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Inflammation of the Skin - Dermatitis.Among the various causes which may induce inflammation of the skin, are exposure to heat and cold, including the various degrees of burns and scalds. These belong properly in the domain of surgery and will be discussed under that head. Aside from these, the more common causes of inflammation in the skin are various poisonous substances, which are apt to come into contact with the individual. Many of these induce eczema, as has been already described. Some others, however, cause a diffuse redness and swelling of the skin accompanied with a burning sensation and sometimes extreme pain. Among these is the poison derived from the so-called poison ivy. This eruption begins with a burning and tingling feeling, which is soon followed by redness, swelling, and the development of numerous small blisters This burning sensation, together with the accompanying desire to scratch, often gives the patient extreme annoyance and even distress. These feelings may persist for a long time even after a slight exposure to the poison. Some persons suffer from this eruption even without coming into actual contact with the plant itself; it is sufficient for them to pass through a region where the ivy grows, to have an inflammation of the skin. This eruption may also be produced in some individuals by the dried plant, and has been known to occur in those who had handled evergreens for decoration in the winter ; in this case, the cause was presumably some of the dry ivy which had become mixed with the evergreens. This poison ivy is a very common plant, which closely resembles the ordinary woodbine. From this the ivy is, however, readily distinguished from the fact that it has but three leaves on each stem, while the woodbine has five. Another plant which may cause a severe inflammation of the skin, is the poison oak, which is also called poison sumach and swamp sumach. Some people are also susceptible to the ordinary sumach, which induces in them a decided inflammation of the skin, though this is less violent than that caused by the poison sumach of the swamp. These may be distinguished from each other according to Dr. Bulkley, as follows : The poison sumach is a plant six to eighteen feet high; the leaves are dark green, pointed, shiny and smooth on the edges, which are not notched, they are arranged in pairs of four to six on opposite sides of the middle stem with one at the end. The harmless sumach has many more leaflets on each side. The flowers are very small and greenish, and the berries greenish white or yellowish ; the berries of the harmless variety are always of a crimson red. The young shoots are purple or green clouded with purple and marked by orange colored dots which turn grayish. In all forms of inflammation of the skin from external poisons, the object is to relieve the burning and itching. For this purpose several prescriptions may be employed, as follows : Borax, - - - - - Two drachms. Glycerine, - Two ounces. Water, - Two ounces. Mix and apply to the inflamed skin. Or, Oxide of zinc, - - - Two drachms. Lead water, ----- One drachm. Wine of opium, - Four drachms. Rose water, ----- Four ounces. If the burning and itching be intense, the surface may be dusted with this powder : Camphor, - - - - - Half a drachm. Oxide of zinc, - - - - One ounce. Starch, ------ One ounce. This is to dusted thickly upon the skin. Camphor, - One drachm. Borax, ------ Two drachms. Alcohol, ----- Two ounces. Glycerine, ----- Two ounces. Rose water, ----- Four ounces. This should be applied to the skin upon soft cloths, and changed as often as the cloths become dry. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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