HEALTH IN THE HOME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 15

HEALTH IN THE HOME.

RINGWORM AND HOW TO TREAT IT,

By Dr Andrew Wilson

Ringworm derives its namo from its well-known manner of attacking tho skin. It may attack tho head or tho body. Tho disease begins in ono point or part, and then spreads in a circular manner from that point until a round patch is seen like tho “fairy ring” in the grass. In the head, tho bare patch in which tho disease lias destroyed the hair is only too familiar to all, while in tho body we get rings which may be described as of reddish and scaly appearance.

Now, (lie first point to be impressed, when a person is attacked with ringworm, is that, as a rule, the general health is weal;. This is what is meant when it is said the ringworm-fungus required its own soil in which to flourish and grow. It is tho weakly body it selects for its attack. The strong healthy body may be affected, but I believe, as a rule, it escapes. I say, therefore, first of all, look to tho child’s general health. If it is puny and weakly, increase its nourishment. Give it plenty of fresh air, good food, sud after its meals give a little cod liver oil, with or without iron. Your chemist can easily add a little syrup of the iodide of iron to the oil, if need bo, so that the iron and the oil can bo taken in one and tho same doso. A change to country air, or to the seaside, will often do a great deal of good to a child subject to ringworm, simply because it braces up tho constitution, and acts as a tonic. So let mothers keep this fact well before them : You are not likely to escape ringworm in your children if they are puny and weakly.

Next as to local treatment. If on tho head, you must cut the hairs away closely all round the patch, and speaking of hair, remember that “ where there is hair there is dirt.” I have been astonished to find mothers who keep their children spotlessly clean otherwise, neglect the hair utterly. This is very wrong. Tho hair should be regularly washed and cleaned with super-fatted soap and tepid water (finishing olf with cold water), say once every ten days, or every fortnight at least. The hair should not be allowed to grow long; with boys, especially, it is absurd to see mothers allowing their hair to remain long because simply it is pretty hair enough, and they don’t lilco to sacrifice it. Therefore keep the hair short, and wash the head regularly.

After removing the hairs all round tho patch, and from tho patches, if any bo left on it, you must apply something which will kill Hie fungus. Sulphurous acid (not sulphuric acid ) painted on the patch with a brush night and morning, may suffice. Another good application is carbolic acid and glycerine, also to be painted on ; and a favourite ointment is ouo composed of oleato of mercury (live per cent.) seven drachms ; and acetic ether, one drachm. A little of this is to bo rubbed in night and morning to tko pait. Another good application is—pure carbolic acid, nitrate of mercury ointment and sulphur ointment, of oacli ono ounco. These are to be mixed together, and a little to lie rubbed in every night. For children under ten it is recommended that the amount of sulphur ointment should bo doubled or trebled.

If ringworm alfects the body, paint tho patches with tincture of iodine or with acetic acid, and attend to the general health. It the hair is weak after the disease has been cured, use a lotion composed of mix vomica, 3 drachms; distilled vinegar, 21 ounces; tincture of capsicum, 1 drachm; tincture of cantharides, (! drachms; spirits of rosemary, J ounco, and rosewater up to II ounces. Rub a little into the hair roots every night.