The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-11
FORMALDEHYDE FOR
OSMIDROSIS

Osmidrosis is not a new name, but
an old name for bromidrosis. What,
YOU don't even know what bromi-
drosis means? Tchk! Tchk! Well,
keep your eye on the cozy corner
magazines-they'll get around to 1t
some of these days. OF course, they
won't call it osmidrosis nor even
bromidrosis. They'll probably popu-
larize some silly term such as F. P.
for it-meaning fetid perspiration.
All sweat has an Odor. The nor
NAL odor is impaired to the sweat
mainly by the fatty acids in the Sc
bum or skin oil which is mixed with
the sweat in the common ducts OF
the sweat and sebaceous glands. This
normal odor is sourish. When the
sweat has q foul odor, that may be
due to certain foods or medicines
the individual has taken, but is usu-
ally due to decomposition of the min
gled sweat and sebum retained in the
clothing or upon poorly ventilated
surfaces of the skin. The truth of
this is shown by the prompt correc-
ton Of the annoyance by exposure
o. the affected skin surface to air
and sun or by the local application
of chemical disinfectants.
Going barefoot is by all odds the
best preventive and corrective of
foul sweating of the feet. Even If
sunlight is not available, just going
barefoot is always beneficial to the
feet, provided, I suppose I must not
forget to warn, you avoid places
where ringworm or epidermophytosis
Is prevalent, such as public baths,
gymnasiumS and swimming pools,
and provided you do not live in
community where the ground is pol
luted with hookworm.
Formaldehyde is powerful, not only
as a germicide and disinfectant, but
as an irritant and caustic. But If
you are not child it is the most
excellent remedy for fetid sweating
of feet or hands. For the correction
Of osmidrosis of other parts of the
skin it is not so good.
Formaldehyde comes in the stand
ard solution of the gas in water,
called Liquor Formaldehydi. This is
official in both the United States
and the British pharmacopoeias. 1t
is a 81 per cent solution of the pun
gent gas in water.
For moderate cases of fetid sweat
ing OF the feet it is sufficient to give
the shoes and stockings a formalde-
hyde bath once a month. One ounce
of the standard Formaldehyde with
enough water added to fill up hall
pint bottle. Pour an ounce or two
of this into each shoe and swish II
| about to wet the whole lining, Their
drain it out into the next shoe, anc
set all the shoes SO treated in the all
| and If possible in the sun to dry Out
| for "a hours or more before you veal
| them again. Or similar bath may
be given the feet of all stockings
which should then hang out to DRY
in like manner.
For more pronounced cases, mi,
one ounce Of standard Liquor For.
maldehydi with three ounces of wa
ter in four-ounce vial. BY mean
of small sponge or brush or wis,
Of cotton on the end OF a stick, pain
some Of this over the soles and be-
tween the toes. Let 1t dry in tn
air. This application may be re-
peated each alternate day for thre
or four times, provided the skin doe
not become too greatly irritated.
For the prevention of excessive
sweating whether fetid or not o
the hands this formula has proves
satisfactory:
Liquor FormaldehyH .......1 dram
Menthol grain
Lanoun 6 dram
Petrolatum, enough to make l ounce
Dispense in collapsible tube. Appl,
to palms and palmar surfaces O
fingers pea-size portion each nigh
for a week, from time to time a
needed