SYCOSIS. 



495 



by washing the acne nodules in solutions of caustic potash or of corrosive 

 sublimate, or with tincture of benzoin. VeieFs treatment also, which 

 is exceedingly efficacious, consists ii\ vigorously brushing the nodules 

 with soft soap and a tooth-brush. The preparations of sulphur are 

 still more preferable ; they are very generally used, and IZummerf eld's 

 lotion enjoys a great reputation among the laity. (I. sulphur, precip. 

 3 ij, camphor, gr.x, gum. mimosas 3j, aquas calcis, aquae rosar. aa ij.) 

 The directions for the use of KummerfeWs lotion are : after shaking 

 it well, to apply it at bed-time to all that portion of skin affected by 

 acne, and the next morning to rub off all the sulphur which adheres to 

 the skin, without wetting it. JSebra directs precipitated sulphur to be 

 mixed with equal parts of alcohol, carbonate of soda, laurel-water, and 

 glycerine, so as to form a paste, and this is to be rubbed into the 

 nodules which are previously to be energetically scrubbed with soap 

 and water. This treatment is also to be practised in the evening, and 

 then the paste may remain upon the tubercles through the night. In 

 persons who can afford the time, the paste may be applied night and 

 morning, and left continuously in contact with the acne nodules. 

 Where matter has formed, it is to be evacuated by cautious punctures. 

 If the inflammation be very intense, the best application is a warm 

 poultice. 



OHAPTEK XVI. 



MENTAGRA SYCOSIS INFLAMMATION AND SUPPURATION OF 

 SEBACEOUS GLANDS AND HAIR-FOLLICLES OF THE BEARD. 



THE 



ETIOLOGY. Sycosis is an inflammation of the sebaceous glands 

 and of the deeply-rooted hair-follicles of the beard, but the tissues of 

 the cutis about these glands and follicles likewise take part in the in 

 flammation and become the seat of intense hyperaemia, swelling, infil- 

 tration, and suppuration. The disease scarcely ever occurs in women 

 and children, who never shave ; but only affects adult males, particu- 

 larly at a time when the beard has acquired a tolerably thick growth, 

 Dull razors, awkward shaving, the effect of irritating soap, of snuff, 01 

 of dirt, seem to cause the disease, or, at all events, to predispose tow- 

 ard it. In the majority of cases, it has no assignable cause. I can 

 confirm the statement often made, that mentagra sometimes proceeds 

 from the penetration of the parasitical growth of herpes tondens and 

 herpes circinatus into the large and deeply-seated follicles of the beard. 

 I have seen a case in which a man, who had contracted herpes tondens 

 from a sick cow, had mentagra a few weeks afterward. What was 

 very characteristic in this case was, that the eruption, half of which 



