The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-13
SEVEN AGES OF ITCHING

WNen we are young anu Ill JUL
prime it seems we itch most all the
time, with heat rash, hives and
wooden undies, mosquitoes, fleas and
insect sundries. Then by and bye
we enter school, play in the gym,
swim in the pool, catch scabies, ring
worm, pediculsis, and fungus foot
tricophytosis. At last we get so
tough and old that nothing else will
bite us, yet we keep on itching just
the same with exquisite bath pruri-
tus.
I was never much impressed by
impassioned descriptions of itching
until I tried some Of the lower de-
grees myself. My idea was to begin
with something mild and gradually
work up to real itching. So I tried
bedbugs. The itch of Cimex lectu-
larius is evaporation rather than
itching - eXasperating because you
vaguely feel something biting but
you can't seem to tell where it is,
and while you're dozedly cogitating
this phenomenon the first guest slips
away and brings back some of her
friends and they all set to right mer-
rily and enjoy hearty meal before
you finally get up and commence the
ghastly work of execution.
Scabies, formerly called seven
year ITCH" is more like. Indeed, I
hold that seven hours is enough of
that for any one to have, and the
thorough application of properly
made sulphur ointment will cure it
within seven hours, too.
When I had orthoform erythema
felt I had begun to understand
what It means to itch. Orthoform
is medicine, and some individuals
happen to have an idiosyncrasy or
peculiar sensitiveness to certain me-
dicines or chemicals. I had to have
three successive attacks of ortho-
form dermatitis, each little less Sc
we're, before it dawned on me that
the attacks came only when han
died the stuff in the treatment of
patient.
But I know now that never itched
any to speak of until I had ivy poi
soning. That is the nth degree of
itching. If there is anything worse
than ivy dermatitis in the itching
line I'd rather not hear about it.
For the relief of ordinary itching,
such as mosquito or other bites one
Of the following remedies may be
used.
Rub the spot with a piece Of wet
soap.
Touch it with tincture of iodin.
Touch it with peroxide.
I0 1r,ifI hoV ,f
(soda) in a basin of water.
Apply calamin lotion.
Calamin lotion is a standard for
mula for the relief of itching, smart
ing, burning, and consists Of:
Powdered calamin. One ounce
Powdered zinc oXid. One ounce
Glycerin tablespoonful ......
.............. One-half ounce
Lime water to make one pint.
This should be labeled Calamin
Lotion. Shake it up well and APP
ply by sopping on with fingers,
without rubbing. Let dry on the
skin. Use as often as you wish.
In cases of intense itching, as in
ivy poisoning. 1t is necessary to add
to the Calamin Lotion small amount
of phenol (carbolic acid. The drug
gist can sell without prescription
solution of phenol (carbolic acid in
water in the strength of per cent
Zone part carbolic acid in twenty of
water. Two ounces of this per
cent phenol solution may be used in
stead of two ounces of the lime water
in preparing Calamin Lotion. The
addition Of the phenol renders the
lotion much more soothing for ex-
IRENE itchings or irritation. OF
course phenol (carbolic acid) should
not be applied if there is break in
the skin or raw sore or wound of
any kind, unless under the physt-
clans direction.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Man Versus Insect
Please tell me how to get rid of
ants. They are in sun parlor, dining
room. I have tried quite few things
but nothing did any good. Also is
there anything that will keep flies
and mosquitoes away? MRS. A. D.
NJ
Answer-On receipt of your request
and stamped addressed envelope we
will mail you instructions for getting
rid of any of these pests.
The Water Is Fine
am a girl 10 years old, very fond
Of sports, especially swimming. I
would like to continue swimming dur
ing menstruation. Please advise me
on this subject. ". 81
Answer-I know no reason why .