Stone-Pock. — Symptoms. — This troublesome and disfiuring n,ffection of the skin has the synonyms of "Acne," "Carbuncle- ''ace," and "Rosy drop." It consists in scattered pimples, occurring usually on the face, chest, back, and shoulders. They appear first as small hard pimples, with minute black points, consisting of obstructed openings of the glands of the skin. After an uncertain period, the pimples increase in size, become inflamed at their base, pus forms, presenting yellow heads, then scabbing off in the course of a week or ten days. This is the form in which the eruption makes its appearance in the young and healthy, about the period of puberty, to their great annoyance and discomfort. In advanced life the eruption assumes a congestive character, and is of a dark or fiery red hue, often very obstinate and chronic in its nature. It is this form which has acquired the rather approbrious synonym of "Carbuncle-face." Treatment. — However anxious young people may be to MEDICINAL. 369 get rid of what they feel to be a very disfiguring eruption, they must make up their minds to endure it with as much patience as may be, since it will often last for a year or two, and then gradually disappear, ^e would, therefore, warn our readers against taking strong medicines with a view of getting rid of it. A more important point is attention to diet and the general state of health. A nutritious, unstimulating diet should be taken. A simple aperient of an alkaline character, taken occa- sionally, together with the use of mild lotions, are the utmost that should be attempted. Thus, for aperient mixture: Bicar- bonate of potash (or soda), 2 drachms; infusion of senna, 2 ounces; infusion of gentian, 6 ounces✪ Aperient Mixture. Mix. Take an eighth part twice a day. For lotion: Corrosive sublimate, 2 grains; rose-water^ or pure water, 8 ounces✪ Lotion for Skin. Mix, and mark "poison- ous.'* Apply to the skin night and morning. Or, common washing soda, i drachm, to a pint of water, and apply freely, drying the skin again with a soft towel. Or, half an ounce of bicarbonate of soda, or potash, added to the water of a sponge bath. The chronic form of acne may be taken as a type for the treatment of chronic diseases of a pustular order generally. In all these, attention to diet is equally important, but it may be fuller, and some stimulant should be taken in the cases of adults. The internal use of arsenic, and of mineral acids, according to the age and state of constitution, will be found most serviceable, due attention being paid also to the func- tions of the liver and kidneys. The following prescriptions may be tried. Diluted nitric acid, 2 drachms; compound tincture of bark, 10 drachms. Mix. Take a teaspoonful three times a day in a wineglass of water. Or, Fowler's solution of arsenic, i drachm; solution of potash, 3 drachms; tincture of gentian, to 2 ounces. Given as above. The dose of solution of arsenic should be cautiously increased by 30 drops to the bottle at end of each ten days, for about three times. The dose will then be as large as it will be safe to entrust to non- professional hands. If, during the administration of arsenic in these small medi- cine doses, there should occur griping sickness and itching of the eyelids, the medicine should be stopped. Its use should also be discontinued if it seems to exert a depressing influence on the system.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Stone-Pock. — Symptoms. — This troublesome and disfiguring affection of the skin has the synonyms of "Acne," "Carbuncle- ''ace," and "Rosy drop." It consists in scattered pimples, occurring usually on the face, chest, back, and shoulders. They appear first as small hard pimples, with minute black points, consisting of obstructed openings of the glands of the skin. After an uncertain period, the pimples increase in size, become inflamed at their base, pus forms, presenting yellow heads, then scabbing off in the course of a week or ten days. This is the form in which the eruption makes its appearance in the young and healthy, about the period of puberty, to their great annoyance and discomfort. In advanced life the eruption assumes a congestive character, and is of a dark or fiery red hue, often very obstinate and chronic in its nature. It is this form which has acquired the rather opprobrious synonym of "Carbuncle-face." Treatment. — However anxious young people may be to get rid of what they feel to be a very disfiguring eruption, they must make up their minds to endure it with as much patience as may be, since it will often last for a year or two, and then gradually disappear, We would, therefore, warn our readers against taking strong medicines with a view of getting rid of it. A more important point is attention to diet and the general state of health. A nutritious, unstimulating diet should be taken. A simple aperient of an alkaline character, taken occasionally, together with the use of mild lotions, are the utmost that should be attempted. Thus, for aperient mixture: Bicarbonate of potash (or soda), 2 drachms; infusion of senna, 2 ounces; infusion of gentian, 6 ounces. Mix. Take an eighth part twice a day. For lotion: Corrosive sublimate, 2 grains; rose-water, or pure water, 8 ounces. Mix, and mark "poisonous.'* Apply to the skin night and morning. Or, common washing soda, i drachm, to a pint of water, and apply freely, drying the skin again with a soft towel. Or, half an ounce of bicarbonate of soda, or potash, added to the water of a sponge bath. The chronic form of acne may be taken as a type for the treatment of chronic diseases of a pustular order generally. In all these, attention to diet is equally important, but it may be fuller, and some stimulant should be taken in the cases of adults. The internal use of arsenic, and of mineral acids, according to the age and state of constitution, will be found most serviceable, due attention being paid also to the functions of the liver and kidneys. The following prescriptions may be tried. Diluted nitric acid, 2 drachms; compound tincture of bark, 10 drachms. Mix. Take a teaspoonful three times a day in a wineglass of water. Or, Fowler's solution of arsenic, i drachm; solution of potash, 3 drachms; tincture of gentian, to 2 ounces. Given as above. The dose of solution of arsenic should be cautiously increased by 30 drops to the bottle at end of each ten days, for about three times. The dose will then be as large as it will be safe to entrust to nonprofessional hands. If, during the administration of arsenic in these small medicine doses, there should occur griping sickness and itching of the eyelids, the medicine should be stopped. Its use should also be discontinued if it seems to exert a depressing influence on the system.

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