The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-06-15
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!: HOME HEALTH CLUB f:
BY DR.. David n. Reeder, La
Porte, Ind.
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my younger brothers came 10 me Ior ai-
, vice in regard to an annoying difficulty
which appeared on the back O. his right
hand After examining the hand and
hearing the history of the trouble,
found him to be suffering from favus
or tinea tonsurans, more frequently call
ed us common folks, who like to talk
plain United States, ringworm.
As a rule | do not consider such cases
of great Importance, and was about to
prepare for him the remedy which
generally used, but the fates, or talk
ative "schoolmarm" were against me,
and | learned lesson.
When my brother came IN there was
sitting in the room a school teacher OF
uncertain age. but with a kind motherly
heart, and she had so long been accus-
toned to caring for many children that
she was at once interested in knowing
what allied the boys hand She cared
not, nor thought, about what the doe
tor might think of her wisdom; but as
soon as | pronounced it ringworm she
said promptly and energetically, We'll,
| can cure that in short order: have a
remedy that has been in our family for
many years, and has never been known
to fail, although it has been used in our
neighborhood since my grandmother was
il child"
She opened her purse and took there
from large, old fashioned copper one
cent piece, and handed it to the boy,
saying, "You just put that in glass
tumbler and pour about half teacup-
full of vinegar over it, let it stand for
few hours, and then take Il soft rag, dip
it into the vinegar. and rub it over the
sore. You must not rub hard; just
get the vinegar well soaked into the
skin. so it softens up all of the dry
part. Then you can tie cloth over 1T,
wear a glove OF leave it uncovered, ust
as you like; but every time you 90 near
the vinegar, put on more. Leave the coin
in the tumber. You will probably have
an opportunity to apply the remedy six
or eight times each day-and in seven
days you will be well!'
| | was curious to see the outcome of
the treatment, and, believing that no
possible harm would result from it, de
cided at once to give it trial. So when
| the lad looked at me with a sort of
sickly smile, as if apologizng for lis
tening to any advice except mine, |
promptly told him to take the coin and
try it. He did so, and was cured. Now,
what more could one want? Most peo-
pie recognize the disease after having
once seen it. The method of treatment
prescribed by the school teacher is GER
tainly very cheap and simple. But |
| find that many of my readers want to
know more specifically regarding all
manner of diseases that can be treated
at home, and | approve this desire.
There are never any two cases alike, any
more than there are two people alike,
and by having a full understanding of
the cause. as well as the underlying
principle of the cure, one is enabled to
approach a case with confidence In his
or her ability to effect a complete cure.
no matter what complication may be
found.
So. then. we learn that this affection
t is called. technically, favus, or tinea
tonsurans. 1t first manifests itself as
slight red blotch, which in time turns
into a white blister. Then this
blister becomes surrounded by ring
of red blotches. These in time turn
white, as did the first one, and the
whole is again surrounded by another
ring of the red blotches. This process will
probably be continued until quite a con-
siderable space is covered. And this IL
the ringworm or favus. which frequent
" becomes epidemic, especially among
children.
Rngworm is contagious. The infec-
ton is commonly transmitted by chill
dren in school sitting with their heads
together, or exchanging caps, and at
home by using the same towel, as the
ringworm most frequently appears on
the head or hands. Then too, if tile
comb belonging to person affected with
tinea tonsurans is used by others, in
lection is thus communicated. In schools
it frequently occurs that many of the
pupils are almost simultaneously at
tackled by the disease, it becoming cpl
ldemic. the same as the measles, chick
en-poX, diphtheria, etc.
The first thing of Importance to be
learned is that the affection is not mere
ily of the outer skin, but rather Is seated
among the nerves reaching that particu-
lar point in the under skin. Applica
lions to the cuticle will not, then, bring
desired results: it is necessary to reach
the seat of the disease, which, as was
Just said, is the cults.
While ringworm most frequently APP