The doctor at home, and nurse's guidebook ... / edited by George Black.

  • Black, George
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The doctor at home, and nurse's guidebook ... / edited by George Black. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/908 page 8
    supposed tlmt it lias the slightest effect in producing any disorder of the sebaceous glands. There may he several found in a single plug, or again, many plugs may he examined without finding any of them; their existence is mentioned only to clear up the popular ideas on the subject. Acne is one of the few diseases of the skin peculiar to a particular time of life. It may be said never to occur in young chil- dren ; is rarely, if ever, seen before twelve or fifteen years of age, and is rare after thirty; although the rosaceous form may Dbmodex Foi-liculorum. (Very greatly magnified.) occur much later, even up to fifty years of age. While acne is a disease of the sebaceous glands, it is not regarded solely as such, for it has relations with the rest of the system which it is important to bear in mind. In- discretions in diet can bring on fresh spots at almost any time; the articles which do this most frequently and most certainly are rich fried foods. Pastry of all kinds should be largely avoided by those subject to acne, as also nuts, raisins, and cheese, hot bread, cake, preserves, etc. It is not the fac in these things which is bad, for oils are fre- quently given internally in acne. Birtter, also, which is popularly supposed to be so harmful, is not so unless it is burned or melted into other substances. One of the most frequent causes of acne in those of older years is the use of fermen- ted liquors, ales, beer, and wine, and it is often quite impossible to remove the eruption while these are persisted in ; and their use again may cause a relapse. But acne has also relations with internal states wliich often require very careful medi- cal investigation ; for in by far the larger number of cases in those who have the erup- tion after the age of twenty, derangements of the urine will be found, as shown by chemical and microscopic examination, which indicate disorders of digestion, imperfect liver action, etc. Again, constipation is a very frequent accompaniment of acne and a cause of its obstinacy, and frequently re- quires medical care, although home mea- sures may benefit this, and with it the eniption to a certain extent. It is not suffi- cient to use occasional purgatives, nor to keep the bowels acting with the mineral waters or injections, although these are of more or less service, and may serve to keep the eruption in check. In regard to the actual treatment of acne, the measures suited to different cases vary so gi’eatly that no brief directions can be given. It is hardly necessary to say tliat there is no one remedy wliich will cure the disease ; for, as previously remarked, there is no such thing as an actual disease to be “ driven out of the blood,” as so many non- medical people imagine. Disease is wrong action, and to remove it, we must set the action right. Arsenic will not cure acne, although Jt may come in as an aid when other causes are removed. In some cases of acne, the eruption has been excited by a particular indiscretion, either in eating or from a check of perspi- ration, or some cause which has deranged the system. In these cases, therefore, what remains is really a local disea^, and the eruption may be removed by local treatment only—washes, ointments, etc. A simple
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3