Of late years many cases of chronic Eczema have been much benefited by injections of Isotonic Sea-water (Plasma Quinton). This requires the aid of an expert. Plasma Quinton has had some success in other skin diseases, especially obstinate ulcerations. It is not so useful in cases of Psoriasis as in cases of Eczema
205.– Impetigo (Impetigo).
DEFINITION.– Impetigo, a common disease of infants, is a severe, sometimes contagious, purulent Inflammation of the skin.
SYMPTOMS.– The disease is characterized by an eruption of small semicircular, flattened pustules, grouped in clusters, having a tendency to run together, forming thick and moist yellowish scabs or incrustations; and attacks in the ear, nose, scalp, and face. In children, the eruption of its yellow tenacious secretion sometimes covers the face or head like a mask, the discharge matting the hair together into a sour-smelling mass, beneath which the surface is red and tender. It is this form of the disease tom which the terms Crusta lactea (milk crust– Porrigo larvalis) is most correctly applied.
CAUSES.– Infection. Accessory Causes– Poor diet; irritations of the skin.
TREATMENT.– Viola Tric, for simple Crusta lactea; Ant.-T., K.- Bich., Ant.-C., or Arsenicum When the scabs get thick and hard, they should be softened with fresh butter, and then removed by means of poultices of bran or linseed -meal, and Carbolic-acid ointment be kept smeared over the part for a week afterwards. Ung. Hydrarg.-Nit.-dil. is an excellent local application. See also Section on “Eczema.”
206.– Acne– Pimples.
DEFINITIONS.– “A chronic Inflammation of the sebaceous glands and hair-follicles, characterized by an eruption of hard, conical, and isolated elevations of moderate size, and various degrees of redness.”
NAMES AND VARIETIES.– The disease is most common at the age of puberty. In A. punctata there is simply a collection of sebaceous matter, in the form of a pointed eruption; this collection, when squeezed out of the skin, is emitted in a cylindrical form, having the appearance of a small grub or maggot (comedones), hence it is sometimes called “maggot-pimple,” or “whelk”; it is most frequent in young females. A. indurata– sometimes called “stone- pock”– describes the disease when it is chronic and indolent, and when then pimples are become hard, with a dusky-red base; they are often painful, and produce a sensation of tightness about the face, the skin being congested and thickened. A. rosacea is seldom seen in young persons, but sometimes occurs in women in whom the catamenial function is imperfect; the redness is bright, there being much congestion; the veins are varicose, the face is much disfigured, the surface is red and dotted over with pustules, the skin is thickened, and food and stimulants produce great burning and flushing of the face. Alcohol, by flushing the face, causes what are termed “rosy-drop,” “grog- blossom,” etc., which are spots of Acne. “The physiognomy of this disease,” writes Professor Wilson, ” is made familiar to our minds by the words of Shakespeare, when he tells us with regard to Falstaff, that —
`His face is all bubucles, and whelks, and knobs, and flames of fire’;
and in a few words the rosy spots may be said to be a protest of the fifth pair of nerves against ill-treatment received by the gastric portion of the tenth”.
It must, however, be remembered that the disease is not necessarily connected with frequent alcoholic stimulation, since it sometimes occurs in the abstemious.
A. strophulosa (Strophulus albidus)– “white Gum-rash” — consist of small white pimples, chiefly about the face ad neck (see Secale 187)
CAUSES.– Congestion of the sebaceous follicles. This condition may be induced by various internal and external agencies;by the stomach, which has a great reflex action on the face, as seen in flushings after food, etc., by enervation, intemperance, Constipation; physiological changes (as puberty); menstrual irregularities, and sexual abuse by young men; cold, the use of cosmetics, neglect of cleanliness etc. It is of most frequent occurrence in the spring season, and the often returns for several successive years. According to Dr. Tilbury Fox, lymphatic persons, and those of a phthisical tendency, are most prone to Acne.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT.–
1. Acne punctata in young persons.– Belladonna ( bright red pimples; and in plethoric persons with scarlet flushings); Pulsatilla ( females with usually cold, pale face, menstrual irregularities); Ac.- phos. ( weakly persons); Bary.-Carb. ( maggot pimple); Borax
2. A. indurata.– Sulph; Calcarea carb., Carb.-Ac.( with chronic and Dyspepsia); Iodium (* Hebra states that many persons, if they take Iodine internally, m are affected with an outbreak of numerous papules of Acne on the face, chest, and back, which in some cases quickly changes to pustules, in others remain for a time unaltered., They often prevent perseverance in the administration of a medicine otherwise indicated and quickly disappear on its discontinuance without leaving a scar behind.) K.-Bromium has great power over this affection and the medical journals report cases in which long-continued Acne has disappeared while this drug was being taken for other diseases. On the other hand, twenty-five grain doses, thrice daily, have been known to develop an eruption of Acne.
