The above combination is excellent as the water cleanses the parts and the borax and zinc are very soothing and healing.

4.  Chafing, Common Flour good to stop.—­“Burn common wheat flour until brown.  Tie in rag and dust chafed parts.”

Mole. (Naevus).—­Mole is a congenital condition of the skin where there is too much pigment in a circumscribed place.  It varies in size from a pin-head to a pea or larger.  The face, neck and back are their usual abiding place.

Physicians’ treatment for Moles.—­They should be removed by knife or by electricity.  The last is the best, especially for the hairy variety.

Causes.—­If they are subject to too much irritation they develop into malignant growth.

Enlarged nail. (Onychauxis).—­The nail may become too long, thick or wide.  Treatment.—­Remove the cause.  Trim away the excessive nail tissue with a knife or scissors.  In paronychia, inflammation around the nail, pieces of lint or cotton should be inserted between the edge of the nail and the inflamed parts, and wet solution of antiseptics, like listerine or salt water, applied with cloths.

[78 Mothers’ remedies]

Inflammation of the nail. (Onychia).  Treatment.—­Cut into the back part if it needs it.  That will relieve the tension and pain.  Sometimes the nail must be removed.  The inflammation is at the base (matrix) of the nail.

Louse, Disease of the Skin Produced by.—­This is a disease of the skin produced by an animal parasite, the pediculus or louse.  There are the head louse, pediculus capitis; the body louse, pediculus corporis; the pubis, (about the genitals) pediculus pubis.  The color of lice is white or gray.  They multiply very fast, the young being hatched out in about six days and within eighteen days are capable of propagating their same species.  The nits are glued to the hair with a substance which is secreted by the female louse.

Head louse or Pediculus Capitis.  Treatment.—­The symptoms are very apparent.  Apply pure kerosene, rub it into the hair thoroughly.  It can be mixed with an equal part of balsam of peru.  It should be left on the scalp for twelve to twenty-four hours and then removed by a shampoo.  Other remedies that can be used are, tincture of staphisagria (stavesacre), this can be made into an ointment; or ointment of ammoniated mercury.  The dead nits are removed from the hair by dilute acetic acid or vinegar.  Cutting the hair is not usually required.  An infusion of quassia is good as a wash.

Body Louse or Clothes Louse (Pediculus Corporis).—­This parasite lives in the clothes.  It is apt to be found in the folds or seams, especially where the clothes come in close contact with the skin, as about the neck, shoulders and waist.  This creature visits the body for its meal.  They may produce different kinds of skin troubles like eczema, boils, etc.