CHILBLAIN PROBLEM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXI, Issue 5595, 4 July 1930, Page 1

CHILBLAIN PROBLEM.

The best treatment of chilblains is, of course, to prevent them in the first instance—a difficult problem m the cold, winter days (says an Australian: writer). This is chiefly done by regular exercise at least once a week. A four-mile walk, a dance to the small hours, a day’s skating, will cure any chilblains, however painful the process. Where these remedies are not available, it is a very good plan to soak the foot in strong soda water, as hot as it may be borne. This cannot be done often, as it feet too much for hard wear. It should take .place before going to bed, and the foot should then be wrapped in a .coinpress, of witch hazel, bandaged,, and a sock worn to prevent the bandage from slipping. This is very effective in reducing any painful inflammation. When the chilblains seem only to be beginning, a good rubbing with whisky or other spirt often' makes a cure. Similarly, the various iodine mixtures can be rubbed in with success. lodine itself, if not used too frequently, often, alleviates the inflammation. Of all these remedies, however, that of the soda water in conjunction with the compress is the best, as it not only takes the s.ting out of the inflammation, but prevents it from setting up again. To prevent broken chilblains, it is a good plan to wear as many different pairs of shoes as possible. The pressure of every shoe is different, and thus strain on the same spot is avoided.