CONDYLOMATA.
After thoroughly cleansing and drying the moist patches each should he dusted over with a powder consisting, of equal parts of Calomel and Calamina, and wherever the moist surfaces come into contact they should be separated by a layer of dry gauze or lint. Ointments are less efficacious than drying powders, and one or two applications of the Acid Nitrate of Mercury solution may be lightly made by swabbing the patches with lint on the end of a probe before applying the powder. Small conclvlomata after being cleansed with alcohol may be lightly rubbed with a little cotton wool wrapped on a probe dipped in concentrated Trichloracetic Acid. Iodoform is most suitable for neglected condylomata about the vulva and anus where there is much discharge. Drier condylomata may he painted over with a s in so solution of Sublimate or Salicylic Acid in Flexible Collodion.
Chromic Acid (s to 5 of water) speedily destroys mucous patches in mouth and on the tonsils; it must, however, he used sparingly, as its poisonous effects, when absorbed, are well known. A s in 5o solution may be repeatedly applied with a brush after drying. but one light applica
tion of the stronger solution is safer. Corrosive Sublimate f t in 2 ;o ) is quite as efficacious, hut the writer does not hesitate to dry the patch care fully with blotting-paper and apply a light swab of Pernitrate of Mercury solution even to the tonsils when the patches are spreading, taking great care that the liquid cannot possibly flow over the surface.
Carbolic and Nitric Acids may be used as caustics, whilst the strongest Zinc Chloride Solution will rapidly destroy external patches, and a weak lotion of the same (so grs. tor oz.) makes a good astringent dressing for after-treatment.
Mercurial treatment should be pushed till long after the disappearance of all local signs of the disease, and the highly infective nature of the dis charge must be always remembered by the dresser or nurse. Patches of long standing may be freely cut off with a knife or scissors after the appli cation of Cocaine, and a subsequent application of any strong caustic will stop all haemorrhage and destroy anything left by the cutting instrument.