HOW TO GET RID OF WARTS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1583, 1 April 1887, Page 3

HOW TO GET RID OF WARTS.

The arsenic treatment is well adapted for vwf>. The top of the wart should either be sliced oft with a sharp knife, cut off with a pair of scissors, or destroyed with a drop of some caustic, such as nitric acid. It is then to be painted with the arsenic solution two or three times a day. In a short time it undergoes a change, and appears to break up into a number of pieces. It may then be removed or turned out without the slightest pain or difficulty. There are several other means of getting rid of warts. Their vitality is low, and they are usually readily destroyed by the application of the caustic or astringent. The strong acetic acid known as the "glacial" acetic acid is often used for this purpose. It should be applied with a glass rod until the wart is pretty well sodden with the acid. It may have to be applied more than once, and care should be taken to prevent it coming in contact with the surrounding skin, or it may cause a blister. Small warts occurring in numbers may usually be got rid of certainly and painlessly by keeping them constantly jioist with a lotion made by adding two drachms of dilute nitric acid to a pint of water. Lunar caustic is sometimes used for warts, but its action is, as a rule, too superficial to be of much serrice. "When wa: ts or warty growths occur on the nose, lips, or any part besides the hand?, chromic acid may be used. The solution is made by dissolving a hundred grains of crystallised chromic acid in an ounce of The solution is best applied by the aid of a pointed glass rod, or when a large quantity is required, by means of a small glass tube drawn to a point. Only so much should be applied as will saturate the diseased growth, and it should not be brought in contact with the surrounding tissue*. Any superfluous acid is to be removed by a piece of blotting paper or wet lint. The application usually produces only a little temporary smarting, unless, indeed, the part is ulcerated, when the pain is more severe and of longer duration. After the application of the chromic acid, it is a good plan to dress the part with lint dipped in lead lotion, as it relieves the soreness and restrains the it fhmmation. Under the influence of this treatment the growth usually wastes, in some cases being thrown off altogether, aud in others undergoing a partial though distinct diminution in size. In the majority of cases one application suffices,* the cure being complete in from four to eight days. When, however, the warts are very large, rapeated applications may be necessary* —From the Family Physician.