184 VEGETABLE PAEASITES. 



rye-flour. The epidermis becomes softened in two days, the for- 

 mation of cells in the outer sheath of the root of the hair is ac- 

 celerated, and epilation and separation of the hair may be pro- 

 ceeded with by means of a broad pair of pincers an operation 

 which requires frequently a whotoday when the favi are plentiful, 

 and is very tiresome and harassing to the operator, who is often 

 haunted by the disgusting sight for some days, in consequence of 

 the strain on the eyes. The result is favorable. The fungus 

 luxuriates at first among the purulent mass, which, however, dries 

 up rapidly, and after the lapse of twenty-four to forty-eight hours 

 lamellse of suffocated fungi may be taken off, the epidermis is 

 rendered healthy in a few days, and peels off only very slightly. 

 The fine atrophied milk-hairs require to be looked to for a fort- 

 night longer, and it is well to treat the skin with rectified spirit 

 or ether, since these penetrate easily to the vegetable spores, 

 and decompose them. Complications alone require some care. 

 A rapid cure need not be feared, since there cannot be a re- 

 lapse, in the proper sense of the word, similar to itch. Bazin 

 also is unable to cure without the indication of epilation ; he 

 says " The fear of permanently destroying the growth of the 

 hair after epilation is unfounded, and it is not necessary to tear 

 out the hair merely on the places which appear red and swollen, 

 and covered with crusts, for the hair thrives always again on the 

 diseased or healthy parts, even after applying these remedies." 

 The hair is therefore removed not only from the diseased parts, 

 but also from the healthy surrounding part, and even from the 

 whole head in case porrigo has spread sporadically all over the 

 head. No tuft of hair is to be left over the forehead or on the 

 scalp of the head. It is sufficient after the first epilation to 

 wash the head for three or four days, night and morning, with a 

 solution of corrosive sublimate, to rub it with lard on the next 

 day, or still better, with an ointment of acetate of copper (1 part 

 to 500 parts of -lard). If an eruption of pustules should occur, 

 it is simply necessary to pierce the pustule, and to empty it of its 

 contents. Careful treatment will cure the disease in six to eight 

 weeks. The three forms of the favus urceolaris, scutiformis, 

 and squarrosus agree in their origin, and require, according to 

 Bazin, only one treatment. The urceolaris, thought to be the 

 most intractable, is the easiest to be cured ; and it must be con- 

 sidered as the first sign of a successful treatment of confluent 

 favi, when the favus is isolated by becoming Favus urceolaris. 



