158 NON-PARASITIC SKIN DISEASES. 



employment of no stimulating applications in the first instance ; 

 and would content myself with washing the part twice a day with 

 warm water and a soft nail brush into which some bland toilet soap 

 had been rubbed. I would try to gently remove the thickened scar 

 tissue which fills up the cracks, by means of the finger nails after 

 it had been well softened by warm water and soap. Having thus 

 disinfected the part and cleared away the exfoliating surface skin, 

 I would dry it with a soft towel, and rub into it some non-irritating 

 oily matter, such as lanoline, fresh animal fat, sweet oil, or fresh 

 butter. Even a very small quantity of salt in either the fat or the 

 butter, will cause either of these substances to have an irritating 

 effect on the skin. If there be much heat and soreness present, we 

 may apply, after the washing, a carrot or turnip poultice for a day 

 or two. Having taken off the poultice, we should wash the part, 

 gently scrape off the thickened cuticle and fibrous tissue, and apply 

 the lubricant. Dr. Armstrong, Indian Medical Service, informs me 

 that he has found very good results from enveloping the part in 

 hot, dry bran. When the skin gradually begins to assume its 

 normal condition, we should by degrees dincontinue the washing 

 and the lubricating application. If the simple oil, or fat, be found 

 ineffective, we may substitute for it, oxide of zinc ointment (1 to 

 8 of lard), nitraie of mercury ointment (1 to 4 of lard), or liquor 

 plumbi subacetatis (Goulard's extract) and oil or cream (1 to 4). 

 If the legs bo filled, apply pressure in the manner described on 

 page 45 and hand rub, so as to quicken the circulation of blood. 

 A return to a state of health will be shown by the part re-assum- 

 ing its usual covering of fine hair. 



For grease, Gerlach advises creosote and spirit (1 to 6), or we 

 might use carbolic acid 1 part, camphor 2 J parts ; or creolin, 1 to 6 

 of water. Moller strongly recommends Lies's treatment with sul- 

 phuric acid and spirit (about 1 to 15). If grapes or scar tissue 

 tumours be present, carefully disinfect the part (a good wash is 20 

 grains of chinosol or ^ oz. of creolin, in a pint of water) ; remove 

 the excrescences with the scissors, or knife ; apply tannoform, or 

 some other suitable antiseptic (p. 67) to the wound; cover over 

 with antiseptic cotton wool and gutta-percha tissue ; and apply 

 a bandage, with evenly distributed pressure (p. 45), so that tho 

 wound may heal in the best and quickest manner. Following 

 the lines of success in the treatment of canker (which, I have al- 

 ready said, is closely akin to grease), we may in that of grease, 

 strenuously try to obtain a dry condition of the affected skin, by 

 one or other of the applications just mentioned, by evenly distri- 

 buted pressure, and by Armstrong's dry, hot bran poultice. 



Professor Frohner has had admirable results in the treatment of 

 grease, grapes, mallenders and sallenders, by painting the affected 



