Diseases of the Skin. — External Parasites. 209 



these measures, result in an over-charged and over-heated 

 system, and Nature, to avoid worse consequences, endeavours 

 to get rid of this pressure by means of serous outpouring 

 or exudation. 



Treatment. — Saline aperients are in the first instance ad- 

 visable ; when the irritation is extreme and considerable 

 constitutional disturbance is manifested, a grain each of 

 opium and calomel may be administered with benefit. 



With regard to local applications, the skin should never 

 be washed or rubbed, in the dressing with agents, more 

 than is absolutely necessary. The benzoated oxide of zinc 

 ointment smeared over once or twice a day is a very 

 effectual remedy. Another exceedingly useful one is : 



Oxide of Zinc , , 



^,. ., \ aa h ounce. 



Olive-oil ) ^ 



Arnica Tinct 2 drachms. 



Rose-water 7 ounces. 



To be applied three or four times a day. 



Where there is much wetness of surface and irritation, the 

 parts may with benefit be dusted from, time to time with 

 plain flour, or i part of powdered alum to 6 of flour. 

 Debility and wasting, is overcome with mineral tonics and 

 cod-liver oil. The diet should be plain, nutritious, but not 

 stimulating. Daily exercise should also be allowed. 



Chronic Eczema, though not accompanied by the same 

 amount of irritation and constitutional disturbance as the 

 former, is nevertheless a troublesome, and oftentimes a 

 tedious affection. 



" In chronic eczema other topical remedies are required, 

 one while to relieve pruritics, and another while to exert a 

 discutient action on the affected part. The juniper-tar 

 ointment, considerably diluted, is an excellent anti-pruritic 

 remedy ; while stronger, or ,of its full strength, it is power- 

 fully discutient. Among the best of the discutient remedies 

 are the ointments of the nitric and hydrochloric salts of mer- 



