Pathology and treatment of ringworm / by George Thin.

  • Thin, George.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pathology and treatment of ringworm / by George Thin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    62/96 page 58
    In Dr. McCall Anderson's Treatise on Diseases of the Skin it is stated that Sir William Jenner strongly recommends an oint- ment composed of 20 grains of ammonio-chloride of mercury and 4 drams of sulphur ointment. This ointment, though likely to be efficacious, is not one which I should recommend for very young children on account of the proportion of white precipitate. The red oxide of mercury ointment, weakened to various degrees, is recommended, and is also no doubt useful. I have no experience of its use in ringworm. The formula given by authors has a strength of b' grains to the ounce. I have latterly, particularly when I wished to avoid using a mercurial ointment, occasionally used, with the carbolic glycerine, an ointment of sulphur and carbonate of potassium (from 2 to 3 drams of sulphur to the ounce of lard, with usually half a dram of carbonate of potassium, sometimes increased to a dram). This ointment well rubbed into the head produces in some children a considerable amount of erythema with some congestion of the skin. Combined with carbolic glycerine it is as efficacious as most other remedies if perseveringly used ; and where a large surface is involved has the advantage of being free from the risks of absorption. But I have little doubt that the most potent remedy in ring- worm of the scalp is a solution of perchloride of mercury, although on account of the dangers attending its use, if applied sufficiently freely and of sufficient strength, I have little experience of it. I have occasionally applied it in the weaker solution, 2 to 3 grains to the ounce, but have not found it very efficacious. I have hesitated to prescribe the stronger solutions, the use of which I could not control. It forms the basis of some, if not most, of certain popular remedies known by the name of the vendor. Three children were once brought to me supposed to be suffering from ringworm. The eldest, a girl of about eight, had been treated by a lotion publicly sold as a cure for ringworm. I found a large part of the top of the head the seat of an intense erythema, the hairs on the erythematous patch very thin, and the ringworm quite cured. The lotion, which I was informed contained perchloride of mercury, had cured the
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