Mother's Remedies Part 18

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Superficial Felons.--Such may be averted perhaps. I have heard of that but have never seen it done. They are not the genuine, true blue, terrible felons, but even these can give much pain. They do not need such a deep opening, and they are not so dangerous to the structures. They are superficial and abscesses, perhaps, might be the better term. For these many applications have been made.

1. Some hold the finger in hot lye. That is a good poultice.

2. Yolk of an egg and salt (equal parts) make a salve as a drawer.

3. The membrane within the sh.e.l.l of an egg is another good drawing remedy.

Dr. Chase gives this definition of a felon in his first edition: "This is on one of the fingers, thumb or hand and is very painful. It is often situated at the root of the nail." The latter is the kind, and also that of the structures above the covering of the bone that are eased by local treatment. Especially the superficial, about the nail, etc. Steaming with herbs will do such good, or any hot poultice will do good. Dr. Chase says in another place, "Whitlow resembles a felon, but it is not so deeply seated. It is often found around the nail. Immerse the finger in strong lye as long and as hot as can be borne several times a day." Such felons are curable by local treatment. I prefer the salt and yolk of the egg to the lye. If you cannot stand this all the time, steam in the intervals with strong herbs or use hot poultices, and then open when it points.

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ULCERS. An Eating Away of the Parts, Causes.--Diseases like syphilis, tuberculosis, leprosy. Disturbances of nutrition, const.i.tutional ulcers, local conditions. Ulcers are acute and chronic. An acute ulcer is a spreading ulcer, in and about which acute destructive inflammation exists.

Treatment.--Keep them thoroughly clean (aseptic) and use soothing applications, mild lotions and salve.

Chronic Ulcer.--This is one which does not tend to heal, or heals very slowly. Sometimes such ulcers need to be stimulated like the application of nitrate of silver and then healing applications. Carbolated oxide of zinc ointment is a good healing ointment.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Sores and Ulcers, the Potato Lotion for.--"Take the water you boil potatoes in and in one quart of it boil one ounce of foxglove leaves for ten minutes, then add one ounce tincture of myrrh to the lotion, bathe the affected parts with the lotion warm, then keep a cloth wet with it on the sore, if possible, until cured."

2. Sores and Ulcers, Chickweed Ointment for.--"Chop chickweed and boil in lard, strain and bottle for use." This makes a fine green cooling ointment, It is surprising to see the relief obtained by this simple ointment.

3. Old Sores and Wounds, Healing Ointment for.--

"Honey 4 ounces Spirits of Turpentine 1/2 ounce Beeswax 4 ounces Oil of Wintergreen 1/2 ounce Tincture of Opium 1 ounce Fluid Extract Lobelia 1/4 ounce Lard 3/4 pound

Mix by the aid of gentle heat, stirring well at the same time. This is a very useful ointment for healing wounds and old sores."

4. Sores and Ulcers, Excellent Salve for.--"One tablespoon of melted mutton or even beef tallow while warm; add some spirits of turpentine and one teaspoonful of laudanum, stir well."

5. Ill-Conditioned Sores, an Old German Remedy for.--"Wash or syringe the sore with weak saleratus water, and while wet fill with common black pepper. Remarks:--This is a highly recommended German remedy, and has been tried by my mother with good, results."

6. Sores, Cuts, Antiseptic Wash for; Also Tooth Wash.--"Peroxide of hydrogen. Should always be kept in the house." If you are cut by anything that might cause infection or if scratched by a cat, in fact wherever there is chance for infection and blood poison, peroxide of hydrogen may be used by moistening well the wound with it as soon as you can. As a mouth wash put a little in a gla.s.s of water. Directions usually on the bottle.

[SKIN DISEASES 73]

7. Indolent Ulcers and Boils, Chickweed and Wood Sage Poultice for.--"Equal parts of chickweed and wood sage pounded together make a good poultice for all kinds of indolent ulcers and boils."

8. Ulcers, Proud Flesh, Venereal Sores and all Fungus Swellings, Blood Root and Sweet Nitre for.--"Two ounces pulverized blood root; one pint of sweet nitre; macerate for ten days, shake once or twice a day."

9. Rosin 1 ounce Beeswax 1 ounce Mutton Tallow 4 ounces Verdigris 1 dram

Melt the rosin, tallow and wax together, then add the verdigris. Stir until cool and apply.

Add a few drops of carbolic acid to the above and you will have the carbolated salve which is quite expensive when bought prepared and under the manufacturer's label.

10. Sores and Chapped Hands, Sour Cream Salve for.--"Tie thick sour cream in a cloth and bury in the ground over night. In the morning it will be a nice salve. Excellent for chapped hands or anything that requires a soft salve."

