314 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR. 
It appears generally about the hands and face, although other 
parts may be affected: the arms, groin, and chest in very bad 
cases are often covered with it. In its simple or dry form 
there is an inflamed elevated skin covered with dry scales, 
which, if rubbed or fall off, are soon replaced. There is con- 
siderable itching, tingling, and smarting, although in some 
cases there is little or no feeling. This kind of eczema is 
calied psorisis. It is very tedious and difficult to cure; 
perseverance, however, and right treatment will succeed, 
especially if the patient is young and temperate. The most 
common form of eczema is an eruption on the skin of small 
watery vesicles crowded together on different parts of the body, 
but especially on the arms and legs. It is accompanied with 
Severe itching, smarting, and a secretion of thin acrid matter, 
which, in a few days, turns to yellow or green scabs. It is 
caused by an impure condition of the blood through the 
retention of waste products, improper treatment of acute skin 
diseases, mineral drugs, as arsenic, mercury, working in 
mineral salts, acids, &c. 
TREATMENT.— Make an infusion of— 
Wy eae E18) jag 2d valine ta ve nay easier One ounce. 
PO UNREIBE I, 1a). Ae ste yee tau Gas eo Tis Halt ounce. 
Boramenveater Sf. Vs stacicu ih teeab on . One quart. 
Take a half teacupful of it two to four times a day, four times 
unless if operates too freely on the bowels. In this, as in all 
acute skin diseases, a medicated bath should be given. To 
prepare, take burdock herb, dry, three ounces; simmer in a 
gallon of boiling water; when sufficiently cool, throw into a 
flat bath or the nearest thing to it. Sponge all the body over 
with this, wipe dry, then paint a liquid on the parts affected, 
composed of one part of liquid tar (wood) and three parts 
of rosewater. If this treatment does not show good results 
in the course of a week or two, it will be time to vary it 
somewhat. Make a medicine to take thus— 
Barberis Aquifolium................ Two ounces. 
Burdock Root, crushed ....... ..... Four ounces. 
