The Washington times., 1916-01-20
IE TIMES DAILY MAGAZINE PAG FL
Itching Can
Be. Relieved
By Rddiun1
By DIR. L. x. HIRsHBERG.


THosE who must perforce, dig
their fingers into their skins to
rid themselves of that pesky
maddening irritation commonly
known as itch. Nill be consoled 70
know that there is a new remedy for
this torment. 1t is carnotite, an earth
which contains radium.
Some remedies for itch, be IT Of the
momentaTy or the seven-Year variety,
may relieve, but the cause of the
trouble may remain hidden.
Pain is usually preferable to itching.
Torquemadan torture. beside which
the pangs of the Inquisition would be as
bed of roses. When you have an
itch your instinct is to scratch. All
animals are endowed with the same i'm
pulse. They know what itching is, and
they dig and tear the flesh in vain
effort to find relief. There is, physical
ly, no more pleasant sensation than a
gentle scratch to relieve itching. In
deed. many people obtain a curious
qualification by scratching their backs
They are not conscious Of any itchy
feelings until the scratching is begun.
The first gentle scratch establishes a
pleasant itchiness, which, in turn, II
relieved with a sense qualification by
the next few scratches. II scratching is
kept UP beyond this point It becomes
unpleasant and even obnoxious.
The secret of recovery from itch Is TO
discover with scientific precision what
the cause Is. and then remove It. Itch
ing differs in individuals according to
race. sex, skin, Inheritance and other
conditions. Moreover. the outward signs
OF Itching are rarely the same in two
groups OF individuals.
Scratch-Mark Diagnosis.
1t Is also possible to determine within
limits what the cause of itching is b.
a study Of the scratch marks. Long
scratch marks with scaly crusts point
TO lice, while short. isolated scratch
marks with whitish nus are associated
with contagious scabies. or the little itch
bug which burrows into the skin.
| In mild eczema. spread all over the
| skin. distinct marks are left by the fin
ger nails. These are entirely different
| from hives. In mild conditions of iaun-
dice. even though the skin and mem
(; oranes scarcely show the lemon OF
lied itching without any outward signs
| of the trouble.
; The part of the body affected. wether
It Is on the arms. legs. thighs or face.
! helps to indicate the cause. Poison ivy
! Is apt to begin on the back of the wrists
| and hands. Scabes start between the
| fingers. but often escape notice until
| present on the abdomen and Other
I places. Pediculosis shows itself on the
| thighs. neck and inner surface of the
| arms.
| There are also numerous other jrri-
| tants. such as oils. poison ivy and dyes.
Perspiration at times causes itchinr.
Fruits. tomatoes. crabs. oysters, mus
| sells. Holsters and many kinds OF Vlctuals
| cause itching in some individuals at
= certain times. This may or NAV not he
/ accompanied by hives, patches and vari-
: Gus eruptions of the flesh.
Establish the Cause.
An itchy sensation accompanies the
healing of many wounds and sores,
which is supposed to augur we'll for the
| outcome Of the trouble. AS a matter OF
1 fact, the healing tissues, as we'll as
| lnvad ding bacteria which cause Itch
| ing, seize hold of the ends OF the
, nerve fbrils and thus set up the itching
which goes along with both the be-
ginning and the ends of skin infec-
/ tons.
| To relieve this distressing condition
| the cause must first be ascertained. the
| diet changed, and the correct internal
| treatment established. Acknowledgment
| tic treatments and local applications
| such as calamine lotion and carnotitc
plasters, are usually effective remedies
(Copy't, 1916, by,NewSpsper Feature servicel