ECZEMA. 291 
starch, oxide of zinc, or subnitrate of bismuth would be right for white hair; 
powdered charcoal for black ; sulphur for yellowish ; Fuller’s earth for brownish, 
etc. The balsam leaves the surface sticky, to combat which is the purpose of 
the powder merely, and as long as that is non-irritating and harmless, it matters 
not what is used. 
Raw and oozing surfaces should be kept covered with powdered buckwheat, 
magnesia, subnitrate of bismuth, the oleate or oxide of zinc, or a mixture of 
the bismuth or zinc with lycopodium, talc, or starch, in equal parts. Care, 
however, must be taken to prevent their caking, and thus retaining the accumu- 
lating secretions under the crusts they form. 
After the oozing has lessened materially, and the surface is comparatively 
dry, instead of a powder, an ointment composed as follows can be freely applied : 
Oxide of zinc, one drachm; powdered sulphur, one drachm; salicylic acid, 
twelve grains; vaselin, two ounces. 
Now and then, but only rarely however, are encountered cases in which the 
oxide of zinc does not act quite favorably; in which event the subnitrate of bis- 
muth should be substituted in the ointment just described. 
If this ointment does not speedily lessen the inflammation, let it be discon- 
tinued for a time, and the following lotion applied several times daily: 
Goulard’s extract of lead, four drachms; laudanum, four drachms; water, 
one pint. 
Or if this does not act well, what is known as “black wash” may be tried 
for a week, and then a return made to the ointment last recommended. 
Where the patient is a pet and kept in the house, for obvious reasons oint- 
ments are objectionable; so, too, is the “black wash,” and a lotion composed as 
follows is advised: 
Oxide of zinc, four drachms; glycerin, four drachms; rose-water, eight 
ounces. To be well shaken before being used. 
Another lotion having similar effect, and which can be employed in the same 
class of cases, is the following : 
Prepared chalk, two ounces; lime-water, eight ounces. Shake well. 
Still another lotion likely to act well after the oozing has lessened and the 
affected surface is comparatively dry, is made as follows: 
Oxide of zinc, one-half an ounce; glycerin, two drachms; dilute solution of 
the subacetate of lead, one ounce; lime-water, seven ounces. Shake well. 
The foregoing ointments and lotions tend to lessen the itching, but often it is 
so violent, applications must be chosen for the special purpose of overcoming it. 
Where the skin is inflamed but not raw, and there is not much oozing, it 
should be kept well covered with the following: 
Menthol, one drachm; oxide of zinc ointment and vaselin, each one ounce. 
When the itching is severe and the surface raw and oozing, the following 
is appropriate : 
