THE SKIN 275 



On the other hand, certain authorities state that the cold 

 cream preparations may be of advantage in giving the 

 skin a desired softness, and that when judiciously used 

 (the face being cleansed after each application) they do 

 no harm. Of the different kinds of face powder those 

 prepared from rice are considered the least injurious. 



Treatment of Skin Wounds. Skin wounds which 

 may not be serious in themselves frequently become so 

 through getting infected with germs. Blood poisoning 

 often results from such infections, one of the worst forms 

 being tetanus, or lockjaw. A wound should be kept clean, 

 and if it shows signs of infection, it should be washed with 

 some antiseptic solution. Or, it may be cleansed with pure 

 warm water and then covered with some antiseptic oint- 

 ment, 1 of which there are a number on the market. A weak 

 solution of carbolic acid (one part acid to twenty-five parts 

 of water) makes an excellent antiseptic wash. It may be 

 used not only for cleansing wounds, but also in counter- 

 acting the poisonous effects that follow the bites of insects. 



A wound resulting from the bite of an animal (cat or 

 dog), even though slight, should receive more serious 

 attention, and as soon as possible after the occurrence. 

 Such wounds should be cauterized, and for this purpose 

 pure carbolic acid (undiluted with water) may be used. A 

 wooden toothpick is dipped into the acid and this is 

 worked about in the wound. The acid is then washed out 

 with warm water. A deep wound from a rusty nail or 



1 A most valuable antiseptic ointment is prepared by the druggist from the 



following formula : 



Lanolin, 25 grams. 



Ichthyol, 6 grams. 



Yellow vaseline, 20 grams. 



This is applied as a thin layer on the surface, except in the case of boils or 

 abscesses. In treating these a heavy layer is spread over the affected part and 

 then covered witfi absorbent cotton or a thin piece of clean cotton cloth. 



