o r~''''- cation of a harmless external application.
 Take great care in selecting the cream of emollient. 1 have seen most disas- trous results from the reckless usage of much vaunted article.
 The following lotion is highly com mended by pr. Cazenave:
 Orange flower water, 300 grammes.
 Nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, twenty drops each.
 Monin recommends this lotion for ec- zema of the face, and suggest about the same diet I have advised with the aid of sulphur or soda baths. Just as soon as it
 
 on the face it should be used.
 Pomade for Eczema.
 Salicylic acid-One gramme.
 Oxide of zinc (powdered) and powdered starch-Twenty-fou scruples.
 Lanoine-Thirty grammes.
 Vaseline-Ten grammes.
 Mix the starch and zinc carefully with the vaseline. add lanolne and salicyIic acid make a smooth paste and apply after bathing, night and morning.
 I receive so many letters asking what black-heads are and how to remove them that give more fully the treatment sug- gested for them in one of the first Beauty Talks.
 Acne or Blackheads.
 Blackheads are a form of acne, indi- cated by little black specks on the skin chiefly about the nose, forehead and chin. Each speck marks an obstructed outlet of the sebeceous glands. and if pressure is made on either side something having the appearance of white worm may be pressed out. Upon careful examination this so-called worm proves to be mass of hardened sebaceous matter, or sebum, which has assumed this shape by being pressed through the small outlet of the follicle. The black speck. giving to this little cylinder of fat the appearance of head, is, shocking as it is, simply an ac- emulation of dirt. The technical term for one of these little masses is come1o. When examined under microscope they are frequently found to contain a whole family of parasites-male, female and their numerous progeny.
 Obviously there is but one way of get ting rid of blackheads and that is by forcing them out of the clogged pore They cannot be drawn back from whence they came. and in pressing them out be- fore the skin is properly softened and prepared for their election, the patient ruptures the delicate tissue, causing eith- CT an ugly little scar, or more likely, an enlargement of the opening, which