The disease of the scalp is commonest in children.
Ringworm of the beard (Tinea sycosis) has similar appearances—patches, red and circular, covered with fine scales, with stubbly, dirty looking brittle hairs. The hair follicles become swollen and tender, and matter forms round them, becoming crusted. It may persist for months or years.
Treatment.—For ringworm of the body a lotion of bichloride of mercury (2 grains to the ounce of water) is often sufficient to kill the fungus. It can be frequently applied. If this is insufficient, tincture of iodine painted all round the spreading margins of the ring will usually succeed. It may be repeated if neces sary. In ringworm of the head and beard the hair of the diseased patches, and for a little dis tance beyond, should be cut short ; crusts should be removed by the application of poultices, by the use of plenty of oil, and by frequent wash ing with water and soft soap. The lotion of bichloride of mercury should then be applied. This treatment is much more certain of success if all diseased hairs are removed. This is done by catching them one after another by pincers and pulling them out, not one being left be hind. If the patches are large, small bits may be cleared of hair at a time until, after several times, the whole patch has been cleared. The lotion should be well applied several times after all sign of the continued advance of the disease has disappeared. It may take months before the disease is finally got rid of. Meanwhile, if the person is not in vigorous health, cod-liver oil, tonics, and good food should be adminis tered, and strict cleanliness practised.
or Crusted Ringworm ( Tinea Favosa---Favus) is figured in Plate XXIV. It is caused by a fungus resembling that of ordinary ringworm. To it the name achorion Schon leinii has been given. It attacks the scalp. Small itchy red patches appear first, then minute yel low specks, which gradually become larger till they attain some considerable size—some may even become as large as inch in diameter. They form yellow crusts, depressed in the centre so as to be cup-shaped, through which a hair passes. There is itching of the parts ; the hairs
become dull, dry, and ash-gray, and they are brittle. In the end they may be destroyed and fall out. When the crusts are removed pits are left in the skin, which, however, soon fill up. The crusts have a disagreeable mousy odour. The disease may last for years. It is contagious, and has been known to be transmitted from mice affected by it to the cat which caught them, and from the cat to children, whose pet it was.
Treatment.—It is necessary that the diseased hairs should be pulled out from the root. For ceps are required, and the difficulty in remov ing the hairs is due to their brittleness and tendency to break off short. It may take many weeks before the removal of hairs in this way can be stopped without risk of the disease recurring. During the removal of the hairs the perchloride of mercury lotion (2 grains to the ounce of water) should be rubbed into the part to destroy the fungus. Nourishing food and tonics should be given.
Pltyriasis versicolor is a disease of the skin, occurring in patches of a peculiar brownish colour, and due to a vegetable parasite called the Microsporon furfur. It begins in small spots about the size of a pin's head. They ex tend and unite, large irregular patches of the discoloration being produced. Itching is not great, and, on scratching, yellowish scales come from the patch. Children are seldom attacked. Persons who perspire freely and are not suffi ciently cleanly, who do not use frequent bath ing, may have it for years. It occurs chiefly on the chest and abdomen.
Treatment.—The affected parts should be washed with soft soap and water to remove greasiness, and then dried. The skin is then damped all over with vinegar, and while still wet with it, is sponged with a lotion of— This is daily repeated for a week. Thereafter the skin should be inspected every few days for a time to see that no patch has escaped.