OF THE HUMAN SKIN. 85 



which we have most often seen in the highest and 

 wealthiest classes. It is contagious, though not 

 so much so, apparently, as some of the other veg- 

 etable parasites. We have seen that it does not 

 especially affect the hairs, is principally confined to 

 the scarf-skin, and is nothing more or less than a 

 weed among the epithelial cells. 



The proper treatment is so simple and so effica- 

 cious, that we sometimes lose our patience, when 

 we find those applying to us have undergone all 

 sorts of useless treatment internally, which is of 

 no more service than dosing a river to kill the 

 weeds in the meadows watered by it. We have 

 only to macerate off the epidermis, and by the 

 application of a parasiticide prevent the germina- 

 tion of the spores until they are finally entirely 

 gotten rid of. Soaking in hot water, and rubbing 

 with strong soft soap, will remove the scarf-skin af- 

 fected J and the application afterwards of a solution 

 of two grains of corrosive sublimate in an ounce 

 of water is all that is needed to, in a few days, 

 cure an uncomfortable and often suspicious-looking 

 affection, which, without proper treatment, will 

 flourish on the skin for a lifetime. The confound- 

 ing this parasitic disease with the pigment change 



