WARTS, OR VERRUCA.
Most simple cases of warts about the hand and fingers are best treated by once a day touching the elevations with a pointed piece of soft wood soaked in Glacial Acetic Acid. Where there is a very extensive layer of epithelium, the wart should be shaved by a razor or a sharp scalpel before applying the acid, and when this is carefully done and any bleeding controlled by pressure, one application of the acid may be sufficient. Failure results through want of attention to this detail, the horny epithe lium shielding the vascular tissue from the action of the acid. After the dried crust falls off or is removed the acid should be reapplied till entire destruction is accomplished. Saturated solution of Caustic Potash or the liquefied drug may be applied. It is more speedy and certain than the acid. A less painful application is that of Salicylic Acid in saturated solution in Collodion, which should he applied after moistening the growth with strong spirit and allowing it to dry. It must be remembered that these epithelial growths are infectious.
Fowler's Solution of Arsenic applied daily with a fine camel's-hair brush is a reliable wart destroyer, but the writer has found that it pro duces such pain after a time that often its use must be stopped. A
minute quantity of arsenic made into a paste with water and applied to the wart causes its certain destruction. It is stated upon good authority that Fowler's Solution internally will check the growth of warts; the same has been said of Magnesia.
Resorcin, Butyr of Antimony, Nitrate of Silver, Chromic Acid, Mercuric Nitrate, Nitric Acid, Corrosive Sublimate and nearly every known caustic has been recommended, but the Glacial Acetic Acid answers every require ment, even in the most unpromising cases. (See also Condylomata, p. 169.) Lobligeois always uses electricity, the continuous current alone or with ionisation being employed, the negative electrode being attached to a platinum needle thrust into the wart. X rays and Radium are efficacious.
Whilst the warts about the face of old people may be touched with the cautery and excised with the knife, the best treatment is radio-therapy, two or three applications often being completely successful.