IMPETIGO.
Under such names as Porrigo, &Myrna, and Impetigo contagiosa, this cutaneous coccic infection is recognised as identical with the so-called Football Impetigo and other epidemic types of impetigo. Adamson has shown that the streptococcus produces clear blisters or vesicles, whilst the staphylococcus causes a pustular eruption, but generally the primary infection is soon mixed with staphylococci.
Impetigo cannot exist or flourish upon a perfectly healthy person, hence the importance of looking after everything which improves the nutrition of the body. As there is always some departure from the healthy standard, feeding, exercise, fresh air and absolute cleanliness must be attended to.
The first step in the treatment consists in the removal of the yellow crusts and the exposure of the raw oozing surface upon which the cocci are multiplying. Bathing of the parts in warm water should be followed by a Boric Acid poultice, after which the application of any weak anti septic as Ungt. Ilydrarg. Ammon. diluted with twice its weight of lanolin or of zinc ointment suffices. When small patches exist, these, after thorough cleansing, may be painted over with a zo per cent. solution of
Nitrate of Silver. Where the eruption involves a considerable area of the body, warm baths containing Permanganate of Potash or a trace of Perchloride of Mercury should he administered. The inner clothing should be carefully sterilised, and care taken to avoid scratching with the finger-nails, whereby the cocci are transplantedjfrom one region of the skin to another.
Porrigo is the usual term applied to impetigo of the scalp, and the condition is generally complicated with pediculi invasion. The scabs should be soaked with Paraffin Oil; warm bread and water poultices will be often required in addition to persistent sponging till the crusts are removed, after which the hair should be cut close, the entire scalp washed with saturated Boric Acid solution, and an ointment consisting of one part of White Precipitate ointment and two parts of Zinc ointment should be freely rubbed in.
An autogenous vaccine may be resorted to in inveterate cases, which may simulate Sycosis, but local treatment always suffices when carefully carried out.