Liver spots, Moth Patch, Chloasma, etc.—­This is a discoloration of the skin of a yellowish to a blackish tint of varying size and shape.

Causes.—­It may be due to external agencies, such as rubbing, scratching, heat (tanning and sunburn) blistering; or due to diseases such as tuberculosis, cancer, malaria, Addison’s disease, disease of the womb, pregnancy.

Physicians’ treatment for Liver Spots.—­Remove all causes if possible.

Local.—­This must be carefully used, find out first how sensitive the skin is.  Dr. Bulkley recommends this lotion: 

Corrosive Sublimate       5 grains
Dilute Acetic Acid        2 drams
Borax                    40 grains
Rose water enough for     4 ounces

Shake bottle, mix and apply to the part night and morning.  If the skin becomes too scaly, a mild soothing ointment should be substituted for the above.  White suggests the following: 

Hydrarg.  Ammon.  Chlar     2 drams
Subnitrate Bismuth        2 drams
Starch                 1/20 ounce
Glycerin                1/2 ounce

Mix and apply twice daily.

The application of peroxide of hydrogen has only a temporary effect.

Black-heads.  Flesh Worms, Comedones, Pimples, etc.—­This is a disorder of the sebaceous glands in which the sebaceous (fatty, cheesy) secretions become thickened; the excreting ducts, appearing on the surface, as yellowish or blackish points.  They appear chiefly on the face, neck, chest, and back and are very unsightly.

Symptoms.—­They are easily pressed out, and appear then as thread-like, whitish masses which contain fatty material.  The black point may be due to pigment or to dirt from without.  Comedones may exist with acne and seborrhoea and excessive secretion of sebum.

Causes.—­Want of tone to the skin, which performs its functions sluggishly.  Stomach-bowel disorders, menstrual disturbances and anemia are other causes and assist in making them worse.  Improper care of the skin and dusty air may be other assistant causes.

[62 Mothers’ remedies]

Mothers’ remedies.  For Pimples and Black-heads.—­l.  Pimples on the face, effective yet harmless remedy for: 

    Camphor 10 grains
    Acacia (pulverized) 20 grains
    Sulphur (precipitated) 2 drams
    Lime water 2 ounces
    Rose water 2 ounces

Apply on the face with a soft cloth at bedtime.  Allow to dry and brush off the excess of the powder.

Anyone suffering from these eruptions is usually willing to try every known remedy.  The above is excellent and very effective and is harmless.

2.  Pimples, Alum Water for.—­“Take a teaspoonful of alum to a quart of water and use as a wash, say three times a day.  This will cure ordinary pimples on the face.”