THE SKIN. 69 



The use that might be made of collodion for cosmetic 

 purposes happened to be brought under my notice casually 

 during medical attendance on a case in my own practice. 

 A blister having been applied to the chest of a girl whilst in 

 the condition known to physicians as that of anaemia, or defi- 

 cient blood, the blistered part, instead of healing kindly, as it 

 should have done, mortified. The patient being supported by 

 administration of stimulants, the mortified part in time came 

 away, leaving a frightful wound extending all over the chest, 

 and up into the visible part of the neck. At a certain stage 

 of treatment collodion was had recourse to, for encroaching 

 on this wound around the edges, imparting a ring of artifi- 

 cial skin, in point of fact. The practice had no reference to- 

 beauty at that time, but I could not fail to be struck with the 

 beauty of the work in addition to its surgical efficacy. Wher- 

 ever the collodion had deposited and dried, there was not only 

 a protective surface, but a very satisfactory-looking skin, a 

 little too white and glazed for nature, but yet satisfactory. 

 When my patient got better, and wished to appear in society, 

 the suggestion came from her that I would perform the office 

 of Madame Rachel, that I would enamel her neck, and make 

 it presentable. I did my best, and, for one who took-up ex- 

 temporaneously a new art, the success was encouraging. W^ith 

 the artificial skin to begin upon, touched-up with now a rub, 

 now a stipple, of rouge and pearl-powder, and finished-off 

 with violet-powder, I turned-out a work of art beautiful to 

 look at from afar, and not contemptible on nearer scrutiny. 



Ha\ing no intention to devote myself to this branch of 

 practice for my own immediate emolument, and as little 

 intending to patent the process for acquiring wealth in an 

 indirect way, it would be a useless and a churlish thing for 

 me to hide my knowledge under a bushel. I throw it open 

 for the benefit of science, of beauty, and Madame Rachel. To 

 one conclusion I have come, videlicet, the real artistic want I 

 felt was the absence of those short downy hairs which, grow- 



