Eczema
Sources:
Papers On Health
Skin eruptions, known under this name, have very various
causes. Treatment must vary accordingly.
Where the cause is a failure of the skin to act properly, the whole
skin of the body, especially the chest and back, will be dry and hard.
In this case apply SOAPY BLANKETS (see).
If the soapy blanket be too severe on the patient, then apply general
lathering with M'Clinton's Soap. Use a badger'
-hair shaving brush, and
have the lather like whipped cream with no free water along with it.
We have known a few of these applications cure a case of long standing.
Where general debility is present, along with the disease, use all
means to increase the patient's vitality. Simple diet is best (see
Diet, Saltcoats' Biscuits, Barley, Assimilation, Digestion), and
abundance of fresh air, within and without the house, by night and by
day.
Where the disease results from a parasite, some ointment should be
used, and is best applied under the immediate direction of a specialist
in Diseases of the Skin.