Tincture of benzoin, 10 parts. Neat's-foot oil, 100 parts.—.11.
This treatment should be carried out daily and continued for six weeks or more. I.assar and Groetzer (Brit. Jour. of Derm., Feb., '91).
A 95-per-cent. solution of carbolic acid is applied to the affected region and its periphery. It is somewhat painful at first. The skin whitens, shrivels, and desquamates. Two weeks later a second application may be made. Bulkley (Jour. Cut. and Genito-Urin, Dis., Feb., '92).
Tricresol is a very efficient remedy for alopecia areata. In nine cases an aver age cure was obtained in two and one half months. The area should be thor oughly cleansed with benzin, and then trieresol applied pure to the scalp. It is well rubbed into the denuded patches and into roots of hairs one-half inch be yond each patch, by the friction of a small swab of cotton tightly wrapped on a wooden tooth-pick. The burning and pain soon pass away. These applications are made according to the local effect produced, but on the average every five to seven days till desired result be ob tained. Granville MacGowan (Pacific Med. Jour., Aug., '99).
The methods advocated by Besnier and Doyon are much employed on the continent of Europe.
Every morning the head is washed with warm water and tar-, ichthyol-, or naphthol- soap, followed by rubbing in a weak alcoholic liniment:— Spirit of lavender, 4 ounces.
Salol or salicylic acid, 7 V., grains. —M.
Every evening the following ointment should be applied: 1 Peruvian balsam Salicylic acid, Resorcin, of each, 15 grains. Precipitated sulphur, 2 drachms. Lanolin, Vaselin. of each, 14 drachms.
Every morning the patches and their immediate neighborhood should be lightly rubbed with a piece of absorbent cotton dipped in the following solution: Chloral-hydrate, 4 scruples.
Ether, 7 drachms.
Crystallized acetic acid, 15 to 60 grains.—M.
Or in a mixture of acetic acid and chloroform varying in strength accord ing to the susceptibility of the patient.
If the face be affected, it should be washed every morning with warm water to which a small quantity of one of the antiparasitic solutions mentioned above has been added.
When the trunk and Iimbs are affected the treatment should consist in sulphur, salt, with electric baths, and in rubbing the body with a horse-hair brush dipped in a stimulating liquid: 1 Resorcin, 2 drachms. Orange-flower water, 12 ounces.— M.
Morrow recommends the following procedures:— Constitutional means of improving the general nutrition are at once begun. The hair is clipped around the affected patches, the loose hairs are removed, and the following preparations are then applied:— 4 Chrysarobin, 20 to 40 grains. With or without Salicylic acid, 10 to 15 grains. Ointment of gutta-percha, 1 ounce.
A moderate dermatitis should be ex cited and maintained.
When the alopecia is severe and ex tensive the scalp is shaved and acetic acid is applied in greater or less propor tion, mixed with equal parts of chloro form or ether, producing a superficial vesiculation followed by desquamation.
Between the applications the bald spots are anointed with a stimulating oil: Ij Eucalyptus, Turpentine, of each, 1/, ounce. Crude petroleum, Alcohol, of each, 1 ounce.—MI.
This is followed by a thorough mass age of the scalp by the patient. Once a week or oftener the scalp is thoroughly shampooed with tincture of green soap. At a later stage sulphur and resorcin ointments and salt-water douches may be used.
For the face weaker solutions of acetic acid should be employed, or applications of a mixture of equal parts of tincture of capsicum or tincture of cantharides and glycerin be made. For the body mercurial and tar- soaps and sulphur baths are to be used.
Chrysarobin is the best remedy, pre pared as follows: A stick composed of Chrysarobin, 30 parts; Resin, 5 parts; Yellow ointment, 35 parts; Olive-oil, 30 parts; is rubbed every evening over the affected part, which is washed clean with olive oil in the morning. In some days the skin becomes irritable and red, when zinc ointment is substituted for a time. Leistikow (Ther. Monat., Jan., '94).