210 VEGETABLE PARASITES. 



Solutions of the principal remedies recommended against 

 vegetable parasites are all of them objectionable,, as the adipose 

 tissue of the skin renders the surrounding of the parasitical 

 elements still more difficult by their use. Their chief value 

 consists in removing mechanically the spores, and thus restricting 

 the spread of the parasites a result which may be attained still 

 easier and less dangerously by treating the parasite on the ex- 

 ternal skin with fresh water alone. The benefit of corrosive 

 sublimate, acetate of copper, and tannin, as proved by experience, 

 can only be indirect, by producing in the liquids of the animal 

 soil a change (perhaps a coagulation of the albumen, and an 

 envelopment of the fungous elements, which prevents their spread- 

 ing further, or other influence hitherto unknown) in consequence 

 of which the parasites finally retire. 



It seems to be desirable to repeat the experiments with alcohol 

 and alcoholic solutions. Tinct. Veratri albi has been used success- 

 fully for a long time against Microspor on furfur, i.e., the fungus 

 of Pityriasis versicolor ; and was successfully employed by myself 

 in a very delicate case. I believe that alcohol and water alone 

 would be efficient, as is shown by the above experiments. It all 

 depends, in praxi, upon the greater or lesser dilution of the 

 alcohol, so as to avoid irritation and pain ; and, further, on the 

 degree of dilution, so as not to destroy the parasiticidal effect of 

 the remedy. Spirits and spirituous preparations being able to 

 penetrate into the crevices, furrows, and fissures of the skin over 

 the fungous elements, and, especially after proper cleansing and 

 removing of the oily matter of the skin by means of soap, pro- 

 mise to supply us with the means of searching out the spores of 

 the fungus even in its remotest corners, and of annihilating 

 them. Practice must decide whether they will be able to set 

 aside the very painful process of epilation, or, at least, to moderate 

 it essentially. I am unable to say how much is owing to the 

 cold produced by the evaporation of the alcohol in alcoholic pre- 

 parations ; but I would draw the attention, finally, to two points. 

 First ; nobody repeating the above experiments, confirming them, 

 or who believes them on my authority, will ever doubt the effi- 

 ciency of alcohol in these cases, or will prescribe for them anything 

 but pure alcohol mixed with water. Secondly ; I would ascribe 

 a double effect to the wine given to children attacked by fungi : 

 first, a direct, parasiticidal effect on already existing parasites; and 

 next, an indirect effect by destroying the matrix favorable to the 



