[82 Mothers’ remedies]

5.  Itch, Oatmeal for.—­“A poultice of oatmeal and oil of bays; cures the itch and hard swellings.”  Oatmeal poultices are more stimulating and draw more rapidly than those made of linseed meal.

6.  Itch, a Mother at Parma, Michigan, Sends the Following.—­“Make a salve of sulphur and lard and each night apply it to the whole body; also one tablespoonful internally for three mornings, then skip three and so on.  This is the only thing I know of that will cure itch.  I have tried it with success.”

7.  Itch, Kerosene for.—­“Apply kerosene oil, undiluted, to the parts several times a day.  Apply nitrate of mercury ointment to the body.”

8.  Itch, Splendid Ointment for Common Itch.—­

“Lac-Sulphur   160 grains
Napthaline      10 grains
Oil Bergamot     4 drops
Cosmoline        1 ounce

Rub lac-sulphur into fine powder.  Sift it into the melted cosmoline and stir until nearly cool, then add napthaline and oil bergamot.  Stir until cool.”

Physicians’ treatment for Itch.—­If the skin is much inflamed or irritable, soothing baths and ointments should be used at first.  There are three indications to be met in the treatment; first, to destroy the cause, the parasite; second, to cure the result of their work; third, to prevent a return or transmission to others.

First Thing to Do.—­Soak the body thoroughly with soap (green soap if you have it) and water, this softens the outer layer (epidermis).  This layer covers the female parasite which burrows under it.  The male does not burrow and it is therefore easier to kill.  Rub the skin thoroughly with a rough towel after the soaking.  This rubbing will remove the outer skin scales and with it some of the parasites.  The towel should be boiled at once to prevent it from conveying the parasite to others.  Then apply the ointment, which, if thoroughly applied, relieves the patient at once.  The skin should be well softened and rubbed in order to open every track (burrow) of the parasite.  Allow the ointment to remain on all night and use it for three or four nights successively.

Ointments.—­1.  Simple sulphur ointment alone.

2.  Oil of Cale (from Juniper) 1 dram
     Sulphur Ointment 2 drams
     Lanolin 5 drams

3.  Flowers of Sulphur 6 ounces
     Oil of Fagi 6 ounces
     White Chalk 4 ounces
     Green Soap 16 ounces
     Lard 16 ounces

Apply at night.  This is not so strong.

[Skin diseases 83]

4.  For children the following can be used: 

Sulphur       1 dram
Balsam Peru   1 dram
Lard          1 ounce

Apply as usual.

5.  The following for adults: 

Precipitated Sulphur       2 drams
Carbonate of Potash        1 dram
Lard Ointment          1-1/2 ounces

Rub well into the skin.