General Principles of Treatinent of Skin Diseases. 463 



Antimony is similarly a cutaneous stimulant and is sometimes 

 useful in chronic inactive conditions. 



Phosphorus has been found useful in obstinate cases and 

 probably acts on the nerve centres in improving nutrition of the 

 integument. 



Calcium sulphide is sometimes useful with free secretion 

 from the diseased surface, but its action is somewhat micertain. 



Pilocarpin operates by securing free secretion from the skin 

 as well as from the various mucosae, and seems to benefit by 

 elimination, as well as by modifying the cutaneous functions and 

 nutrition. 



Local Applications. Baths may be placed foremost among 

 these. Cleanliness is a prime necessity in treating skin disease. 

 Tepid or warm water is especially required in acute disease in 

 sensitive skins. In chronic cases with accumulation of scabs a 

 soap wash following a 24 hours inunction with oil or lard may 

 be demanded, but as a rule castile or other non-caustic soap 

 should be used. In certain cases the baths may be advantage- 

 ously medicated, as with calcium sulphide, potassium sulphide, 

 salt, alum, tannic acid, tar, creolin, lysol,' cresol, chloro-naph- 

 tholeum, arsenic, mercury, etc. The water alone is, however, 

 of great value in soothing and moderating inflammation, soften- 

 ening and dissolving scabs and epidermis, and relieving the dry- 

 ness and rigidity. 



Emollients are used for the same end as calmatives, and re- 

 laxing and protective agents. Fatty bodies occupy a front rank, 

 the bland vegetable and animal oils being not only soothing but 

 nutritive (cod, lard, olive, cotton, almond, linseed, rape, peanut, 

 lanolin, neats foot and goose oil). Care should be taken that 

 these are pure and in no sense rancid. Vaseline or petrolatum 

 are free from the risk of rancidity, yet it should be free from 

 contamination unless a stimulating action is wanted. Glycerine 

 often used as an emollient has the disadvantage of drawing water 

 from the surface and of actually irritating some sensitive skins. 

 Glycerol made with glycerine and starch is more soothing. Glyco- 

 gelatine made with glycerine 5, gelatine 3, and water 9, is very 

 emollient and protective. This can be made the basis of astringent, 

 sedative and antiseptic preparations by adding zinc oxide, lead 

 acetate, chr3^sarobin, salicyclic acid, tannin, sulphur, oil of birch 



