ECZEMA 145 



success is the persistent itching and the patient's 

 efforts to relieve it. If possible, the cause must 

 be removed, and in all cases the alimentary tract 

 should be cleaned out by a brisk saline purgative 

 and kept clean by the daily administration of five 

 grains of the sulphocarbolates of zinc, calcium, and 

 sodium in water three times a day. Contrary to 

 popular opinion, diet exercises little influence either 

 on the production or course of the disease, but 

 often a complete change of diet gives wonderful 

 results. Bathing and the use of soaps are abso- 

 lutely to be avoided during an attack and used only 

 with great discretion upon recovery, or a relapse 

 may occur. 



In the earlier stages of eczema erythematous, 

 papular, and vesicular, soothing and emollient ap- 

 plications are to be employed. Liquor plumbi sub- 

 acetatis applied to the affected parts, followed by 

 a dressing of zinc oxid ointment or Lassar's paste, 

 is most efficient. 



In the later stages (weeping or pustular) the 

 matted hairs should be clipped off and the parts 

 cleaned with hydrogen peroxid and dried with ab- 

 sorbent cotton swabs. The affected parts should 

 then be painted with a six-per-cent aqueous solu- 

 tion of silver nitrate and kept dusted with a desic- 

 cant dusting powder such as ten parts of aristol, 

 formidin, or boric acid, ten parts of starch, and 

 one part of tannic acid. 



For chronic eczema a more stimulant line of 

 treatment is necessary. The hair should first all be 

 clipped off and the skin dressed with any of the fol- 

 lowing dressings which are all effective, although the 

 first mentioned is most excellent : Four parts of oil 

 of tar, forty parts olive oil, one part iodin glycerin ; 

 thirty grains chrysarobin to one ounce vaselin, or 

 sulphur ointment B. P. 



