ULCERS. An Eating Away of the Parts, Causes

Categories: Diseases of The Skin

Diseases like syphilis,
tuberculosis, leprosy. Disturbances of nutrition, constitutional ulcers,

local conditions. Ulcers are acute and chronic. An acute ulcer is a

spreading ulcer, in and about which acute destructive inflammation exists.



Treatment. Keep them thoroughly clean (aseptic) and use soothing

applications, mild lotions and salve.



Chronic Ulcer. This is one which does not tend to heal, or heals very

slowly. Sometimes such ulcers need to be stimulated like the application

of nitrate of silver and then healing applications. Carbolated oxide of

zinc ointment is a good healing ointment.



MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Sores and Ulcers, the Potato Lotion for. "Take the

water you boil potatoes in and in one quart of it boil one ounce of

foxglove leaves for ten minutes, then add one ounce tincture of myrrh to

the lotion, bathe the affected parts with the lotion warm, then keep a

cloth wet with it on the sore, if possible, until cured."



2. Sores and Ulcers, Chickweed Ointment for. "Chop chickweed and boil in

lard, strain and bottle for use." This makes a fine green cooling

ointment, It is surprising to see the relief obtained by this simple

ointment.



3. Old Sores and Wounds, Healing Ointment for.



"Honey 4 ounces

Spirits of Turpentine 1/2 ounce

Beeswax 4 ounces

Oil of Wintergreen 1/2 ounce

Tincture of Opium 1 ounce

Fluid Extract Lobelia 1/4 ounce

Lard 3/4 pound



Mix by the aid of gentle heat, stirring well at the same time. This is a

very useful ointment for healing wounds and old sores."



4. Sores and Ulcers, Excellent Salve for. "One tablespoon of melted

mutton or even beef tallow while warm; add some spirits of turpentine and

one teaspoonful of laudanum, stir well."



5. Ill-Conditioned Sores, an Old German Remedy for. "Wash or syringe the

sore with weak saleratus water, and while wet fill with common black

pepper. Remarks:--This is a highly recommended German remedy, and has

been tried by my mother with good, results."



6. Sores, Cuts, Antiseptic Wash for; Also Tooth Wash. "Peroxide of

hydrogen. Should always be kept in the house." If you are cut by anything

that might cause infection or if scratched by a cat, in fact wherever

there is chance for infection and blood poison, peroxide of hydrogen may

be used by moistening well the wound with it as soon as you can. As a

mouth wash put a little in a glass of water. Directions usually on the

bottle.







7. Indolent Ulcers and Boils, Chickweed and Wood Sage Poultice

for. "Equal parts of chickweed and wood sage pounded together make a good

poultice for all kinds of indolent ulcers and boils."



8. Ulcers, Proud Flesh, Venereal Sores and all Fungus Swellings, Blood

Root and Sweet Nitre for. "Two ounces pulverized blood root; one pint of

sweet nitre; macerate for ten days, shake once or twice a day."



9. Rosin 1 ounce

Beeswax 1 ounce

Mutton Tallow 4 ounces

Verdigris 1 dram



Melt the rosin, tallow and wax together, then add the verdigris. Stir

until cool and apply.



Add a few drops of carbolic acid to the above and you will have the

carbolated salve which is quite expensive when bought prepared and under

the manufacturer's label.



10. Sores and Chapped Hands, Sour Cream Salve for. "Tie thick sour cream

in a cloth and bury in the ground over night. In the morning it will be a

nice salve. Excellent for chapped hands or anything that requires a soft

salve."



11. Old Sores, A Four-Ingredient Remedy for. "Soften one-half pound of

vaselin, stir into it one-half ounce each of wormwood, spearmint and

smartweed. This is good for old and new sores. My people near Woodstock,

Canada, used this and found it very good."



12. Ulcers and Sores, Carrots will heal. "Boil carrots until soft and

mash them to a pulp, add lard or sweet oil sufficient to keep it from

getting hard. Spread and apply; excellent for offensive sores. Onion

poultice made the same way is good for slow boils and indolent sores."

This makes a very soothing poultice and has great healing properties.



13. Ulcers and Sores, a Remedy that Cures. "To one-fourth pound of tallow

add one-fourth pound each of turpentine and bayberry and two ounces of

olive oil. Good application for scrofulous sores and ulcers." This makes a

good ointment, but should not be continued too long at a time as the

turpentine might have a bad action on the kidneys.



14. Ulcers and Old Sores, Bread and Indian meal for. "Take bread and milk

or Indian meal, make to consistency of poultice with water, stir in

one-half cup of pulverized charcoal. Good to clean ulcers and foul sores."

The bread and Indian meal make a good poultice while the charcoal is

purifying and a good antiseptic.







PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Ulcers. Keep them thoroughly cleaned. A mild,

weak, hot solution of salt water is good in chronic, slow healing,

indolent ulcers. Carbolated salve applied afterwards is healing. Sometimes

a stimulating poultice is necessary, like salt pork followed by soothing

salves. If an ulcer looks red and angry, it needs soothing. If there is

any "proud flesh" powdered burnt alum applied directly upon it and left on

for an hour or two is good. Then soothing salves.



Balsam of Peru is good for chronic ulcers. It stimulates them to a little

activity.



A salve made by boiling the inner bark of the common elder, the strained

juice mixed with cream or vaselin is a good healing application for

ulcers.



Poultice an irritable, tender, painful ulcer with slippery elm bark.

Repeat when necessary.



Indolent Sluggish Ulcer. This kind needs stimulating, salt solution, or

salt pork applied.



Poultice made of sweet clover is well recommended for ulcers. As before

stated, the active kind should have soothing treatment. The chronic

indolent kind, should be stimulated occasionally and then soothing

applications applied.