SK-JN- DISEASES. r^% 



5. Diseases connected with a specific poison ~d\^Qxtx\\. forms of 

 variola (pox) — measles — scarlatina — erysipelas — malignant 

 pustule, etc. 



6, JVoi/nds. Burns. Scalds. 



General causes. — These are exceedingly varied. Many cases 

 are the result of simple local irritation, as chafing, radiating 

 heat, cold and wet, chemical and mechanical irritants, or the 

 presence on the skin of parasitic plants or animals. A large class 

 is due, however, to disorders of internal organs with which the 

 skin is in sympathy, or that have failed to transform or throw 

 off elements that ])rove cutaneous irritants by their presence in 

 the blood, or when being excreted abnormally through the skin. 

 Disorder of the liver, stomach, bowels, kidneys, and lungs, are 

 especially apt to act in this way. Sometimes skin disease is a 

 mere symptom of general ill-health. 



Gefieral treatment. — The first object is to discover and 

 remove the cause ; then if the disease is of an inflammatory 

 nature and acute, soothing agents may be applied to the irritated 

 skin — fomentations with tepid water, oxide of zinc powder or 

 ointment, starch, lycopodium, spermaceti and almond-oil, 

 solutions of sugar ot lead, sulphate of zinc, or carbolic acid, 

 collodion, etc. Give internally cooling laxatives (sulphate ot 

 soda, tartrates or citrates of soda or potash), and diuretics 

 (acetate of potassa oi; ammonia, carbonate of potassa or soda). 

 In weak states tonics are often wanted, whereas in plethoric 

 subjects depletion is equally essential. A cool, clean, airy 

 stable and cleanliness of the skin are all-important. 



If the disease is not so recent or the acute symptoms have 

 been subdued, a more stimulating class of local applications 

 are in order : ointments of iodine, sulphur, mercury, nitrate of 

 mercury, tar, oil of tar, oil of turpentine, oil of cade, etc., may 

 be used. Supersedents, too, may be given internally : sulphur, 

 antimony, arsenic, mercury, Dunovan's solution, are examples. 



