ECZEMA 273 



and a non-irritant soap followed by thorough rinsing and 

 drying is important. If there are thick scabs or crusts, these 

 may be softened with an ointment such as creolin ointment. 



In choosing the drugs to apply it must be borne in mind 

 that a distinction must be made between acute and chronic 

 eczema. 



Acute Eczema. — Water, soap, and if possible air should be 

 kept from the affected skin. Crusts, scabs, and secretions 

 should be removed with Burrow's solution (5 per cent.), lime 

 water and oil (equal parts), or a salicylic acid salve (4 per 

 cent.). 



When the skin is moist drying powders should be used. 



B — Amyl. tritici . . . giij 



Pulv. alumini silic. 5v 



Zinci. oxid. ... 5j 



M. f, strew powder. 



or 



I^ — Ziuci. oxid. 



Bismuth subnitrici . . aa 3j 



Plumbi carbonici grs. xiv 



Pulv. magnes. silic. giij 



M. f. strew powder. 



Later ointments which have a metallic base or in some 

 instances a plant base may be used. As examples, zinc salve, 

 lead salve, and nitrate of silver salve (1 to 10). Unna's zinc 

 paste : 



IJ — Oxidi. zinci . .10 parts 



Terra silic. . 2 " 



Adeps benzoat . 28 " 



M. f. ungt. 



When pruritus is marked and is not ameliorated by oint- 

 ments a silver nitrate solution (10 per cent.) or an ichthyol 

 salve is good. 



R— Ichthyoli 

 Zinci oxid. 

 Amyl. tritici ... . . . aa 1 part 



Vaselin . . 2 " 



M. f. ungt. 



In very moist eczemas, powders are more valuable than 

 salves, which do not adhere to the skin. Powders should be 

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