Favus (Tinea favosa) : its treatment by depilation / [J. Warburton Begbie].

  • James Warburton Begbie
Date:
1882
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Favus (Tinea favosa) : its treatment by depilation / [J. Warburton Begbie]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    as a most efficient remedy. Coupled with the depilatory process, however, must be, first of all, the thorough cleansing of the scalp, and then the employment of what are likewise styled parasiticide remedies, or still more strictly in relation to Favus, a disease dependent on the existence of a plant or vegetable-like parasite—phyticides. Of these a solution of the corrosive sub- limate (one or two grains to the ounce of water, with the addi- tion of a little alcohol or hydrochlorate of ammonia), the oleum juniperi pyrolignicum (huile de cade of the French), and the subsulphate of mercury (turpeth mineral), in the proportion of a scruple or half a drachm to the ounce of prepared lard, are the chief; and so long as the act of depilation is in progress, the diligent use of one or other of these parasite destroyers is to be enjoined. I have found the empyreumatic oil of juniper to be most serviceable; and from the year 1850, when I first saw it in use in the St. Louis Hospital at Paris, have been con- stantly in the habit of employing it in the treatment of the parasitic, as well as of the scaly, afiections of the skin. The precise plan pursued in the treatment of all the cases of Favus recently under my care, is as follows :—On reception, the patient has at once a hot bath, and both head and body are as thoroughly as possible cleansed with the aid of soft sqap ; the hair of the head is then cut to the level of the Favus crusts, and, as Bazin has directed,^ the oil of juniper (before mentioned) is applied by means of a thick camel-hair brush. On the succeeding day, poultices of potato-starch are placed over the head, and diligently continued till the complete separation of the crusts is eff'ected. This done, the juniper oil is re-applied ; and on the day follow- ing, the process of depilation commenced. While this is con- tinued, the daily use of one or other of the phyticide applications is being made. Care should always be taken that the depilation is complete, and that it is persevered in until the growth of healthy-looking hairs over all parts of the scalp is observed. Thus the treatment may require many weeks for its thorough execution; but when it is held in remembrance that the cure effected is radical, its lengthened duration may well be tolerated. The following, one ,of the most recent examples of Favus under my care, in which the trunk as well as the scalp was 1 ‘ Lemons Thdoriques et CHniquee sur les Afiections Cutandes Parasitaires.’ Profess^es par le Docteur Bazin. Pai-is, 1858. (Seep. 138.)
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