The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-19
THE PRURITUS SEASON IS HERE
AGAIN

In Europe it is a simple matter to
divide people into three classes,
gentlemen or aristocrats, bourgeoisie
or shopkeepers and peasants or la
borers. In this country that classi-
fication won't do at all. Here We have
two great classes: Those who itch in
the summer time and those who have
pruritus in winter.
Although scabies is still the most
popular variety if itch on a large
scale (epidermaphytosis, "toe ITCH" Is
of course far more prevalent but this
ringworm infection is just trial size
itching), and scabies happens in the
best regulated households, assure
you, pruritus holds its undisputed
vogue among the idle rich.
Pruritus is refined or polite itching.
AS a few of our readers are not rich
yet I suppose I shall have to explain
that 1 mean itching without scratch
ing That's one of the chief draw
backs about being in the four hum
dred or of the quality-you itch, all
right, but just try and scratch a lit
tie and see how quickly you get the
buns rush. Pruritus, then, is any
sort of itching for which there is no
apparent cause.
Pruritus is rampant in the winter
season. when houses are artificially
heated and the atmosphere therein is
excessively dried out: when excess of
clothing is worn: when the natural
supply of iodin falls far below the
bodys requirements; when the hot
bath evil becomes a mania.
Here are some general suggestions
for victims of pruritus. Help yourself
in whichever you want and don't get
snooty about any you don't want.
The less bathing the better for the
sensitive skin. If you must battle,
then the less soap the better. If you
must use soap, then avoid hot water
Use only tepid or lukewarm water.
The less clothing you wear or the
more you expose your naked skin to
the air and sunlight the less bathing
you will need. The oxygen of the air
and sunlight are the natural clean
SerS.
Often the skin may be cleansed
with oil alone, just as many women
use cold cream or other skin oil ex-
cluSively for cleaning the face.
Where the skin is dry, harsh, and
resembles state of permanent
goose flesh," it is important to apply
suitable oil once or twice day and
always Immediately after bath.
For this purpose cold cream (Oint-
ment of Rose Water) is satisfactory
if freshly made at least every month
by the pharmacist after the formula
given in the Pharmacopoeia. It is
quite as important to avoid the use
of stock preparations commonly Of
fered as cold cream" or Skin
cream" Sweet almond oil, olive oil
t'sweet oirD, sunfloWer seed oil and
sesame seed oil are good skin oils,
when pure and fresh. The last is pre-
ferable because it is least likely to
become rancid and clog the skin.
A skin cream that has given much
satisfaction is composed of one dram
of lanolin, two drains of boroglycerid
and enough cold cream to make an
ounce of the cream. The cold cream
in this recipe is better If made from
white petroleum.. If desired, a grain
or two of method added to the ounce
of cream will give it a certain COOL
ing effect. A very little Of this cream
applied daily will keep the skin in
fair condition. Or anoint the skin
daily with few drops Of the Dew
Of Sahara"-1 dram Of tragacanth
powder, drops phenol, drops gly-
cerin, 5 drops oil of bergamot, 4
ounces Of olive oil, shaken into an
emulsion with enough water to make
one pint.