ACLIN'IC LINE an imaginary line around the earth between the tropics, where the needle has no declination. It is called the magnetic equator, and is about 70° from the magnetic poles. The line is variable and irregular; in the western hemisphere it is s. and in the eastern n. of the geographical equator.
ACNE, (probably from Gr. akme, an efflorescence) is an important skin disease. It is placed by some dermatologists in the order pustulm, and by others in the order tuber cula, which includes solid, hard elevations of the skin, much larger than papube. The sebaceous follicles of the skin (q.v.) are the primary seat of the affection. Their natural secretion accumulates in their interior, and there is, at the same time, a tendency to inflammation of the follicle and surrounding tissue. It is by no means rare to find on the face and shoulders of young persons about or above the age of puberty a number of black spots, each of which is placed on a slightly-raised pale base. These black points are called comedones. Pressure at the base occasions the expulsion of a little, elongated, spiral, white mass, with a black point or anterior end, commonly but erroneously regarded as a worm.* Interspersed are other spots, with the base more raised and inflamed, which become more or less perfect pustules. each of which rests on a com paratively large red base. In some of the inflamed follicles coagulated lymph (to use the old phraseology) is thrown out, and a small hardened mass is the result. According as one or other of these appearances preponderates, we have different varieties of this disease. When the pustule is the most striking feature, the affection is called acne sim
plex or rulgaris; when the black points abound, it is acne punetata; and when there is decided induration, it is acne indurata. We have already mentioned the age at which this affection commonly occurs: it is never seen in children, and is rare in aged persons.
As long as there is no inflammation, the treatment simply aims at favoring the escape of the contents of the sebaceous follicles, by rubbing the face and other affected parts with cold cream at bed. time, washing the next morning with soap and water, and gentle subsequent friction with a soft towel. When acute inflammation is present, and the pustules are very tender, there is no better application than tepid water, with or without a little gelatine in solution; and subsequently the ointment of the hypochlorite of sul phur has been found useful by Wilson and others. Acne indurata, which is the least * In the midst of the white mass of sebaceous matter, a parasite, acarua folliculorum (q.v. in Sur mEMatir), is. however, often found.
tractable of the three forms, is sometimes benefited by the application of fly-blisters. In all these cases the state of the digestive organs must be carefully attended to.
Acne roNacea is according to some writers, a much more grave variety of acne; while others regard it as a special disease, to which they assign the name of rosacea, under which term it is described in this work.