3. A. rosacea.– Ant.-C., Rhus., Nux jug., Carbo An., Jug.-C. Opi. (dusky-red bloated appearance); Nux V. (Dyspepsia, Constipation, etc.); Arsenicum (chronic or severe cases, with debility); Agaricus The last four remedies are also well adapted to the condition when produced by alcoholic intoxication.
4. A. Strophulosa– Ant.-C., Calcarea, Hepar sulph.
ACCESSORY MEANS.– Hygienic measures and the correction of faulty habits are of first importance in chronic Acne. Indigestion, menstrual derangement, debility, or any other constitutional or local affection associated with Acne, should be corrected.
The diet should be simple and frugal, and uncooked vegetables and fruits freely eaten. Daily out-of-door exercise is favourable to the cure. Soft-water baths are of great value in this affection, although on first commencing them they may appear to aggravate the disease. In addition to the morning general cold bath, the parts should be frequently washed or douched with hot water. Acne punctata, according to Ringer, is efficiently with hot water and plenty of soap several times a day. The orifices of the sebaceous follicles are kept open, and the accumulations of superabundant secretion prevented. If by this treatment the skin becomes rough, red, and painful, it should be well rubbed with Glycerine jelly after each washing. All cosmetics, paints, etc., must be avoided.
A lotion (one part to twenty of water) of one of the following drugs, according to the indications, often relieves irritation and hastens the cure; Borax, Sulphur, Agaricus, Rumex., or the dilute Ac.-Phosphorus
For obstinate acne, vaccine treatment is sometimes effective.
207.– Seborrhoea.
DEFINITION.– This is a disease of the sebaceous glands, accompanied by much secretion of fatty material which appears on the skin as flakes and scales. Seborrhoea of the scalp causes the condition called Dandruff. It is complicated occasionally by Eczema.
TREATMENT.– Frequent washing with tepid water and soap, any crusts should be softened with olive oil and carefully removed. Applications of Resorcin and of Sulphur are useful. The general health must be attended to and Arsen, Graphites, Sepia., Chelidonium, Rhus., Mercurius, Mezer., Sulphur, are remedies of which one or other is likely to be useful.
208.– Sycosis–Mentagra– Barber’s Itch.
DEFINITION.– Inflammation of the hair-follicles of the beard and whiskers not associated with Syphilis.
It is a kind of “Acne of the bread,” The name Sycosis–fig–like–was given to the disease from its supposed resemblance, when fully developed, to the inside of a fig.
Sycosis is transmissible by contagion, from the use of a razor previously employed in shaving an affected person. Bad cases of Sycosis have been recorded from the use of razors that had immediately before been used in shaving persons with “bad chins.” This method of transmission has been often noticed, and we call attention to it to suggest the preventive means– viz., the immersion of the razor in boiling water, and wiping it before use.
SYMPTOMS.– It is a disease of adult life; it commences insidiously, a red itchy patch being first noticed, which, after rubbing or scratching, and the lapse of a little time, becomes much more troublesome, as the follicles enlarge and pustulate; there is considerable sensation of burning, and shaving is very painful. Successive crops of pustules appear, often grouped together, the fluid exuded becoming dry, and forming into crusts. The hairs become dull, brittle, and easily removed; and much discomfort, and sometimes disfigurement, is the result. The disease is very apt to become chronic recurring at certain seasons.
TREATMENT.– The disease is often very obstinate. The remedy which has been found most curative is Ant.-T., used internally and externally. Calcarea carb. has cured some cases. Lycopodium and Ant.-C. have been suggested; but we have found little benefit from the latter. As an external application, we can recommend the following preparation;- Ant.-T gr., ss, warm water, z3ss; when the Antimony is fully dissolved, add Glycerine z3ss, and, after first washing and well drying, apply to the affected parts twice or thrice daily. In practice we have not found epilation necessary. The general health should be improved, as the disease is a germ disease. Vaccine treatment is often valuable, and mild antiseptics should be used locally.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."