TREATMENT OF FAVUS. 181 



y 

 3. The hair-glands (glandula pilosce), which are small glands, 



rarely consisting of one, but mostly of two, three, or more blind 

 sacs, lined with epithelium, filled with drops of oil, and 

 containing one or two passages which open into the hair-follicle, 

 where the skin is pierced by the latter. They are more particu- 

 larly attached to the hair-follicle. The number of blind sacs 

 rarely exceeds one, two, or three with man, whilst they are found 

 to be more numerous with other animals. 



Treatment of favus. Once developed, it is difficult to cure, 

 though cases are known where nature has cured it, because, ac- 

 cording to Remak, the accessory suppuration lifts off the whole 

 scab, and with it the fungus. It will, however, be easily per- 

 ceived that this is only possible when the scab which becomes 

 loosened is removed at the same time with the hair and its roots 

 or sheaths -a very rare occurrence, no doubt. Most of the 

 older remedies which have been proposed have proved inefficient, 

 for as soon and as often as the favus is removed it grows again. 



Indications. Of primary importance are extreme cleanliness, 

 and treatment of the cachectic state of the patient ; then the 

 cutting of the hair, and removing the epidermal crusts by means 

 of poultices and washing ; next the removing of the favi, which 

 bear millions of spores; preventing at the same time the repro- 

 duction of these spores by parasiticidal remedies (such as solu- 

 tions or ointments of metallic salts, as of acetate or sulphate of 

 copper or iron, acetate of lead, calomel, corrosive sublimate, iodide 

 of sulphui', liver of sulphur, black oxide of manganese, charcoal, 

 &c.), and by wearing a wax cap; and finally removing the conva- 

 lescent from the neighbourhood of persons who are yet infected 

 with favi, otherwise frequent relapses occur. Especial care 

 requires to be taken in order to prevent the head-dress of favous 

 people from being worn by convalescents or healthy persons 

 without its having been cleansed previously. 



Bazin specifies the treatment as follows : 



Internal remedies. Purgatives and specifics have been gene- 

 rally abandoned, and strengthening remedies, such as improve 

 the constitution, are now almost exclusively adopted. 



Local treatment. 



Epilation. The only really successful remedy. 1 . The oldest 

 method of epilation is that of the Jew's nightcap. In this case 