11. Old Sores, A Four-Ingredient Remedy for.--"Soften one-half pound of vaselin, stir into it one-half ounce each of wormwood, spearmint and smartweed. This is good for old and new sores. My people near Woodstock, Canada, used this and found it very good."

12. Ulcers and Sores, Carrots will heal.--"Boil carrots until soft and mash them to a pulp, add lard or sweet oil sufficient to keep it from getting hard. Spread and apply; excellent for offensive sores. Onion poultice made the same way is good for slow boils and indolent sores."

This makes a very soothing poultice and has great healing properties.

13. Ulcers and Sores, a Remedy that Cures.--"To one-fourth pound of tallow add one-fourth pound each of turpentine and bayberry and two ounces of olive oil. Good application for scrofulous sores and ulcers." This makes a good ointment, but should not be continued too long at a time as the turpentine might have a bad action on the kidneys.

14. Ulcers and Old Sores, Bread and Indian meal for.--"Take bread and milk or Indian meal, make to consistency of poultice with water, stir in one-half cup of pulverized charcoal. Good to clean ulcers and foul sores."

The bread and Indian meal make a good poultice while the charcoal is purifying and a good antiseptic.

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PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Ulcers.--Keep them thoroughly cleaned. A mild, weak, hot solution of salt water is good in chronic, slow healing, indolent ulcers. Carbolated salve applied afterwards is healing. Sometimes a stimulating poultice is necessary, like salt pork followed by soothing salves. If an ulcer looks red and angry, it needs soothing. If there is any "proud flesh" powdered burnt alum applied directly upon it and left on for an hour or two is good. Then soothing salves.

Balsam of Peru is good for chronic ulcers. It stimulates them to a little activity.

A salve made by boiling the inner bark of the common elder, the strained juice mixed with cream or vaselin is a good healing application for ulcers.

Poultice an irritable, tender, painful ulcer with slippery elm bark.

Repeat when necessary.

Indolent Sluggish Ulcer.--This kind needs stimulating, salt solution, or salt pork applied.

Poultice made of sweet clover is well recommended for ulcers. As before stated, the active kind should have soothing treatment. The chronic indolent kind, should be stimulated occasionally and then soothing applications applied.

s.h.i.+NGLES (Herpes Zoster). Definition.--This is an acute inflammatory disease of the skin, characterized by groups of vesicles upon the inflamed base, distributed along the course of one or more cutaneous (skin) nerves.

Symptoms.--The eruption is preceded by a great deal of neuralgic pain and is almost always one-sided. They first appear as red patches and upon these patches vesicles soon develop (skin elevations with liquid in them); these are separate, size of a pin-head to a coffee bean, swollen with a clear fluid, and cl.u.s.tered in groups of two to a dozen. They may dry up in this stage, or they may fill with pus or run together, forming larger patches; new crops may appear, while the others fade. The vesicles rarely rupture of themselves, but dry into brownish crusts, which drop off leaving a temporary colored skin. It follows the course of a nerve. The most common seat of this disease is over one or more intercostal (between the rib) nerves, extending from the backbone to the breastbone. It also occurs along the side of the face and temple.

Causes.--It is a self-limited disease, runs its course in a few weeks, of nervous origin and may be produced by exposure to weather changes, blows and certain poisons.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. s.h.i.+ngles, Herb Remedy for.--1. "Make a solution of yerba rheuma, one ounce to a pint of boiling water, and apply freely to the part several times a day." The yerba rheuma has an astringent action and contracts the tissues, relieving the inflammation of the skin. It also relieves the itching.

[SKIN DISEASES. 75]

2. s.h.i.+ngles, Mercury Ointment for.--"Apply night and morning an ointment from the oleate of mercury." This preparation will be found effective, but care should be taken not to use too much of it, as oleate of mercury is very powerful. It relieves the burning and itching.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for s.h.i.+ngles.--Protect the vesicles from rupture or irritation and relieve the pain. Paint the surface with a solution of gun cotton (collodion). Tonics to keep up the strength.

EXCESSIVE SWEATING. (Hyperidrosis).--This is a disorder of the sweat glands in which sweat is thrown out in excessive quant.i.ties.

Symptoms.--It may be great only in the armpit where it stains the clothing. When it comes on the hands and feet they may be wet, clammy and have an offensive odor. They may be soaked, inflamed and painful.

Causes.--The local forms may be due to a nervous condition; it is often the result of general debility.

Treatment.--General tonics are needed and those given under anemia, which see. Applications for the local treatment.--Solution of alum applied to the part will act as an astringent.